What are the characteristics of Qiang embroidery?

Embroidery is a traditional handicraft in our country, which is a picture embroidered by threading threads of various colors on the fabric with needles. Qiang embroidery: It is popular in Wenchuan and Mao Wen where Qiang people live in compact communities. Many geometric patterns are used, with rough lines, vivid composition, full image and distinctive national characteristics. All kinds of embroidery patterns on Qiang costumes belong to the traditional folk crafts of Qiang nationality and have a long history. Judging from the mode of production, Qiang embroidery is produced and passed down in the individual way of the family. It is an art created by the Qiang people themselves, which embodies their wisdom and intelligence. Qiang embroidery works are stylized and full of free imagination, which is an artistic creation with spontaneity, amateurism and self-entertainment. In the long history, Qiang embroidery naturally formed its unique aesthetic modeling, color specification and functional form, which is also the law of folk art and has its own aesthetic value.

By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, embroidery had become very popular in Qiang areas. The embroidery techniques of Qiang nationality mainly include picking embroidery, flower embroidery, fiber embroidery, chain buckle, flower tying, jacquard, patchwork, crochet and hand embroidery. Among them, embroidery is the favorite expression of Qiang women. Embroidery is based on natural scenery in real life, such as flowers, birds, fish and insects that people see every day. These natural creatures full of biological spirituality are created into colorful patterns through ingenious embroidery techniques, symbolizing good luck and good wishes for the future. Such as "flowers like brocade", "harmony between fish and water" and "phoenix wearing peony". Cross-stitch, also known as cross-stitch, is a regular, symmetrical and angular visual form, in which cross patterns with equal distance and length are embroidered by a set of strict stitches. This method makes all natural objects form according to intersecting right-angled straight lines, forming a unique geometric deformation style, which is different from others. Qiang women often use cotton thread and sometimes colored silk thread when embroidering. Most of the colors are black and white, so as to achieve a bright, simple and generous visual effect. Qiang embroidery patterns are exquisite and rich in connotation. For example, the color contrast between nano-flowers and fiber flowers is great; The design of the ribbon is also very decorative, coupled with the process of chain embroidery, which shows the rough, bold and delicate character of the Qiang people.

Functionally, Qiang embroidery is mainly used to decorate dresses, shoes, headscarves, belts, streamers, suspenders, sleeves, trousers, trouser legs, uppers, insoles, pillow towels, handkerchiefs, hems, sleeves and sachets, which reflects the history of Qiang costume culture. According to a little statistics, there are more than 100 embroidery patterns used in Qiang costumes, which are really colorful. These embroideries, decorated with their wishes for a better life, are exquisite in workmanship, simple and rigorous, ingenious and reasonable in layout and moderate in depth, which naturally combine aesthetic forms with functional forms: first, they are beautiful to wear, and second, they increase wear resistance and prolong service life.

In fact, when we discuss the relationship between aesthetic function and strength function, here in Qiang embroidery, we once again find that aesthetic function and practical function cannot be completely separated. Because, in terms of practical functions, enhancing wear resistance is only a surface aspect; On a deeper level, the colorful patterns on Qiang embroidery actually condense the Qiang people's prayers and blessings for life and reflect their dreams beyond reality. For example, the patterns they chose: insects, fish, flowers and birds, birds and beasts, figures, melons and fruits, flowers, good luck (chicken, sheep), golden jade (fish) all over the house, and birds flying at the phoenix, are profound and vivid. Although geometric or other forms of pattern processing have been made, they are always closely related to their real environment, and their ideal starting point for a better life is in this practical sense.

On the other hand, we also see that embroidery is what Qiang women are good at, and it is their necessary skill, and it is also the main measure to measure whether they are hardworking, smart and ingenious. They often have to study hard and practice embroidery under the example of their elders from an early age. Mother began to teach her daughter embroidery when she was six or seven years old. By the time the daughter gets married, most of them are already masters of flying acupuncture and dragon embroidery. The first thing a man says to a blind date is whether a woman can embroider. If you can't embroider, men won't like it. Therefore, no Qiang women can't embroider. Qiang women choose the image of embroidery patterns according to the physical objects. If it is for the elderly, choose patterns such as blessing, auspiciousness and longevity to wish the elderly health and longevity; For children, choosing to ward off evil spirits to protect their healthy growth, or using flower patterns, also means prosperity. Young Ah Mui embroidered a cigarette bag as a gift for her sentimental brother. There are two patterns embroidered on the tobacco pouch, one is a mandarin duck playing in the water, and the other is a swallow flying with me when winter goes and spring comes. These two embroidery patterns symbolize the love between men and women, and grow old together, which is the so-called love in the purse.

"Yun Yun Shoes" of Qiang nationality are the most distinctive embroidered shoes. Made of cloth, it looks like a boat, with slightly upturned toes, thick soles and embroidered upper, which is durable. It can be described as a typical lyric embroidery. This kind of craft form, which has both spiritual appeal and material practicality, embodies the simple desire to wish good luck and a better life, thus extending its cultural character. This character belongs to both the Qiang people and all the working people.