排灣族織布 (Paiwan zu zhibu)
Paiwan complementary weft weaving produces the ground textiles onto which bead embroidery (CRAFT-0567) is applied, but is also a significant tradition in its own right — producing the distinctive black-and-red woven textiles of southern Taiwan's indigenous peoples. The Paiwan use a complementary weft technique (both pattern and ground wefts present in every row) on a back-strap loom that is structurally different from the Atayal loom in its breast beam design — the Paiwan breast beam is curved (not flat) to distribute body pressure differently during the heavy beat required for complementary weft. The technical challenge is the complementary weft exchange: at each row, the pattern and ground weft bobbins exchange positions — one rises to the surface while the other floats behind. The exchange must be completely clean — any pattern weft showing on the ground side or ground weft showing on the pattern side produces a visible error in the textile.
Risk level: Critically Endangered · Taiwan national ICH list
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