The production of such silk embroidery crafts not only played a great role in Chinese society, but also had a great role and influence in international cultural life. By the Qin and Han dynasties (221 B.C. to 220 A.D.) embroidery had developed to a high level and embroidery became a major commodity exported to foreign countries. Since China was the homeland of silk, the rich had "boudoir embroidery" as their chastity, and the poor had "good weaving and skillful embroidery" as their business. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), folk embroideries from all over the world had a traditional flavor, and four famous embroideries were formed: Suzhou embroidery from Suzhou, Hunan Hunan embroidery, Sichuan Shu embroidery, and Guangdong Guangdong embroidery. There are also Beijing embroidery, Wenzhou Ou embroidery, Shanghai Gu embroidery, and Miao embroidery, with different origins and styles. The stitches of embroidery include wrong needle embroidery, random needle embroidery, net embroidery, full ground embroidery, etc. The flowers in the embroidery are fragrant and the birds are lifelike. The beasts are realistic.
After the liberation, China applied oil painting, Chinese painting and photo to embroidery, making it look like painting from a distance and embroidery from the ground. The use of embroidery has further expanded from theatrical costumes to pillowcases, tablecloths, screens, wall hangings, and lifestyle garments in daily life. In addition, embroidery is a traditional Chinese foreign trade product with high economic value.
The characteristics and artistic value of Chinese embroidery are directly reflected in the four famous embroideries.
Su embroidery is famous for its fine stitches, elegant colors and fine embroidery, which are flat, light, flush, even, harmonious, fine and dense. The subject matter is mainly small animals. For example, "Cat Play", "Wind Through Flowers", "Fish and Shrimp" and so on. In recent years, double-sided embroidery has emerged, with both sides having the same and different. For example, the eyes of the anchor are different in color on both sides, which is very fascinating.
Hunan embroidery is mostly realistic, with bright colors, using Chinese paintings as the background, lined with corresponding clouds and landscapes, pavilions and pavilions, birds and animals, in a bold style. The tiger and lion are embroidered with a unique stitching method, and the animal's hair is powerful. It is said that Hunan embroidery "can make flowers smell good, birds smell good, tigers run good, and people can convey the spirit of embroidery. Shu embroidery is simple in composition, mostly using traditional national patterns such as squares and flower strips, which are decorative. The colors are rich and vivid, the stitching is rigorous, the reality is appropriate, the three-dimensionality is strong, and the flatness is smooth. The embroidered objects include flowers and butterflies, carp, pandas, etc.
Cantonese embroidery is embroidered with gold and silver threads, and the embroidery threads are smooth and shiny. The layout is tight, decorative and three-dimensional. The embroidery surface is magnificent and dazzling, and is mostly used for theater costumes and wedding costumes. Lychee and peacock are the traditional subjects of Cantonese embroidery.
