Sichuan Embroidery

    Sichuan embroidery is a traditional form of arts and crafts in Sichuan Province. It is also called Shu embroidery. Sichuan was the place where the production of silk began. According to historical records, Sichuan people started raising silkworms when King Cancong(seventeenth century B.C.) ruled the Ancient Shu State. The character “Shu” is short for Sichuan, meaning silkworm. Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan, was nicknamed as “the Brocade City” during the Han Dynasty(202B.C.-220A.D.). At that time, the silk weaving industry in Chengdu prospered. The central government assigned an official to Chengdu whose title was “the Supervisor of Brocade Production”. The official was in charge of managing the brocade production and trade. A huge office complex was built in the city proper for the official and his subordinates. The complex was named the Brocade City by the official. Sichuan brocade is a soft and colorful silk product. As the silk weaving industry flourished, the embroidery was also rapidly developed in Sichuan. It originated from the simple cross-stitch and gradually became a complicated and skilled work. The most popular sewing style utilized by ancient Sichuan people was called the chain stitch. Yang Xiong(53B.C.-18A.D.), a celebrated scholar of the Western Han Dynasty, wrote poems in praise of Sichuan embroidery.

    As one of China’s top four embroideries, Sichuan embroidery combines practical uses with artistic value. The embroidery products include embroidered art paints, pillow covers, quilt covers, cushions, table-clothes, scarves and handkerchiefs. The other three noted embroideries in China include Suzhou embroidery from Suzhou, Yue embroidery from Guangdong Province and Xiang embroidery from Hunan Province. Suzhou embroidery is famous for its extremely delicate stitches, Xiang embroidery for its rich colors, and Yue embroidery for its complicated patterns.

    Sichuan embroidery is made with soft satin and colored threads. It is outstanding for its varied stitches and vivid patterns. The patterns on Sichuan embroidery are mainly chosen from local folk art, especially the traditional landscape paintings. Generally, the designs are composed with the patterns of flowers, birds, worms, fish, pandas and landscapes. The patterns are stitched by hand, and create a vivid three-dimensional effect. The fur and scales look quite real. You can see the individual hairs. For instance, the Panda patterns composed on a piece of silk cloth look so vivid that you may wonder if the pandas are always staring at you, wherever you walk around nearby. There is no ugly knot on the back. It feels smooth and soft when you touch it. The master piece of Sichuan embroidery is the so-called double-sided embroidery. It could be dated back to the Song Dynasty. The wonder is that the patterns on both sides are the same, and embroidered by hand on one piece of soft satin.

    At present, there are 122 sewing styles utilized by embroiderers in Sichuan. Both Xiegunzhen and Qiezhen are widely used. Xiegunzhen means “slanting and rolling stitch” in English. It is mainly applied to form long and narrow stripes which look like vines, flower’s stems, pine needles and ripples. Qiezhen means “tangent stitch” in English. It is a sewing style with thin lines which touch the outside of curves. The tangent stitch is used to embroider some patterns, such as mist and bubbles.


Author: Tina Luo

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