Folk embroidery

Shanxi Folk Embroidery

Shanxi Province Folk Embroidery is the birthplace of folk embroidery art. Folk embroidery not only has a long history in Shanxi, but also has a wide range of themes and rich content, and has the characteristics of reflecting Shanxi's local conditions and customs.

Shanxi folk embroidery has its own unique artistic style, with simple patterns, bright colors, concise compositions, exaggerated shapes, diverse stitching techniques, and exquisite embroidery work. Most of these folk embroidery artworks are made by rural working women.

In Shanxi embroidery, the embroidery crafts from Xinzhou and Shannan areas are the most influential.

Xinzhou Embroidery

Among the people of Xinzhou, embroidery is quite common among the masses. In the Dai County area, the embroidery products are rigorous, gorgeous and elegant; in Wutai County and nearby urban and rural areas, the embroidery style is beautiful and dignified; in Xinzhou, Dingxiang and Yuanping, the embroidery products are more simple and beautiful in style.

Xinzhou embroidery can be roughly divided into three categories: clothing, daily necessities, and sacrificial items.

Folk clothing, traditional folk embroidery is mainly used as a decoration for wear. These decorations are mostly found on women and children. In women's clothing embroidery, different parts have different patterns. "Wrist sleeves" (jacket cuffs) are usually decorated with two consecutive patterns containing peace, auspiciousness and wishful thinking. The "neckline", mostly embroidered with Ruyi clouds, is decorated with floral patterns. "Skirt" is a piece of clothing commonly used by women in ancient and modern times. It has one piece at the front and one piece at the front. It is often hemmed and embroidered, and the color is mostly black, blue, or red. "Top top" is mostly embroidered on the chest. Commonly used patterns include fish playing lotus, peony, etc. "Dingzi" is often embroidered with patterns such as butterflies and lotus flowers on it. The uppers of the "shoes" are often embroidered with patterns such as butterflies and flowers, toad palaces and laurels. "Liangguan" is used by women to tie their hair in summer. It is often embroidered on a black background and is very delicate. Rural children's "doudou" is mostly embroidered with red borders, and is usually decorated with patterns such as Lotus and Takako, Wealth and Eternal Spring, which imply good luck and fertility. There is also the meaning of embroidering five poisonous insects to keep the poison away from the body. The "bibs" worn by boys are often embroidered with patterns of two tigers facing each other, two lions facing each other, and five blessings and longevity. The "bib" on the girl's body is embroidered with patterns such as five butterflies holding flowers, five lotus sitting on a child, and five fish playing with lotus. Ear muffs for winter ear protection are mostly peach-shaped and often embroidered with auspicious animal, flower and bird patterns. "Children's shoes", mostly tiger shoes for boys, have a tiger head in the front, tiger feet on the side, and a tiger tail in the back, which lifts up. There is a green toad embroidered on the front, which is called toad shoes, which contains the idea of ??"the money won by the toad palace falls to the ground". In the countryside of Xinzhou, there are also piggy shoes, puppy shoes, etc., which are all related to local customs. Girls' shoes have the same shape as boys' shoes, except that the embroidered patterns on the front of the shoes are auspicious, cheerful, and decorated with meaningful flower and bird patterns.

Daily necessities: Pillow flowers and tiger pillows are common in Xinzhou area. Among the tiger pillows there are two-headed tigers, tigers with human faces, tiger heads and fish tails, etc., as well as toad pillows. These pillows are exquisitely sewn, with unique patterns and shapes. It is both a toddler pillow and a children's toy.

"Jihua" is a variety of daily necessities made by women in Xinzhou area using various colored rags and pieces of cloth connected according to the shape. Such as mats, school bags, horse riding, etc.

"Insoles" are often given as gifts to unmarried young women to their fiancés, and are often embroidered with patterns such as boundless sea of ??blessings, everything goes well, and lotus boy.

"Purse" has different uses such as holding money and cigarettes. Under normal circumstances, the "purse" embroidery work is relatively fine, and it is often used as a token of love between men and women, and is often a token of love from a woman to a man.

Also, during traditional festivals, many places in Xinzhou also embroider some holiday items for children.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, mothers embroider grain "sachets" for their children to wear on their chests and backs.

In normal times, people also embroider "cushions" for the elderly to sit on; "cushions" for sitting decorations made with various techniques of embroidery, cutting and inlaying; as well as sedans and sedans for wedding couples. The embroidered "car curtains", "car clothes" and so on are decorated on the car.

Sacrifice items: This type of embroidery products are often used for dry sacrifices to sweep ceremonial mourning halls, table skirts, shrine curtains, etc., decorated with dragons, phoenixes, cranes, fortune, wealth, longevity, and the eight immortals of light and darkness. Fine embroidery. In addition, when embroidering the "coffin cover" used for funeral ceremonies and the "longevity" and "longevity trousers" of the deceased, the materials used and the embroidery work are very particular.

Shannan Embroidery

In the rural areas of southern Shanxi, people’s daily necessities and clothing are mostly decorated with embroidery, such as collars, cuffs, skirts, etc. Shawls, hats, shoes and quilt covers, pillows, wedding tents, birthday tents, table surrounds, chair cushions, etc. all have different embroidery patterns.

Folk embroidery in southern Shanxi is more common in Linyi County, Wanrong County, Xiangfen County, Hongdong County, Ji County, Linfen City and Yuncheng City in Linfen and Yuncheng. The embroidery patterns in these places are mostly based on popular content among the people, such as peacocks in full bloom, magpies climbing plum blossoms, pine and crane to prolong life, two dragons playing with pearls, phoenix and peonies, etc., which are common themes of folk embroidery in southern Shanxi. Fruits and vegetables, birds and animals, mountains and rivers, pavilions and pavilions are all common embroidery genres in life.

Most of the folk embroidery in southern Shanxi is made by ordinary farm women. This traditional embroidery skill is often continued through family inheritance and mutual exchanges. The girls here have been influenced by their families since they were young and began to learn embroidery. As they grow older, embroidery naturally becomes an important art activity in their growth. They continuously accumulated experience and skills in practice, and under the influence and guidance of their elders, they began to imitate and then independently created new patterns, forming a unique style of folk embroidery in southern Shanxi.

The authors of southern Shanxi folk embroidery are very good at using a variety of techniques to express their own imagined themes. Some are realistic, some are romantic, and some are exaggerated, creating countless embroidery crafts that are both decorative and rich in local flavor.

Lingbao folk embroidery

Lingbao folk embroidery has been passed down for generations and has continued to develop and innovate, gradually forming its own unique local style. It can be summarized as follows: A few points:

Rich and diverse, with auspicious meanings

Lingbao’s folk embroidery is mostly practical for daily life. All daily necessities and clothing (mainly women and children) are decorated with embroidery. Such as clothing cuffs, collars, skirts, aprons, curtains, quilt tops, tent edges, baby hoods, children's hats, handkerchiefs, sock soles, etc. Such items are decorated with various auspicious patterns with different meanings, showing women's blessings to their loved ones and their yearning for a better life.

The patterns of Lingbao folk embroidery generally use symbols of celebration and auspiciousness. Or through "homonym" with the same pronunciation. Express your best wishes for life. It integrates the appreciation habits of the masses and permeates the folk customs of western Henan. Such as "the lotus gives birth to a noble son", "the magpie ascends the plum blossom", "the unicorn delivers its son", "the mandarin ducks play in the water", "the lotus flowers are tied together", "the phoenix plays with the peony", "the carp wears the lotus", "a hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix", " "The lion rolls the hydrangea", "The phoenix plays with the peony" and so on.

Spread love and express maternal love

Lingbao is also the hometown of opera art. Various folk operas such as "Tao Qing", "Henan Bangzi", and "Shadow Play" are deeply loved Loved by local people, the storyline, costumes, colors and figures in folk opera and shadow puppetry have been directly or indirectly transplanted into folk embroidery. The most prominent content is the love story. ", "The edge of the cabinet", "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai", etc. are all carefully embroidered by the girls on purses, pillow tops, door curtains, tent edges, quilt tops, and bed edges. The embroidered male and female figures have simple images. Innocence, bright and bright colors, embodies the girls' happy mood for love life and happy marriage. The women embroider their children's hats, cloth tigers, fragrant bags, etc., with all their maternal love. p>

It is closely related to and inseparable from folk culture

In Lingbao County, according to different seasons and fashions, women embroider embroidery with different connotations based on the two major events of marriage, love and children's health. , embroidery and toys with different contents. It is a great joy for a girl to get married, so she must have "blue satin shoes, embroidered with red flowers." Once you pass through the door, you will become the family." The bride and groom's new house must be decorated in a prosperous and festive manner. What does it look like? "Mandarin duck pillows, dragon and phoenix tents, and red silk door curtains embroidered with phoenixes." The bride's wedding watch is even more Exquisite works of art, as evidenced by folk songs: Wang Xiaojiao was a bride, and she was busy with embroidery to get married. After the first watch, she finished embroidering the front placket, and the peonies bloomed on her chest; after the second watch, she finished embroidering the four corners of the watch, and colorful clouds were floating in all directions; after the third watch, she finished embroidering. On the edge of the shirt, magpies appear on the plum blossoms to bring good luck; after the fourth watch, the lotuses are embroidered, and the couple is full of love; after the fifth watch, the dragon and phoenix fly together, which is a very grand ceremony for women to give birth to during the "full moon". , tiger head hat, embroidered doudou, Xianggong hat (all inseparable from embroidery).

The Dragon Boat Festival in May is an important festival for the Han people. The folk song says: "The sun is red during the Dragon Boat Festival in May. Make a sachet to drive away poisonous insects." The eldest girls, young wives and skilled mothers-in-law in every household in Lingbao rural area worked together to embroider all kinds of "fragrance bags". "Eight Immortals", "Twelve Zodiac Signs", "Sun Wukong", "Toy with Feet", "Peach Holding Baby", as well as "Chicken Heart", "Shou Peach", "Buddha's Hand", "Butterfly" and so on. The sachet is filled with aromatic herbs such as Atractylodes and Angelica dahurica, which can repel mosquitoes, flies and poisonous insects, and also have a pleasant fragrance. Girls carefully embroider them to give to their lovers as tokens of love. Mothers embroider carefully to keep their children safe and healthy.

Completely retaining and inheriting the traditional techniques of embroidery

The representative stitching techniques of Lingbao folk embroidery are "zipper embroidery", "braid embroidery" and "dazi embroidery". In addition, commonly used stitching techniques include "covered needle embroidery", "na yarn embroidery", "flat stitch", "gold plate", "patch embroidery" and other traditional techniques. Among them, the techniques of "stretching flowers" and "patching embroidery" are particularly eye-catching. Embroidery is a single thread drawn by a needle, and several needles are used in a radial pattern to embroider vivid flowers. Although it is an auxiliary technique, it plays the finishing touch in the embroidery. This kind of acupuncture method is usually used on cloth toys. For example, a small flower is stretched on the forehead and two ribs of a majestic tiger, making the ferocious liger appear somewhat naive and the image is very cute. "Repair embroidery" is more widely used in embroidery. Its characteristic is that it can produce a relief effect on the embroidered items. "Filling embroidery" is subdivided into the following types: "Filling embroidery", the technique is similar to "overlapping embroidery", which is to use cloth, silk or other materials to cut into the required pattern, fill the base material with cotton, and then Use a needle to embroider the lace around the pattern firmly, so that the pattern is raised and has a three-dimensional effect. The brightly colored patterns are set off in the black patterns, with strong contrast and bright effect. This embroidery method is mostly used in embroidering insoles, sock soles and other daily necessities; "leaving edges and stacking embroidery" is a complicated embroidery technique. The technique is to wrap the cut pieces piece by piece with cloth, and then collage them onto the base material (the color of the base material is still mainly black and blue), and then use various color threads to use flat needles from the center of the pattern outwards. Solid embroidery. When embroidering, leave a thin line evenly on the edge of the pattern. The white outline looks very unique against the colorful pattern base material.

Xibe Embroidery

Folk treasures: Xibe embroidery captures the beauty of life

Xibo folk embroidery has a long history and rich connotations, and Xibe women are even more ingenious. , good at capturing the beautiful scenery in life. During the more than 200 years of living in the western part of the motherland, the embroidery works of Xibe women have won the admiration and recognition of people of all ethnic groups. Xibe embroidery appears in every corner of life: clothing, headscarves, pillowcases, shoes, curtains, etc. I came to Aixinsheli Town and Nadaqi Nulu Township in Ili Chabul County and had the honor to see the embroidery of Xibe women. process.

Ubiquitous embroidery is a traditional handicraft technique popularized by the Xibe people. In their long-term practice, the Xibe people use their dexterous hands to embroider the beautiful things given to them by nature into their own works. . The embroidery patterns include people, mountains and rivers, trees, flowers, birds and animals, etc. Among them, butterflies and chrysanthemums have become the mascots of the Xibe people, symbolizing freedom, tranquility, peace, and beauty. They also give the Xibe people a spiritual power, inspiring them to thrive in a difficult environment. The embroidery works of Xibe women appear in every corner of life, including clothing, headscarves, pillowcases, shoes, curtains, etc., as well as small items such as tablecloths, hangings, and sachets.

Qinghai Folk Embroidery

The history of Qinghai embroidery can be traced back to ancient times. With the opening of the South Silk Road, in the Tang Dynasty, Princess Wencheng and Princess Jincheng entered Tibet and passed through Qinghai, and Princess Honghua married King Tuyuhun of Qinghai. Silk from the Central Plains poured in, and people began to use embroidery to decorate themselves, beautify their lives, convey friendship and sustenance. Emotions make this folk art an indispensable part of people's lives, passed down from generation to generation and constantly developing.

Qinghai embroidery is widely used, with rich varieties and various patterns. A comprehensive review of various embroidery products can be roughly divided into four types: one is the practical type, which mainly includes shoes, socks, belts, and braid tubes. , pillow, which is the entity of embroidery; the second is the ornamental category, which mainly includes money bags, collars, sleeves, purses, pocket pieces, etc.; the third is the ceremonial category, which mainly includes wallets, pen cases, trouser belts, birthday accounts, and elegiac couplets. , calligraphy and painting, etc.; the fourth is religious supplies, using embroidery to shape Buddha statues and decorate temples and halls.

This is only a broad distinction. In fact, many things are both practical and ceremonial ornaments, so it is difficult to distinguish strictly.

National Characteristics

National character is the distinctive feature of Qinghai folk embroidery. In the long process of development, Qinghai embroidery has formed the unique style of each ethnic group. Due to the consistency of language, religious beliefs, festival etiquette, culture and entertainment, the content and form of life customs, and habits and hobbies of a nation, its unique spirit and consciousness must be reflected in folk art, especially embroidery that is closely related to people.

Tibetan, Mongolian, and Tu nationalities believe in Tibetan Buddhism, and their embroidery mostly reflects religious content such as the eight auspicious treasures, lions, elephants, and auspicious clouds, and a considerable part of their embroidery directly serves religion.

Puyang Embroidery

Embroidery is a traditional folk craft in Puyang, and the stitches used in Puyang embroidery are all traditional techniques of Song embroidery. Folk embroidery is common in Puyang, especially on both sides of the old Yellow River. Some girls who are not familiar with paper-cutting and embroidery regard it as ignorance. The embroidery can be seen, such as children's shoes and hats, bellybands, protective shields, etc. Among them, the drama costumes produced by Sun Zejiang are exquisite in craftsmanship, gorgeous in design and excellent in embroidery, and enjoy a high reputation in northern Henan.

Tibetan Embroidery

Tibetan embroidery absorbs the composition techniques of Thangka and learns the techniques of Han embroidery. The embroidery pays attention to the ornamental value and pursues bas-relief and magnificent artistic effects. Tibetan embroidery is highly decorative, and many patterns are cleverly combined into a harmonious layout that is intertwined and tied with each other, reflecting the national character of unity, friendship, and inseparability.

Tu embroidery

Tu embroidery is made with fine workmanship, the needlework is skillful, and the threads are effective. Embroidery pays attention to the overall relationship, with pan embroidery as the main body, intensive embroidery as the keynote, and large-area complex embroidery as the feature. Each piece of embroidery is grand and dazzling. Due to the time-consuming and precise craftsmanship, the embroidery is durable. Tu embroidery is widely used and folk embroidery is very active. To this day, Tu women are decorated with embroidery from head to toe and look gorgeous.

Hui and Salar embroidery

Hui and Salar embroidery pays attention to elegance and beauty, with exquisite and elegant stitching and exquisite and elegant embroidery. It is also influenced by Islam and is rarely used. Animal patterns are mostly based on plants and flowers.

Qinghai Han embroidery

Qinghai Han embroidery draws on the strengths of others. It not only draws on the embroidery of the Central Plains, but also draws on the composition and color of ethnic minorities. It also incorporates the skills of court embroidery, from composition, theme, color, embroidery method All aspects are deliberately pursued and developed in an all-round way, and the embroidery is simple yet gorgeous.

Regional characteristics

The regional environment plays a big role in the formation and development of embroidery. Famous embroideries in China include Su embroidery, Hunan embroidery, Shu embroidery, Guang embroidery, Jing embroidery, Gu embroidery, Miao embroidery, etc. They were all born in special geographical environments and formed unique embroidery species.

Although Qinghai folk embroidery cannot be completely compared with professional embroidery in other areas, due to the combination of plateau culture and Central Plains culture, it has the same beauty but similar approaches. The biggest feature of green embroidery is that it is primitive and simple, and every piece of embroidery seems to reflect the imprint of ancient times.

As far as this province is concerned, due to its vast territory, regional differences are reflected in embroidery. The embroidery of grassland herdsmen shows the bold temperament of the grassland with exaggerated shapes, solemn colors, pungent brushwork, strong contrast, concise composition, and rough lines. The various ethnic groups engaged in agriculture in eastern Qinghai not only have a wide range of embroidery types and are widely used, but also pay attention to full compositions, vivid images, simple and simple colors, pure colors, and diverse techniques, and are famous for their fine workmanship.

Miao Embroidery

Embroidery, like batik, is one of the most important decorative methods of Miao costumes. The concept of embroidery is a method of using silk thread, wool or colored cloth to create patterns on various clothing materials and fabric embryos with needle punches and stitching.

Miao rust is mainly used in headscarves, collars, sleeve waists, cuffs, shoulders, backs, hems, belts, aprons, skirts, leg wraps, shoes and bibs in Miao clothing. decorate.

There are roughly 12 categories of embroidery techniques: flat embroidery, peach blossom, lock embroidery, stacked flowers, patchwork, seed embroidery, broken thread embroidery, nail thread embroidery, braid embroidery, tin embroidery, horsetail embroidery, etc.

Summary

Folk embroidery is permeated with the wisdom and good wishes of countless women. It is full of fiery vitality and beautiful emotions. The needle and thread in the hands of a skilled embroiderer are like the pen and ink in the hands of a painter. They can embroider bright and exquisite pictures, express the personality of the embroiderer, and show the cultural style and artistic achievements of different eras.

Early embroidery focused on practicality. It was not until the emergence of textiles that the art of embroidery developed significantly, and folk embroidery became more active. In order to meet the needs of the development of embroidery art, various embroidery stitches have emerged. With the tireless and persistent pursuit of embroiderers, embroidery stitches have been continuously improved and enriched, forming a new situation with thousands of types of embroidery art and hundreds of flowers blooming.