Yeibichai

About Yeibichai

The Dineh refer to their supreme spiritual entities as Yeibichai. The Yeibichai created the Dineh and taught them how to live in balance in the world. A Yei is an other-dimensional supernatural being who holds the power to heal others. Religious sand paintings used by the Dineh in healing ceremonies have been adapted into the many Yei antique rug patterns.

Yei males are the most popular figures but there are Yei females, too. Usually, the round-headed Yei figures are female while the square-headed ones are male.

We generally see traditional Yei figures facing forward. Some Dineh rug patterns (and Ida Sahmie pottery) feature Yei-be-chai, the dancers who impersonate the Yeis in sacred ceremonies. Usually, these dancers are shown in profile.

Authentic Yei rugs should have no knots in them. The ends of the threads are woven into the carpet and secured by pounding them into the weaving.

Traditional Dineh looms are vertical with no moving parts. The weaver sits on the floor in front of the loom and works by weaving from the bottom up.

Traditional patterns include stripes and spirit lines. A spirit line is a single thread that connects the center of the carpet with its edge. Traditionally, the spirit line allows the spirit of the weaver to be released from the work. The spirit line on pottery is generally to release any spirits caught in the clay.

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