In the Trade Union Association in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong, there is a well-known Shu embroidery classroom, and its teacher is Liu Yonglan from Chengdu, Sichuan, 71 years old.
In 2011, Liu Yonglan retired from a decades-long career as a teacher and came to Hong Kong with her daughter. Teacher Liu is a native of Chongqing, who has been learning Shu embroidery since he was a child, and in his spare time, he always likes to hold embroidery pieces and dance needles and threads intently. Flowers, birds, insects and fish, gradually appearing from between the dexterous hands, will suddenly rise a sense of satisfaction in the heart.
After coming to Hong Kong, Liu Yonglan wanted to use her expertise, so she took the initiative to visit the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions. When he first arrived, did not understand Cantonese, but only had the intention of spreading traditional culture, Liu Yonglan was warmly welcomed by the Federation of Trade Unions. Liu Yonglan told reporters that the person in charge of the federation of trade unions told her at that time: "As long as it is a traditional culture from the mainland, we are welcome." Teacher Liu also saw the love of Hong Kong compatriots for the traditional culture of the mainland, and was more determined to teach their compatriots to learn Shu embroidery.
In the Shu embroidery classroom of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, embroidery tables are neatly arranged, and every stitch and thread is embroidered with heart. A Hong Kong student said that he had studied Shu embroidery with Mr. Liu for many years and could now basically create works independently. At present, she is trying to combine the traditional embroidery techniques of cartoon birds with phoenixes under the theme of "Birds", and strives for innovative masterpieces.
Shu embroidery, also known as Sichuan embroidery, originated from the folk of western Sichuan and was named because of geographical relations. In ancient times, the western Sichuan Plain was rich in silkworms, so it was called "Shu Kingdom". During the Sui and Tang dynasties, with the rise of the Silk Road, the Shu embroidery trade developed rapidly. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were many professional embroidery personnel and small embroidery workshops in Sichuan. By around 1925, there were more than 1,000 embroidery practitioners and more than 60 shops in Chengdu alone. In the 1950s, Shu embroidery began to spread throughout Sichuan folk.
Shu embroidery techniques are known for their stitching techniques, with a total of 12 categories and 122 species. Shu embroidery is made of locally woven red, green and other color satin and loose threads as raw materials, a variety of stitching methods are used interlaced, the needle is rigorous, the color is elegant, both longer than the embroidery flowers, birds, insects, fish and other delicate and vivid images, but also good at expressing the majestic momentum of the landscape. In the long-term and continuous development process, it has gradually formed a unique style of rigorous and delicate, bright and flat, sparse composition, thick and round, and bright colors.
Recently, several Hong Kong students are embroidering works with the theme of "the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland" under the guidance of Liu Yonglan. The students are very grateful to Teacher Liu for bringing Shu embroidery from Sichuan to Hong Kong, and they are also very happy to see the colorful charm of Shu embroidery under the teaching of Liu Yonglan.
Liu Yonglan said that she has always been proud of Shu embroidery, and now Teacher Liu often participates in various voluntary teaching activities in Hong Kong, teaching Hong Kong compatriots to learn embroidery in different places and feeling the influence of traditional culture. In the 25 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, no matter the construction and development, it is changing with each passing day, and Liu Yonglan also looks forward to more "intangible cultural heritage" projects similar to Shu embroidery landing in Hong Kong in the future, so that compatriots can access the rich and extensive traditional culture of the motherland at their doorstep.
Source: Look at the news