Archaeological studies indicate that the art of tying knots dates back to prehistoric times. Recent discoveries include 100,000-year old bone needles used for sewing and bodkins, which were used to untie knots. However, due to the delicate nature of the medium, few examples of prehistoric Chinese knotting exist today. Some of the earliest evidence of knotting have been preserved on bronze vessels of the Warring States period (481-221 BCE), Buddhist carvings of the Northern Dynasties period (317-581) and on silk paintings during the Western Han period (206 BCE-CE6).

China
Historically knotwork are divided into cords and knots. In the dynastic periods, a certain number of craftsmen were stationed in the court and outside the court to produce cords and knots in order to meet the increasing demand for them at various places of the court. Cord, knot and tassels were made separated and combined later.

Korea
In Korea, decorative knotwork is known as maedeup, often called Korean knotwork or Korean knots. Inspired by Chinese knotwork, a wall painting found in Anak, Hwanghae Province, now in North Korea, dated 357 AD, indicates that the work was flourishing in silk at that time. Decorative cording was used on silk dresses, to ornament swords, to hang personal items from belts for the aristocracy, in rituals, where it continues now in contemporary wedding ceremonies. Korean Knotwork is differentiated from Korean embroidery.

The Bong Sool tassel is noteworthy, and the most representative work familiar to westerners, and often bought as souvenirs for macramé-style wall-hangings.

Japan
With greater emphasis on the braids that are used to create the knots, Japanese knotting (also known as hanamusubi) tends to focus on individual knots.

One major characteristic of decorative knotwork is that all the knots are tied using one thread, which is usually about one-meter in length. However, when finished the knot looks identical from both the front and back. They can come in a variety of colours such as; gold, green, blue or black, though the most commonly used colour is red. This is because it symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

There are many different shapes of Chinese knots. The most common being butterflies, flowers, birds, dragons, fish, and even shoes. Culturally they were expected to ward off evil spirits similar to bagua mirrors or act as good-luck charms for Chinese marriages.

Name(Alternate names)
Cloverleaf Knot : 4 Flower Knot, Dragonfly Knot, Ginger Knot (Korean)
Round Brocade Knot : 6 Flower Knot
Chinese Button Knot : Knife Lanyard Knot, Bosun Whistle Knot
Double Connection Knot : Matthew Walker Knot
Double Coin Knot : Carrick Bend, Josephine Knot
Sauvastika Knot : Agemaki (Japanese)
Cross Knot
Square Knot
Plafond Knot : Spectacle/Glasses Knot (Korean), Caisson Ceiling Knot
Pan Chang Knot : Coil Knot, Temple Knot, Chrysanthemum Knot (Korean), 2x2 Mystic Knot
Good Luck Knot