Wei Shuzhang
01 · Lineage & Regional School
Wei Shuzhang, Female, Bouyei, from Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Bouyei Embroidery (Ⅶ-131). The tradition is documented in Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou. Within the regional tradition and school record of Bouyei Embroidery in Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou: It is widely distributed in the Nanpan and Beipan river valleys in the upper reaches of the Pearl River, with the nine counties (cities and new districts) under the Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province as its core area of distribution; it is also found in Yunnan, Sichuan and other provinces. Its subjects are rich and varied, consisting mainly of flowers, birds, fish and insects, grasses, trees and vines, mountains and rivers, and the twelve zodiac animals, all related to production and daily life; they deeply reflect the ethnic character and regional features of the Bouyei people, who live beside mountains and waters, revere nature, draw close to nature and love their homeland. According to documentary records, Bouyei embroidery had already taken shape by the Ming dynasty at the latest, and has a history of more than five hundred years to the present day.
02 · Mastery & Signature Works
The bearer record for Wei Shuzhang is anchored in the documented technical standards of Bouyei Embroidery in Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou. Within the documented technical tradition of Bouyei Embroidery in Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou: Bouyei embroidery, called "xiaowa" in the Bouyei language, is a traditional handicraft widely practised in the areas inhabited by the Bouyei people of Guizhou Province. Bouyei embroidery comprises three aspects: pattern subjects, types and stitching methods. By colour it is divided into two types: plain embroidery and coloured embroidery; by the means of carrying the pattern it is divided into the direct-stitch method and the cut-and-paste method. Ordinarily the embroideress cuts the conceived pattern and pastes it on to the handwoven cloth ground, then embroiders according to the pattern. Those who are skilled need no cutting and pasting, but embroider directly on the cloth. Its common stitches include satin stitch, broken stitch, looped stitch, counted-thread stitch and braid stitch — more than ten in all. The colouring of Bouyei embroidery is plain and simple, commonly using blue, white, red and green. It is widely applied to dress and household articles such as cloth shoes, waist aprons, headscarves, handkerchiefs, satchels, baby carriers, bed curtains, door curtains, pillowcases, pillow towels, quilt covers, tablecloths and cushions; representative works include "Butterflies in Flight", "A Hundred Designs of Wealth and Honour" and "The Blooming of the Roxburgh Rose". Bouyei embroidery has bright, clear and delicate colouring, even stitches, vivid images and harmonious overall matching, with a strong visual impact, displaying a rich ethnic and regional character. Bouyei women are the main transmitters of Bouyei embroidery. It has always been passed down among Bouyei women through master-apprentice or mother-daughter transmission, with a clear line of descent. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Xiaowa: the two kinds": Called xiaowa in Bouyei, it divides into plain and coloured work, and into direct and appliquéd methods of carrying the design. "The stitch families": Over a dozen stitches, including counted-thread work where the size of the design is fixed by the number of threads on the ground. "The Nanbei and Beipanjiang basin": Spread through the upper Pearl River's northern and southern Pan rivers and centred on Qianxinan's nine divisions, its subjects are drawn from daily work and the natural world. "The village embroiderers": Village women carry the craft, and its recorded beliefs, work and marriage life make it a key source for ethnology and folklore studies.
Xiaowa: the two kinds
Called xiaowa in Bouyei, it divides into plain and coloured work, and into direct and appliquéd methods of carrying the design.
The stitch families
Over a dozen stitches, including counted-thread work where the size of the design is fixed by the number of threads on the ground.
The Nanbei and Beipanjiang basin
Spread through the upper Pearl River's northern and southern Pan rivers and centred on Qianxinan's nine divisions, its subjects are drawn from daily work and the natural world.
The village embroiderers
Village women carry the craft, and its recorded beliefs, work and marriage life make it a key source for ethnology and folklore studies.
03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status
In 2025, Wei Shuzhang was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Bouyei Embroidery, with Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Bouyei Embroidery in Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2021 (batch 5), with Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou as its declared area, and Qianxinan Zhou Ethnic Cultural Center (Qianxinan Zhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Center, Qianxinan Zhouwenwu Safeguarding Center) as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.
04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier
Historical origin
According to documentary records, Bouyei embroidery had already taken shape by the Ming dynasty at the latest, and has a history of more than five hundred years to the present day.
05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage
National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.
| Bearer | Declared area | Roster code | Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wei Shuzhang | Qianxinanbuyizumiaozuzizhi, Guizhou | — | This page |
06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography
This static English edition is rendered at the edge for search engines, AI crawlers and readers without JavaScript. Compiled from official national representative bearer archival records and the associated project dossier, organized by topic and translated into English. 阅读中文版。