What is the essence of Xiang embroidery culture?

Xiang embroidery, one of the outstanding national traditional crafts in China, is the general name of Xiang embroidery products with distinctive Xiang-Chu cultural characteristics centered on Changsha, Hunan Province. It is a folk craft with Xiang-Chu cultural characteristics carefully created by hardworking and intelligent local working people in the long history of human civilization. In the past half century, archaeologists have discovered many silks and textiles such as flax, brocade and silk in Hunan and Hubei, many of which are embroidery. The excavation of a batch of dazzling ancient embroidery buried in Hunan and the original Chu area is of self-evident significance for the world to further understand the origin and evolution of Xiang embroidery and its embroidery tradition.

Xiang embroidery is as famous as Su embroidery, Shu embroidery and Yue embroidery, and it is one of the four famous embroideries in China. There are traditionally 72 kinds of stitches in Xiang embroidery. It can be divided into five categories: Ping Xiu, Weaving Embroidery, Netting Embroidery, New Embroidery and Knoting Embroidery, as well as the continuously developed and perfect knitting methods such as rolling needles and random embroidery. Xiang embroidery is good at embroidery with wool, and the embroidered suede pattern is realistic. There was a reputation that "embroidery can produce fragrance, embroidered birds can smell, embroidered tigers can run, and embroidered people can express their feelings".

In 2006, Xiang embroidery was selected into the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list. 1995 shaping town was awarded the title of "hometown of Xiang embroidery in China". In 2006, Shaping was awarded Xiang Xiu National Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance Base. In 20 10, Xiang embroidery was recognized as a geographical indication protection product by AQSIQ, and the quality and technical requirements were formulated. "Shaping Xiang Embroidery" has also obtained the trademark registration of "National Geographical Indications". On 20 14, Hunan Xiang Xiu College was listed as the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage productive protection demonstration bases by the Ministry of Culture.