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                  Traditional Arts and Handicrafts


Embroidery is a very long established art form in China. It was never classified as a solely female activity and men and women have both been involved in embroidery. The items embroidered are quite diverse and include robes, theatrical costumes, purses, shoes, spectacle cases, banners, etc. Some of the pieces were so finely stitched that the pieces took 5-6 people several years to complete. Embroidery was also used as a means of decorating silk clothing and for silk flags and banners as a means of denoting rank or station. The finest pieces of work were very expensive. Gradually, embroidery developed, as a pastime for wealthy ladies and many members of the court were renowned for their intricate work. Silk Embroidery

According to the Chinese, there are two main divisions of embroidery, "Qing Wen" and "Tuan Cheng". " Qing Wen " uses the long and short stitch, while "Tuan Cheng" involves the seed stitch used in Beijing that is also known as the French knot. The stitches most commonly used by the Chinese are as follows.

1)Satin stitch "C which is further classified into long and short 2)Beijing stitch or French knot 3)Stem stitch; 4)Couching; 5)Chain stitch; 6)Split stitch.

All of these stitches are known in the west. Many westerners find Chinese embroidery a little over done. The Chinese satin stitch when done to perfection is exquisite in its fine detail. The use of gold thread for the French knot, for which the Chinese have a special gift, is characteristic of their work. Sometimes even such light material as gauze and paper were embroidered to demonstrate the fineness of the work.


Hunan Embroidery It is difficult to be precise as to when embroidery first was practiced in China. But based on archeological excavations of tombs, it at least dates back to the early Han dynasty that based itself near Lake Baikal in the early 2nd century B.C. Many Tang embroideries continue to be preserved both in China and in Japan. One of the most famous representations of the embroiders' artistry is the piece that came from the Magao Grottoes at Dunhuang and that dates from 10th century.


There are also many fine pieces of embroidery from the Song dynasty. We know from historical records that the Song Emperor Hui Zong (1101-1126) established an embroidery bureau called the "Wen Xiu Yuan". It also is well known that many of the finest pieces were copied in the Ming and Ching period and it is therefore difficult to definitely attribute many of these pieces.

Chinese Literature records the names of many famous embroidery artists. Among these are Kuan, the wife of the painter Chao Mengfu and the ladies of the Ku family in Shanghai such as Ku Shouzhen who worked their artistry in Ming times. The painters Tong Qichang and Wen Zhengming and more recently Shen Zhou who died in 1910 are all considered great embroiders.

Embroidery is still practiced in many sections of China. Suzhou is well known for the quality of its work. Additionally other areas have a reputation for embroidery but few can match the precision, art and charm of the work produced in China prior to the Modern period.


Chinese Embroidery

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