Embroidery

Embroidery, also known as "needlework," is a traditional handicraft that involves using a needle and colorful threads to create patterns or characters on fabric. This craft became popular alongside the production and development of silk fabrics. There are many different techniques used in embroidery, with dozens of needlework styles available, each producing its own unique stitching and artistic effects.

Records show that over 4,000 years ago, people were already painting and embroidering on clothing. The earliest surviving ex- amples of Chinese embroidery are from the Shang Dynasty (1600- 1046 B.C.) and were discovered in Henan Province; they display a high level of craftsmanship. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), especially during the reign of Emperor Huizong (1082-1135), embroidery reached its pinnacle when calligraphy and painting were fused with embroidery to create unique ornamental works. The Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) saw the rise of the four famous embroidery styles - Su embroidery from Jiangsu, Yue embroidery from Guangdong, Xiang embroidery from Hunan, and Shu embroidery from Sichuan - which gained in popularity with the development of commerce. Among these, Su embroidery is the best-known. In addition to the four famous embroidery styles, there are also other local styles such as Jing embroidery, Lu embroidery, and Bian embroidery. Additionally, many ethnic minorities have their unique styles of embroidery. Using needles as pens and threads as ink and showcasing the distinctive charm of Chinese classical aesthetics, embroidery displays exquisite workmanship and has been passed down through the centuries.

刺繡

刺繡俗稱“繡花”，即用繡針引彩線，在織物上繡成紋樣或文字的一種傳統手工藝。刺繡隨著絲織品的產生與發展逐漸興起。刺繡針法共有幾十種，采用不同的針法會有不同的線條組織和獨特的藝術表現效果。

據記載，4000多年前就有在衣裳上繪畫和刺繡的做法。在河南發現的商代刺繡實物，是中國現存最早的刺繡工藝品，已經達到相當高的工藝水平。刺繡在宋代達到高峰，宋徽宗（1082-1135）時期將書畫藝術融入刺繡工藝之中，形成獨特的觀賞性刺繡作品。明清時期，隨著商業發展，江蘇的蘇繡、廣東的粵繡、湖南的湘繡、四川的蜀繡四大門類廣受歡迎，被稱為“四大名繡”，其中以蘇繡最負盛名。除了四大名繡，中國還有京繡、魯繡、汴繡等地方名繡，許多少數民族也都有自己特色的民族刺繡。刺繡以針為筆，以線為墨，做工精美，沿傳至今，展現著中國古典美學的獨特魅力。