«Shi toku» - the art of weaving mats
The art of weaving mats “chiy” “shi toku” is one of the most unique types of decorative and applied art of Kazakhs, rich in original patterns, and one of the oldest professions. Kazakhs used stems of the steppe reed “shi” for weaving. To do this, first of all, each shi is wrapped individually with untwisted wool fibers of different colors according to the prescribed pattern. After this, he weaves them together and creates a beautiful carpet-like pattern.
In the field of crafts of the Kazakh people, weaving “shi” mats, winding colored wool and decorating it with patterns is a national art that has been formed over centuries. Based on their appearance, woven shi mats are divided into three groups: white shi, twisted shi, and unpatterned mat. All types of mats are used for their intended purpose. Thus, purified white shi is used for drying fermented milk products - “kurt”, cottage cheese - “iрimshik”, while a simple unpatterned mat “shym shi” covered in length with wool or silk of different colors serves one of the interior items of the yurt, as well as “orama shi” or “orauli shi” woven from twisted shi stems. Shi weaving is an ancient artistic heritage and one of the outstanding crafts of our people.
