Yue Embroidery

English Chinese Translation of Yue Embroidery

Also called Guang embroidery, Yue embroidery is a general name for embroidery products of the regions of Guangzhou, Shantou, Zhongshan, Fanyu and Shunde in Guangdong Province.
粤绣也称“广绣”，它是出产于广东省广州、潮州、汕头、中山、番禺、顺德一带刺绣品的总称。
According to historical records, in the first year of Yongyuan's reign (805) during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a girl named Lu Meiniang embroidered the seventh volume of the Fahua Buddhist Scripture on a piece of thin silk about 30 cm long. And so, Yue embroidery became famous around the country. The prosperous Guangzhou Port of the Song Dynasty promoted the development of Yue embroidery, which began to be exported at that time. During the Ming Dynasty, people used animal hair as the raw material for Yue embroidery, which made the works more vivid. During Qianlong's reign (1736-1796) of the Qing, an industrial organization was established in Guangzhou. At that time, a large number of craftsmen devoted themselves to the craft, inciting further improvements to the weaving technique. Since 1915, the work of Yue embroidery garnered several awards at the Panama Expo.
据史料记载，唐代的永贞元年（公元805年），广东南海县一位名叫卢媚娘的少女曾在一块一尺左右的绢面上绣出七卷《法华经》，粤绣从此名扬天下。宋元时期（公元10～14世纪），广州港的繁荣促进了粤绣工艺的飞速发展，粤绣品开始输出国外。明代（公元1368～1644年），广州的刺绣艺人已经能够娴熟地运用各色丝绒线刺绣，并创造性地使用动物的尾羽缠绒作线，使绣品更加自然生动。到清代的乾隆年间（公元1736～1796年），第一个粤绣行业组织“粤绣行”在广州成立，当时从事刺绣的艺人众多，粤绣在工艺和针法上都得以不断发展完善。1915年后，粤绣作品在巴拿马国际博览会等国际赛会上多次获得大奖。
Influenced by national folk art, Yue embroidery formed its own unique characteristics. The embroidered pictures are mainly of dragons and phoenixes, and flowers and birds, with neat designs and strong, contrasting colors. Floss, thread and gold-and-silk thread embroidery are used to produce costumes, decorations for halls and crafts for daily use.
粤绣在长期的发展过程中，受到各民族民间艺术的影响，在兼收并蓄、融会贯通的基础上，逐渐形成了自身独特的艺术风格。绣品主要取材于龙凤、花鸟等，图案构图饱满、均齐对称，色彩对比强烈、富丽堂皇。在针法上具有“针步均匀、纹理分明、处处见针、针针整齐”的特点。在种类上粤绣可分为绒绣、线绣、金银线绣三类，品种包括戏服、厅堂装饰、联帐、采眉、挂屏和各种日用绣品等。

Su Embroidery

English Chinese Translation of Su Embroidery

With a history of more than 3,000 years, Su embroidery is the general name for embroidery products in areas around Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The craft, which dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), became a sideline of people in the Suzhou area during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Well known for its smoothness and delicateness, Su embroidery won Suzhou the title City of Embroidery in the Qing Dynasty. In the mid and late Qing, Su embroidery experienced further developments involving works of double-sided embroidering. There were 65 embroidery stores in Suzhou City. During the Republic of China period (1912-1949), the Su embroidery industry was in decline due to frequent wars and it was restored and regenerated after the founding of new China. In 1950, the central government set up research centers for Su embroidery and launched training courses for the study of embroidery. Weaving methods have climbed from 18 to the present 40.
苏绣是以江苏苏州为中心的刺绣产品的总称。苏州刺绣至今已有2000余年的历史，早在三国时期（公元220～280年）就有了关于苏绣制作的记载。此后经过历代的不断发展完善，到明代（1368～1644年）时，苏绣已成为苏州地区一项普遍的群众性副业产品，形成了"家家养蚕，户户刺绣"的局面。清代（公元1644～1911年）的苏绣以“精细雅洁”而闻名，当时的苏州更有了“绣市”的誉称。清代中后期，苏绣在绣制技术上有了进一步发展，新出现了精美的“双面绣”，仅苏州一地专门经营刺绣的商家就有65家之多。民国时期（公元1912～1949年），由于常年战乱，苏绣业曾一度衰落。新中国成立后，苏绣得到进一步的恢复和发展。1950年后，国家专门设立了苏绣研究所，并开办刺绣训练班。苏绣的针法由原来的18种发展到今天的40余种。
Su embroidery features a strong, folk flavor and its weaving techniques are characterized by the following: the product surface must be flat, the rim must be neat, the needle must be thin, the lines must be dense, the color must be harmonious and bright and the picture must be even. Su embroidery products fall into three major categories: costumes, decorations for halls and crafts for daily use, which integrate decorative and practical values. Double-sided embroidery is an excellent representative of Su embroidery.
苏绣具有图案秀丽、构思巧妙、绣工细致、针法活泼、色彩清雅的独特风格，地方特色浓郁。绣技具有“平、齐、细、密、和、光、顺、匀”的特点。“平”指绣面平展；“齐”指图案边缘齐整；“细”指用针细巧，绣线精细；“密”指线条排列紧凑，不露针迹；“和”指设色适宜；“光”指光彩夺目，色泽鲜明；“顺”指丝理圆转自如；“匀”指线条精细均匀，疏密一致。在种类上，苏绣作品主要可分为零剪、戏衣、挂屏三大类，装饰性与实用性兼备。其中以“双面绣”作品最为精美。