** Renowned Schools of Embroidery

The most famous embroideries in China are Su Xiu in Jiangsu, Xiang Xiu in Hunan, Shu Xiu in Sichuan, and Yue Xiu in Guangdong, namely the Four Renowned Embroideries.

Su Xiu appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). According to historical records, Su Xiu was so popular in the Song dynasty that people even gave their lanes names connected with silk and embroidery. Almost every family raised silkworm and embroidered. Su Xiu reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty.

Su Xiu has a wide range of themes. Its techniques include single face embroidery and unique double-face embroidery, which looks the same from either side. Simple composition, clear theme, vivid image, and gentle color are the basic features of delicate Su Xiu. Now it even absorbs some Western painting techniques.

Yue Xiu is also called "Cantonese Embroidery" for it is produced in Guangdong Province. It is said that it was created by a minority people in the middle and at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A variety of threads are used in Yue Xiu, including thread twisted from the peacock quill and down thread from the horsetail. The whole piece looks splendid, bright in color with gold thread. Themes like "A Hundred Birds Displaying Homage to The Phoenix" are always employed in Yue Xiu.

Xiang Xiu came into being in the later Qing Dynasty, which combines the merits of Su Xiu and Yue Xiu with its local flavor. Actually, Xiang (the short name for Hunan Province) has had a long history with local embroidery. Archeologists have discovered fine silk embroidery items in the Chu and Han Tombs, both of which date back to more than 2,000 years ago.

Compare with the other embroideries, Xiang Xiu is unique in terms of tiger patterns. Although it features techniques of painting, engraving, calligraphy, and embroidery, it is generally based on the Chinese painting. Now, Xiang Xiu has developed a new unmatched embroidery product -- Double-face and Different Images Embroidery --, which features different images and colors on each side of the transparent chiffon.

As it is mainly produced around Chengdu of Sichuan Province, Shu Xiu is also called "Chuan Embroidery." It possesses a long history although the Chuan style was formed in the middle of the Qing Dynasty. The materials adopted for such embroidery are local-produced soft satin and colorful threads. The threads are neatly and thickly used and the colors are elaborately arranged.

Shu Xiu is characterized by delicate needling, even stitches, bright threads, closeness, and softness in texture. Its theme mainly covers animals and plants in the nature, especially pandas and fish. The embroidered products include mirror curtain, wedding dress, hats, and shoes, with the main themes of auspicious happiness.

(Source:chinaculture.org)