| Chinese embroidery boasts a very long history. As the | | | | entered a new phase of ddevelopment, using |
| "Longevity embroidery" and "Token embroidery" | | | | innovative techniques and a larger variety of forms. |
| unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tomb in | | | | Originating among the folk people in the west of |
| Changsha, Hunan Province, indicate, it reached a rather | | | | Sichuan Province, Shu embroidery formed its own |
| high level of development some 2000-3000 years ago. | | | | unique characteristics: smooth, bright, neat and |
| Wang Jia of the Jin Dynasty wrote in Making Good | | | | influenced by the geographical environment, customs |
| Omissions: "In the period of Three Kingdoms, Madame | | | | and cultures. The works incorporated flowers, leaves, |
| Zhao, wife of His Lord the chief of Wu, could | | | | animals, mountains, rivers and human figures as their |
| embroider the map of all kingdoms on a piece of silk | | | | themes. Altogether, there are 122 approaches in 12 |
| fabric, with the mountain ranges, rivers and sees all | | | | categories for weaving. The craftsmanship of Shu |
| clearly shown. People of that time described it as | | | | embroidery involves a combination of fine arts, |
| superb needle-work." The said map was perhaps the | | | | aesthetics and practical uses, such as the facings of |
| earliest recorded embroidery in China. | | | | quits, pillowcases, coats, shoots and screen covers. |
| Embroidery, a folk art with a long tradition, has an | | | | Yue Embroidery |
| important position in the history of Chinese arts and | | | | Also called Guang embroidery, Yue embroidery is a |
| crafts. In its long development embroidery has been | | | | general name for embroidery products of the regions |
| inseparable from silkworm raising and silk reeling and | | | | of Guangzhou, Shantou, Zhongshan, Fanyu and |
| weaving. | | | | Shunde in Guangdong Province. According to historical |
| China was the first country in the world to weave silk. | | | | records, in the first year of Yongyuan's reign (805) |
| Silkworms were domesticated as early as some 5,000 | | | | during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a girl named Lu |
| years ago. The production of silk threads and fabrics | | | | Meiniang embroidered the seventh volume of the |
| gave rise to the art of embroidery. In 1958, a piece of | | | | Fahua Buddhist Scripture on a piece of thin silk 30 cm |
| silk embroidered with a dragon and phoenix was | | | | long. And so, Yue embroidery became famous around |
| discovered in a state of Chu tomb of the Warring | | | | the country. The prosperous Guangzhou Port of the |
| Sates Period (475-221BC). More than 2,000 years old, | | | | Song Dynasty promoted the development of Yue |
| it is the earliest piece of Chinese embroidery ever | | | | embroidery, which began to be exported at that time. |
| unearthed. Embroidery became widespread during the | | | | During the Qing Dynasty, people animal hair as the raw |
| Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220) and many embroidered | | | | material for Yue embroidery, which made the works |
| pieces discovered date back to that period. | | | | more vivid. During Qianlong's reign (1736-1796) of the |
| Today, silk embroidery is practiced nearly all over | | | | Qing, an industrial organization was established in |
| China. The Four Famous Embroideries of China refer | | | | Guangzhou. At that time, a large number of craftsmen |
| to the Xiang embroidery in central China's Hunan | | | | devoted themselves to the craft, inciting further |
| Province, Shu embroidery in western China's Sichuan | | | | improvements to the weaving technique. Since 1915, |
| Province, Yue embroidery in southern China's | | | | the work of Yue embroidery garnered several |
| Guangdong Province and Su embroidery in eastern | | | | awards at the Panama Expo. |
| China's Jiangsu Province. | | | | Influenced by national folk art, Yue embroidery formed |
| Xiang Embroidery | | | | its own unique characteristics. The embroidered |
| Xiang embroidery is well known for its time-honored | | | | pictures are mainly of dragons and phoenixes, and |
| history, excellent craftsmanship and unique style. The | | | | flowers and birds, with neat designs and strong, |
| earliest piece of Xiang embroidery was unearthed at | | | | contrasting colors. Floss, thread and gold-and-silk |
| the No 1 Tomb of Mawangdui, Changsha City of the | | | | thread embroidery are used to produce costumes, |
| Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220). The weaving technique | | | | decorations for halls and crafts for daily use. |
| was almost the same as the one used in modern | | | | Su Embroidery |
| times, which demonstrated that embroidery had | | | | With a history of more than 3,000 years, Su |
| already existed in the Han Dynasty. In its later | | | | embroidery is the general name for embroidery |
| development, Xiang Embroidery absorbed the | | | | products in areas around Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. |
| characteristics of traditional Chinese paintings and | | | | The craft, which dates back to the Three Kingdoms |
| formed its own unique characteristics. Xiang | | | | Period (220-280), became a sideline of people in the |
| embroidery experienced its heyday at the end of the | | | | Suzhou area during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Well |
| Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and in the early Republic of | | | | known for its smoothness and delicateness, Su |
| China (early 20th century), even surpassing Su | | | | embroidery won Suzhou the title City of Embroidery in |
| embroidery. After the founding of the People's | | | | the Qing Dynasty. In the mid and late Qing, Su |
| Republic of China, Xiang embroidery was further | | | | embroidery experienced further developments |
| improved and developed to a new level. | | | | involving works of double-sided embroidering. There |
| Xiang embroidery uses pure silk, hard satin, soft satin | | | | were 65 embroidery stores in Suzhou City. During the |
| and nylon as its material, which is connected with | | | | Republic of China period (1912-1949), the Su |
| colorful silk threads. Absorbing the spirit of Chinese | | | | embroidery industry was in decline due to frequent |
| paintings, the embroidery reaches a high artistic level. | | | | wars and it was restored and regenerated after the |
| Xiang embroidery crafts include valuable works of art, | | | | founding of new China. In 1950, the central government |
| as well as materials for daily use. | | | | set up research centers for Su embroidery and |
| Shu Embroidery | | | | launched training courses for the study of embroidery. |
| Also called Chuan embroidery, Shu embroidery is the | | | | Weaving methods have climbed from 18 to the |
| general name for embroidery products in areas around | | | | present 40. |
| Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Shu embroidery enjoys a | | | | Su embroidery features a strong, folk flavor and its |
| long history. As early as the Han Dynasty, Shu | | | | weaving techniques are characterized by the following: |
| embroidery was already famous. The central | | | | the product surface must be flat, the rim must be neat, |
| government even designated an office in this area for | | | | the needle must be thin, the lines must be dense, the |
| its administration. During the Five Dynasties and Ten | | | | color must be harmonious and bright and the picture |
| States periods (907-960), a peaceful society and large | | | | must be even. Su embroidery products fall into three |
| demand provided advanced conditions for the rapid | | | | major categories: costumes, decorations for halls and |
| development of the Shu Embroidery industry. Shu | | | | crafts for daily use, which integrate decorative and |
| embroidery experienced its peak development in the | | | | practical values. Double-sided embroidery is an |
| Song Dynasty (960-1279), ranking first in both | | | | excellent representative of Su embroidery. |
| production and excellence. In the mid-Qing Dynasty, the | | | | In addition to the four major embroidery styles there |
| Shu embroidery industry was formed. After the | | | | are Ou embroidery of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province; |
| founding of the People's Republic of China, Shu | | | | Bian embroidery of Kaifeng, Henan Province and Han |
| embroidery factories were set up and the craft | | | | embroidery of Wuhan, Hubei Province. |