Sanlu embroidery unrolls the thread of its future
2023-06-27 17:06:34
By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio
“Sanlu Embroidery" is a traditional craft that involves embroidering decorative designs on flat cotton cloth.
It first emerged during the Han Dynasty and has been passed down from generation to generation for more than 2,000 years. Typical "Sanlu" works come from the Lepingli area in Sanlu (now renamed Quyuan Town) in Yichang’s Zigui County.
One of Yichang’s most prized cultural heritages, Sanlu embroidery was added to the "Yichang City Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List" in 2018.
During this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, staff at the Sanlu Embroidery workshop in Yichang found themselves busy explaining embroidery skills to visitors.
"Sanlu embroidery patterns are beautiful and the stitching is very elaborate,” said one visitor. “I would love to learn the craft."
Cheng Wei, 36 years old, whose husband is a native of Zigui county, is one of the new generation of Sanlu embroiderers. She discovered the craft on the mountainside.
“Sanlu Embroidery" is a traditional craft that involves embroidering decorative designs on flat cotton cloth.
It first emerged during the Han Dynasty and has been passed down from generation to generation for more than 2,000 years. Typical "Sanlu" works come from the Lepingli area in Sanlu (now renamed Quyuan Town) in Yichang’s Zigui County.
One of Yichang’s most prized cultural heritages, Sanlu embroidery was added to the "Yichang City Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List" in 2018.
During this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, staff at the Sanlu Embroidery workshop in Yichang found themselves busy explaining embroidery skills to visitors.
"Sanlu embroidery patterns are beautiful and the stitching is very elaborate,” said one visitor. “I would love to learn the craft."
Cheng Wei, 36 years old, whose husband is a native of Zigui county, is one of the new generation of Sanlu embroiderers. She discovered the craft on the mountainside.
Cheng Wei embroiders a piece of work."When I went to the mountains to pick oranges, I saw some old women in their homes picking flowers to embroider with blue cloth. That piqued my interest," Cheng said.
She began searching for people still practicing Sanlu embroidery skills and asking for advice. Combining her design and embroidery skills, she mastered the art of "Sanlu Embroidery" and started selling her products online. In 2016, she set up a company to introduce embroidery craft to more people.
"Sanlu Embroidery" has complex lines and symmetrical ornaments and is strongly influenced by the Chu culture that was powerful in China in both Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period. The older generation embroidered traditional household items such as underwear, backpacks, and purses. Large embroidery works sometimes took two months to complete.
Examples of embroidery work in Cheng Wei’s workshop
In the 1970s, "Sanlu Embroidery" began to decline and many stitching techniques were lost. Cheng wanted to find a way to inject new vigor into this ancient craft.
"We select a small part of the traditional pattern, run it past some professional designers and come up with a version suitable for young people. These days it only takes a few hours or a few days to come up with a new product," Cheng said.
After a period of exploration, new "Sanlu Embroidery" products – such as pillows, cushions and creative products – have been developed and have proved popular with customers.
Examples of embroidery work in Cheng Wei’s workshop"Sanlu Embroidery" has now emerged from the mountains, and a group of "post-80s" and "post-90s" have become the inheritors of this craft. More and more people are changing their lives through embroidery.
"More than 2,000 people have joined the team of embroiderers, and our revenue last year was more than 12 million yuan (US$1.66 million). This year we plan to exceed 16 million yuan. We are also using livestream celebrities to spread the word about Sanlu Embroidery," Cheng said.
