Su Embroidery, also known as Suzhou embroidery, is a collective term for embroidered products from the Suzhou region in Jiangsu Province, China. It is a traditional folk art of Suzhou and is considered one of the Four Great Embroideries of China. Su Embroidery has been recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.
Su Embroidery has a long history, with its origins dating back to the Three Kingdoms period. It experienced significant development during the Sui and Tang dynasties, reaching its peak during the Qing Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, Su Embroidery became a well-established industry, and embroidered goods were highly developed. Suzhou was often referred to as the "Embroidery City" during this period. The Qing Dynasty recognized Su Embroidery as one of the "Four Great Famous Embroideries of China," alongside Xiang Embroidery, Yue Embroidery, and Shu Embroidery, with Su Embroidery being the most prominent among them.
According to the historical records in "Shuo Yuan" by Liu Xiang during the Western Han Dynasty, more than two thousand years ago during the Spring and Autumn Period, the state of Wu had already been using Suzhou embroidery in clothing. The exquisite depiction of nine dragons on the imperial robes of ancient emperors was created using Suzhou embroidery techniques, making Suzhou embroidery a symbol of royal craftsmanship.
Su Embroidery is characterized by its beautiful and cleverly designed patterns, meticulous craftsmanship, lively stitching techniques, and elegant colors, showcasing a distinctive regional charm. Its embroidery techniques are known for being "smooth, even, harmonious, brilliant, flowing, and uniform."
"Smooth" refers to the flat and even embroidery surface."Even" emphasizes the neatness of the pattern edges."Fine" signifies the use of delicate needles and fine threads."Dense" indicates tightly packed lines without visible needle marks."Harmonious" suggests well-balanced color choices."Brilliant" describes the dazzling and vivid colors."Flowing" signifies the smooth and graceful flow of threads."Uniform" means that the lines are finely and evenly distributed, maintaining consistent density.
The materials and tools required for embroidery include embroidery hoops, frames, scissors, needles, fabric, and thread, among others. In terms of embroidery techniques, Su Embroidery boasts an extensive range of needlework, with a total of 43 different stitches categorized into 9 major types.
These include even stitches, whipping stitches, loop stitches, laying stitches, random stitches, rolling stitches, cutting stitches, satin stitches, dot stitches, seed stitches, knot stitches, net embroidery, ice pattern stitches, raised stitches, inlaid stitches, scale stitches, furrow stitches, bead stitches, and many more. Among these, the predominant stitch type is the loop stitch, where threads are seamlessly joined to create a finished piece without visible needle marks.
The exquisite craftsmanship of Su Embroidery allows it to bring to life various subjects, including landscapes, flowers and birds, animals, and figures, achieving a lifelike quality. It is for this reason that Su Embroidery is renowned worldwide as the "Pearl of the Orient." The artistic value of Su Embroidery works has been highly regarded by numerous connoisseurs and collectors. Therefore, the preservation and inheritance of Su Embroidery are of utmost importance.
Due to the intricate craftsmanship of Su Embroidery, each step involves different techniques, and creating a high-quality piece often takes several years, if not longer. This complexity has led to a declining interest in learning and mastering Su Embroidery techniques in today's fast-paced world. To promote the cultural heritage of intangible cultural heritage, it is crucial to attract more young people to engage in the preservation and inheritance of these traditions, collaborating with recognized heritage bearers.
Traditional Su Embroidery has its roots in meticulous Chinese painting, with a strong emphasis on depicting flowers, birds, and small animals. It excels in creating exquisite renderings of "kittens" and "goldfish." In contemporary Su Embroidery, it has expanded to encompass virtually all subjects and styles that can be found in painting and photography. A fine piece of Su Embroidery is a perfect fusion of craftsmanship and artistry, and the artistic effect it encapsulates becomes a crucial criterion for distinguishing Su Embroidery craftsmanship from true artistic pieces. By integrating authentic traditional culture with modern trends, it provides an apt approach for embracing the current trend of nationalistic style.
