Miao Xiu is different from Xiang embroidery, Shu embroidery and Su embroidery. What are the origins and characteristics of Miao Xiu?

Miao embroidery patterns are in sharp contrast, exaggerated in shape and full of folk characteristics. Miao embroidery is famous for its overlapping embroidery and broken embroidery. Broken embroidery refers to the embroidery in which velvet is broken into six or ten pieces, each piece as thin as a hair. You can imagine the technical accuracy of embroidery with such fine wool. It is impossible to show off without handwork. Miao embroidery is as smooth and bright as satin, and the embroidery time will be longer. Embroidery is exquisite and precious. Patterns in Miao Xiu include plants, flowers, butterflies, fish, flowers and birds, vases, fruits and so on. Each pattern has profound meaning, and these patterns are closely related to life. Each pattern is a vivid picture or festival scene pattern that describes the daily life of Miao people.

Xiang Xiu is the general name of embroidery products centered on Changsha, Hunan. Xiang embroidery is mainly based on daily necessities. Xiang embroidery emphasizes the effect of shade of yin and yang, and generally adopts techniques such as stitch and stitch embroidery. Embroidery is mostly screen insertion and screen hanging. Patterns are mostly bamboo, stone, flowers and birds, with rich coloring levels.

Shu embroidery is the general name of embroidery products centered on Chengdu, Sichuan. It uses soft satin and colored silk as the main raw materials, and embroiders quilts, pillowcases, clothes, shoes and other daily necessities and painting screens with unique skills. There are hundreds of embroidery needles. Embroidery is relatively rigorous, with neat stitches, bright colors, flowers, insects, fish, mountains and rivers, and a wide range of themes.

The embroidery worker of Suzhou embroidery changed the embroidery surface into plain clothes, and the color matching adopted the cold contrast method, and the color was pure and elegant. There are more than 40 kinds of stitches, mainly in suits that really overlap and don't reveal stitches, as well as gun needles arranged layer by layer, creating a style with strong sense of light and shade and three-dimensional sense.

Miao Xiu in western Hunan originated from the carved tattoos of Gupu people. Miao embroidery originated in Dawenkou culture period or earlier Hemudu and Banpo matriarchal clan period. Nanman, a descendant of Pu people, invented the art of sericulture, while Manchu people woven "cards" and carved tattoos to become the art of painting on cloth. Later, it evolved into embroidery with the development of the times. In the Zhou Dynasty, with the iron needle, embroidery technology developed rapidly. Man embroidery was formed in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. With the determination of the historical position of Miao nationality, it is called Miao Xiu.