| China has a history of silk more than 5000 years, since | | | | quite a number of innovative embroidery stitches. |
| she first invented the sericulture and silk production. It is | | | | Dozens of scenic paintings and embroidery art |
| silk that built a bridge between China and Europe, then | | | | needlework will surely bring you an eye treat. |
| the Silk Road became a symbol of the cultural and | | | | The Chinese delegation also brings with them a team |
| economic exchange between the East and the West. | | | | of fashion show. At the opening ceremony six |
| So silk is a part of the Chinese civilization, which made | | | | beautiful girls from China will put on a performance of |
| a great contribution to the world. | | | | what the Chinese wear from the Han |
| What kind of oriental silk mysteries will be brought to | | | | n to the present, a manifestation of the good time of |
| this beautiful country? It is learned that there will be | | | | silk in the past 5,000years. The show will last for 3 |
| more than 140 pieces /sets of silk textile exhibits | | | | days. At the same time, the Chinese textile experts will |
| collected by ChinaSilkMuseum, of which 80, carefully | | | | have dialogue with the audience and receive interview |
| selected, extremely precious and rare, are relics of | | | | by the media ( in English). |
| ancient China which epitomizes the historical | | | | In the past 5,000 yeas silk has become an integral part |
| development of ancient silk culture. Besides, woven | | | | of Chinese civilization and a great contribution to the |
| fabrics and modern brocade add up to 60 pieces / | | | | world civilization as well. Living in silk is one of the |
| sets, among which, some master embroidered pieces | | | | pursuits by the people for a better life. It is believed |
| are supplied by the Culture Ministry of the People's | | | | that this exhibition will promote the cultural exchange |
| Republic of China. | | | | between the two countries, strengthen their friendship |
| The exhibition is made up of three parts. | | | | and facilitate the Czech to understand the long history |
| Part I narrates how China and Europe are connected | | | | and culture of China. |
| through the route of Silk Road, that is, the silk relics | | | | "A silkworm spins all its silk till its death and a candle |
| textiles excavated along the Silk Road by land, sea | | | | won't stop its tears until it is fully burnt." This Tang |
| and desert. Chinese silk chronology charts the | | | | poem accurately describes the property of the |
| development of silk in the past 5,000 years with | | | | silkworm. Despite technological development, a |
| emphasis on Chinese silk history and culture. A group | | | | silkworm can only produce a certain amount of |
| of model weaving looms, ranging from the primitive | | | | silk---1000 meters (3280feet) in its lifespan of 28 days. |
| back-strapped loom, the treadle plain-weave loom, the | | | | The rarity of the raw material is the deciding factor of |
| reclining loom and the mechanical patterning loom act | | | | both the value and the mystery of silk. |
| out not only the weaving technology but also how the | | | | Legend has it that in ancient times, Lei Zu, the wife of |
| ancient Chinese made exquisite silk. The precious | | | | Huang Di , taught people how to raise silkworms and |
| exhibits, the 5,000-year old components of a primitive | | | | how to extract the silk. |
| back-strapped loom and the silk yarn unearthed in | | | | The Warring States Period, the beginning of feudalist |
| Yuyao county, Zhejiang Province, enable people to | | | | society in Chinese history, witnessed a prosperous |
| understand that the ancestors of the Chinese people | | | | time. The development of productivity popularized silk |
| began to grow mulberry trees, raise silkworms and | | | | and it was no longer a luxury just for aristocrats. The |
| weave silk fabrics even then, hence, the long civilization | | | | pattern, weaving, embroidery and dyeing skills were all |
| history of China. | | | | improved as they were influenced by the free ideology |
| Part II exhibits the silk textile relics from the early Qin | | | | of the time, while the silk designs had sense of a free |
| period (306 BC) to the 40s of last century. You can | | | | and bold air about them. |
| see a Han dynasty brocade (206 BC) with the motif | | | | The silk products excavated from Mawangdui Han |
| of running animals amidst the misty mountains, an | | | | Tomb are proof of the advanced skill and artistry of |
| indication of people's longing for a fairyland. Still another | | | | silk at this time. |
| piece called "Persian Samite" which dates back to the | | | | Silk production peaked during the Han Dynasty when |
| Northern dynasties (386-581AD) with its motifs of | | | | the manufactured goods were transported as far |
| elephant, camel, winged horse, lion, and hunter in half a | | | | away as Rome from Chang'an (today's Xian). The |
| dozen colors, clearly indicates the influence of the | | | | overland trade route was to become famously known |
| western regions. Rare animals and gods from the | | | | as the Silk Road. However, there was also a Marine |
| Greek mythology form the major motifs of silk textiles | | | | Silk Road extending from Xuwen, Guangdong or Hepu, |
| from the 5th-9th centuries. A well preserved silk tabby | | | | Guangxi to Vietnam. An outward bound voyage lasting |
| coat tie-dyed by hand helps us to understand and | | | | five months would arrive in Vietnam; it would take |
| study the silk production techniques as well as the | | | | another four months to reach Thailand; while a further |
| fashion style in that dynasty. The brocade fabrics, | | | | twenty days would carry the merchants on to Burma. |
| elegant and poised with pearl roundel and floral spray | | | | Two months later they would arrive in India and Sri |
| motifs produced in the Tang dynasty not only reflect | | | | Lanka, from where the silk would be eventually |
| the prosperity of that dynasty but also the high level of | | | | transported to Rome via the Mediterranean. After |
| technology in the silk production. The delicate and | | | | such a long journey, the price of silk was equivalent to |
| refined style of the Song dynasty is shown in a suit of | | | | that of gold. Legendary as it seems, tender silk |
| gauze coat, trousers and a pair of shoes on display. | | | | connected China to the rest of the world. |
| They are thin, light and graceful. The trousers with its | | | | During subsequent dynasties, professional designers |
| short yet loose legs recapture the fashion style of that | | | | created novel patterns and improved the machines. |
| time. The silk textiles and clothes after the 19th century | | | | The Marine Silk Road took supremacy over the land |
| on this show are all bright in color, diversified in style | | | | Silk Road following the Song Dynasty extending the |
| and exquisite in embroidery. Beautiful and gorgeous | | | | trade to Southeast Asia which became fully |
| are these magnificent yellow fabrics for the emperor's | | | | developed in the Yuan Dynasty. Besides Chinese |
| robe with dragon motifs, the embroidered coats with | | | | exports, foreign businessmen also came to China to |
| red flowers, green embroidered woman's-wear and | | | | buy silk and china wares. |
| slim-figured Qipao of superb handwork. | | | | During the Ming and Qing Dynasties silk was |
| Part III deals with the rapid advance of computerized | | | | transported to Europe and America from Manila and |
| digital technology and resultant digital weaving | | | | this meant that China dominated the world's silk market |
| techniques. Brocade embroidery is the most | | | | until 1908. |
| resplendent chapter of the silk history. With the help of | | | | Chinese characters including the component "silk" have |
| color separation and structure design, electronic | | | | the intonation of silk or its implication of fine and deep. |
| jacquard and the new- type rapier, digital colorful silk | | | | The richness of color, texture, strength and beauty of |
| paintings are more vivid in motif and richer in color | | | | silk make it the means to imply something is fine and |
| expression. On the basis of the traditional printing and | | | | impeccable. A woman's raven hair is referred to as |
| dyeing technology, printed silk paintings, and silk | | | | 'black silk' ; tender feelings are 'feelings of silk' and the |
| paintings from wax-resist dyeing and digital ink-jet | | | | Chinese word for a lingering and emotive feeling |
| improved on by contemporary high tech, are enjoying | | | | contains the component of "silk", and even a flavor |
| more appreciation among people. Hand painting and | | | | can be silky and smooth. |
| embroidery know-how are also nearing perfection with | | | | |