Is The Term Oriental Rug Offensive To Asians People?
- Renaissance
- May 17, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 12
We’ve all heard the term Oriental rug—those beautiful, durable hand-woven area rugs made from natural materials, known for their intricate patterns and centuries-old craftsmanship. They’ve adorned American living rooms and dining spaces for generations. But when it comes to the word Oriental—especially when referring to people—what’s the story? Is it outdated, offensive, or simply misunderstood? And while we’re at it… should we call these rugs Asian rugs instead?
Key Takeaways
"Oriental" began as a Roman geographic label for "the East"; used for people today it is widely viewed as outdated, imprecise, and potentially offensive. In the rug trade, however, "Oriental rug" remains a historical category for hand-woven, hand-knotted rugs from the traditional weaving belt (roughly Morocco to China) and does not refer to a weaver’s ethnicity; some prefer alternatives like "Asian rugs" or "hand-knotted rugs." The article also clarifies Persian vs. Iranian usage, distinguishes kilim (flatweave) from pile rugs, and explains what does and does not qualify as an Oriental rug.
A brief history.
The word Orient comes from the Latin Oriens (or Orientalis), which literally means “the East.” You may have heard of the Orient Express. It is a famous train route from Paris to Istanbul. You might have also seen old maps that call large areas east of Europe “the Orient.”
Its counterpart? Occidens, or the West—Occidental.
But the term’s roots go much deeper, or rather, much older.
Oriental was first used as a geographic designation during the Roman Empire under Emperor Diocletian (reigning from 284 to 305 AD). The empire was split into administrative regions—including the Diocese of the Orient, which encompassed parts of what we now know as Greece, Egypt, Libya, Romania, Serbia, and more. People from those regions were known as Oriental , and west of Rome as Occidental —not in reference to race, but simply geography.
So when did things shift?
Over time, as colonial powers expanded eastward and the West developed a mystified and exoticized view of Asia, the word Oriental began to carry more cultural spin—especially in Western discourse. In modern contexts, referring to people of Asian descent as Oriental is not only inaccurate but often considered disrespectful and outdated.
When it comes to rugs, however, the term persists—and in that context, it’s historically tied to the traditional weaving regions of Asia, including Persia (Iran), India, China, Turkey, and Central Asia. Still, some now prefer the more culturally neutral terms Asian rugs or hand-knotted rugs.
So, should we stop calling them Oriental rugs?
Over time, the geographic location of "the Orient" gradually shifted eastwards, and the term Oriental stuck, while the term Occidental, not so much. Oriental continually shifted east until It finally reached the Pacific Ocean, in what Westerners came to call "the Far East." Go far enough east,one hits the west coast of America? Perhaps we all live in the Orient? Eventually, the classic Roman area of Orientalis became known as the Levant, and Oriental moved eastward. Today, we think of Orientalis or orientals as a central Asian area.
Commonly referenced as countries of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Laos. While excluding classic countries in the Orient such as Iran, Armenia, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece
Is the term Oriental derogatory or offensive?
The word oriental isn't descriptive of specific people; it's a vague geographic term, and even then, it's not very accurate or precise. The classic Orient is a vast and subjective geographical area, and its people, White, Black, Brown, Asian, and islanders, encompass many religions: Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Agnosticism, and Atheism. The term " East Asians or Asians in general is not accurate because many ethnic groups live in the Orient, other than people from the Far East.
We don't refer to Europeans or their descendants as Occidentals for the same reason, the term is too vague and unspecific. It also encompasses the people of West Africa. Regardless, the term has fallen out of favor since it's not specific to race, location, or to describe accurately the diverse cultures that make up Occidental or Oriental.
Referring to Asian Americans as oriental isn't accurate, but is calling them Oriental an insult? Some Asian people may be offended. I asked a friend of Japanese descent, and he was indifferent to being called Asian or Oriental, and followed up by saying I'm American.
For me, I don't use the term to describe people or even the places they come from; it's too vague and inaccurate, it's not that I'm self-righteous, the term just doesn't fit specific people or asian people. While the term has a long history of use, it's outdated.
I still use the word oriental when talking about rugs. In the rug world, we have many confusing terms, and the word oriental is certainly one of them, yet it means something in the trade. "Oriental rug" simply means any hand-woven rug woven from Morocco to China, and yes, I know that "technically" Moroccan rugs are Occidental rugs.
What's in a Name Anyway?
The term Occidental slowly disappeared from the rug dealer lingo it was used briefly in the rug trade, but since the bulk of rug weaving happens in the classic area of the Oriens, the word oriental stuck.
Their unique patterns became popular in home decor, and Oriental area rugs became popular in American homes because of their durable construction and intricate designs. Consumers soon realized that Oriental rugs were durable, and they became popular by the 1930s; the classic American living room and dining room featured an Oriental rug.
Today, the term Oriental rugs has become a blanket term for hand-woven rugs. The modern rug world Oriental rug transcends geography, ethnicity, religion, gender, and politics; it's become its own thing. Today, the term Oriental rug is a way to categorize a large group of hand-woven rugs made in a vast area from Morocco to China, and nothing more. The term does not reference people who weave rugs; it's a floor-covering category, meaning a hand-woven rug; it's a thing.
Is the term " oriental rug offensive? In my world, the rug world, no, because it's a classification of a thing, not people.
What about Persian rugs?
In 1935, Persia changed its name to Iran. From a technical standpoint, a Persian rug is a rug woven in Iran before 1935; after that, it is an Iranian rug.
However, people still use the term Persian for newer Iranian rugs. Iran's dominance in rug weaving and history as the top rug-weaving export country for centuries is well noted. Because of this, some classify Persian or Iranian rugs as separate from oriental rugs.
The thing to remember is that all Persian rugs are oriental rugs, but not all oriental rugs are Persian rugs. To be a Persian rug, it must be woven in what is modern-day Iran, technically Persia, before 1935. You see where I'm going here; it can be confusing, don't get me started on the nomenclature of specific rugs.
Are Kilim Rugs Oriental Rugs?
Kilim rugs are a type of oriental rug woven in a weft or slit tapestry weave; Turkey is well known for their Turkish rugs made in Kilim weave. Due to their weave structure being less durable than pile orientals, these rugs are better in lower traffic environments and fit bedroom décor or under a coffee table. Chairs sliding across a kilim, such as under a dining room table, can quickly damage a kilim. The perfect rug for a dining room is a thick, dense rug.
What's Not an Oriental Rug?
Our "new" modern interpretation of the Oriental rug is a type of rug construction made on a warp loom with hand-tied knots. What isn't an Oriental rug, hand-tufted, hand-loomed, machine-made, or rug, regardless of where it is made outside the rug-weaving belt from Morocco to China?
For example, there is rug weaving in Mexico around the town of Temoaya, near Mexico City. It is not an Oriental rug because it's not woven in the classic style. It's Meso-American weaving.
One might say the term 'Oriental rug' has specific requirements for its origin but is irrelevant to the ethnicity of those who make Oriental rugs; the term transcends such things.