Once the cloth had been weaved, embroidery was used to give the cloth its delicate, often brilliant patterns. The Four Renowned Embroideries of China were regional in their origin. Su embroidery originated from Jiangsu. Yue embroidery originated from Guangdong. Xiang embroidery originated from Hunan. Shu embroidery originated from Sichuan.
Su Embroidery Short for Suzhou, Su embroidery originated during the Northern Song Dynasty. According to historical records, Su embroidery became so popular during the Song Dynasty that people even named roads using words associated with silk and its embroidery. Nearly every family raised silkworms and embroidered. Su embroidery reached its peak during the Qing Dynasty.
Su embroidery has a wide range of themes. Its techniques include both single faced embroidery and unique double-faced embroidery that looks the same from either side. Basic features of Su embroidery are simple composition, clear theme, vivid image, and gentle color. In recent times, Su embroidery design has absorbed some western painting techniques.
Yue Embroidery Yue embroidery is also called Cantonese because it is produced in Guangdong province. It is said that Yue embroidery originated among a minority people during the middle to end of the Ming Dynasty. A variety of threat materials is used, including twisted peacock quill and hair from horse tails. Gold thread is used to establish contours for embroidering complicated patterns. Bright in color, Yue embroidery usually displays such themes as A Hundred Birds Displaying Homage, the Chinese phoenix, marine products, or melons.
Xiang Embroidery Hunan's local embroidery had a long history before the development of Xiang embroidery. Archeologists have discovered finely embroidered silk items in tombs of the Chu and Han dynasties, which were both more than 2,000 years ago. The embroidery that we now call Xiang came into being during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty. Xiang embroidery combined the styles of both Su and Yue embroidery with the local embroidery style.
Xiang embroidery is famous for its tiger patterns. Xiang embroidery's unique techniques are generally based on Chinese painting, although it also includes techniques of engraving, calligraphy, and embroidery. This combination of techniques produced a new and unique embroidery product, double-faced and with different images and colors on each side of a transparent chiffon.
Shu Embroidery Shu embroidery is also called Chuan embroidery because it is mostly produced around Chengdu, Sichuan province. Sichuan embroidery had a long history that developed into today's Shu style during the middle of the Qing Dynasty. The main themes of Shu embroidery are those of auspicious happiness. Embroidered products include mirror curtains, wedding dresses, hats, and shoes. The themes are usually the animals and plants of nature. Shu embroiderers are especially adept at embroidering pandas and fish.
The materials used for Shu embroidery are locally-produced soft satin and colorful threads. Shu embroidery is characterized by even stitches, bright threads, closeness and softness of texture, and delicate needling. The threads are neatly and thickly used. Colors are elaborately arranged.
