The Four Famous Embroideries of China

Introduction to Chinese Embroidery Art

Chinese embroidery, with a history spanning over 4,000 years, represents one of the most exquisite traditional crafts. Among hundreds of regional styles, four stand out as the most renowned: Su embroidery (Su Xiu), Xiang embroidery (Xiang Xiu), Yue embroidery (Yue Xiu), and Shu embroidery (Shu Xiu). These "Four Famous Embroideries of China" have been designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Su Embroidery - The Elegance of Jiangnan

History and Origin

Dating back to the Three Kingdoms period (220-280 AD), Su embroidery flourished during the Song Dynasty and reached its peak in the Ming-Qing periods.

Suzhou Embroidery, also known as "Su Embroidery," is renowned for its exquisite needlework and rich color expression. Su Embroidery is characterized by its beautiful patterns, clever design, meticulous craftsmanship, lively needlework, and elegant colors, with a strong regional flavor.

Technical Characteristics

Uses super-fine silk threads (often split to 1/128 of original thickness).
Features double-sided stitching with identical patterns on both sides.
Typical motifs: landscapes, flowers, birds, and classical paintings.

Notable Works

"Double-Sided Cat" and "Goldfish" are among the most celebrated Su embroidery pieces.

Xiang Embroidery - The Bold Spirit of Hunan

Development Timeline

Originating from Changsha, Hunan Province, with artifacts dating to the Warring States period (475-221 BC).

Xiang Embroidery is known for its realistic portrayal, skillfully using blank spaces, and featuring a simple and elegant style. Xiang Embroidery creates realistic lions and tigers with strong and straight fur patterns and lifelike eyes, almost resembling the real animals.

Unique Techniques

Incorporates traditional Chinese painting techniques.
Uses vibrant colored threads with strong contrasts.
Special "Hairy stitch" creates realistic fur and feather textures.

Artistic Features

Famous for its tiger motifs, with up to 20 thread colors used just for the eyes.

Yue Embroidery - The Opulence of Lingnan

Regional Distinctiveness

From Guangdong Province, influenced by overseas trade since the Tang Dynasty. Yue embroidery is a general term for Guangxiu and Chaoxiu.

Yue Embroidery also known as Cantonese Embroidery, has a tight layout, intricate patterns, and often uses gold and silver threads for gold embroidery, resulting in splendid and dazzling embroidered pieces. Yue Embroidery is commonly used in costumes for performances, wedding dresses, and other festive occasions.

Gold and Silver Thread Work

Chaoxiu uses metallic threads extensively, preferred themes: dragons, phoenixes, and auspicious symbols.
Guangxiu(Cantonese embroidery) is extremely bold in color, and is good at using contrasting colors to make his works vivid and vivid.
Guangxiu(Cantonese embroidery) mostly based on flowers and birds, characters, landscapes, etc., rich in Lingnan characteristics.

Subject Matter

Commonly depicts mythological scenes and Cantonese opera costumes.

Shu Embroidery - The Refinement of Sichuan

Millennial Heritage

With archaeological evidence from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), centered in Chengdu.

Shu Embroidery has concise compositions, featuring traditional ethnic patterns such as grids and floral stripes. It boasts rich and vibrant colors, precise needlework, and a strong sense of three-dimensionality. Shu Embroidery often depicts subjects like flowers, butterflies, koi fish, and pandas.

Stitch Methods

Over 120 documented stitching techniques.
Characterized by neat, tight stitches.
Often uses satin stitches for smooth surfaces.

Contemporary Evolution

Modern Shu embroidery incorporates innovative designs while preserving traditional methods.

Comparative Analysis of the Four Styles

Characteristic	Su Embroidery	Xiang Embroidery	Yue Embroidery	Shu Embroidery
Region	Jiangsu	Hunan	Guangdong	Sichuan
Key Feature	Delicacy	Bold Colors	Opulence	Precision
Typical Threads	Fine silk	Multicolor silk	Gold/silver threads	Thick silk
Common Motifs	Nature scenes	Tigers	Mythological	Panda, fish

How to Identify Authentic Chinese Embroidery

Thread Quality: Genuine pieces use pure silk with consistent sheen
Backside Inspection: High-quality works have nearly identical reverse sides
Stitch Density: 40+ stitches per cm indicates premium work
Pattern Complexity: Traditional designs follow classical compositions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most valuable Chinese embroidery?

The four famous embroideries of China have their own characteristics and regional characteristics, and their artistic value is as high as that of others.