Tibetan Embroidery
01 · Historical Records
It is the product of a combination of Tibetan farming culture and Tibetan Buddhist culture; it was introduced into Guinan around the period of the Republic of China, and has a history of more than a hundred years to the present day.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Guinan Tibetan embroidery, also known as Guinan "needlework" (zhenxian), is a traditional embroidery practised in Guinan County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. Guinan County has abundant resources of Tibetan-embroidery artists and a profound cultural heritage of Tibetan embroidery, and is known as the "home of Tibetan embroidery". Guinan Tibetan embroidery is highly decorative and is widely applied to articles such as Tibetan women's braid covers, garment collar bands, shoes and hats. The traditional stitches number more than ten, including the flat stitch, chain stitch, set stitch, jump stitch and spiral stitch; different stitches are usually chosen according to the type of work — embroidery of ethnic dress relies mainly on the chain and flat stitches, while Buddhist thangka and temple column curtains mainly use the set and jump stitches. With the development of the industry, Guinan Tibetan embroidery has drawn on the techniques and processes of Jiangnan embroidery and Regong art, and its themes have become ever richer, adding mountains and water, figures, animals and other content. Its principal works include "A Hundred Mastiffs" (an exceptionally large work, 1.2 m wide and 36 m long), "White Tara", "The Four Harmonious Brothers", "Amdo Dress" and "The Eight Auspicious Symbols". Guinan Tibetan embroidery has brilliant colours, fluent lines and lifelike figures, and exquisite workmanship; it emphasises ornamental value, pursuing the artistic effect of shallow relief and dazzling splendour. Traditional Guinan Tibetan embroidery is transmitted mainly through master-apprentice and family transmission. On the basis of inheriting and carrying forward traditional ethnic and folk art, it has realised the transformation of ethnic and folk cultural resources into economic and industrial strengths, providing a useful reference for exploring ways of integrating culture and tourism. With the development of the industry, Guinan Tibetan embroidery has drawn on the techniques and processes of Jiangnan embroidery and Regong art, and its themes have become ever richer; besides religious subjects, works depicting grassland herding and new life have appeared. As a famous local cultural industry, it has promoted the adjustment of the local industrial structure and the cultivation of new sources of economic growth, becoming one of the ways of raising employment and income in the Guinan region, and playing a positive role in promoting social harmony and stability.
Braid covers, collars and shoes
Known as needlework, it adorns braid covers, collars, caps and shoes, its red-and-yellow grids flickering as the wearer walks.
Which stitch for which surface
Over a dozen stitches are allocated by object: wrapped and plain stitches for dress, looping and jumping for temple banners and thangkas.
Farming culture meets Buddhist art
Born where farming and Tibetan Buddhism met, the craft arrived in Guinan around the Republican period and has over a century of local practice.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
As a famous local cultural industry, it has promoted the adjustment of the local industrial structure and the cultivation of new sources of economic growth, becoming one of the ways of raising employment and income in the Guinan region, and playing a positive role in promoting social harmony and stability.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Guinan Tibetan embroidery has fine patterns, bright colours and a distinctive technique, possessing high artistic ornamental value and collection value.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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