Miao Embroidery: A History Book Worn by People

Miao embroidery is a representative craft of the Miao ethnic group. It was included in China's first list of national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. More importantly, it is hailed as "a history book worn by people". The Miao people have no written language, so embroidery is said to be a way to record the history of the ethnic group's migration.

Legend has it that a female leader named Lanjuan came up with the way of recording migration history with colored lines or symbols. On their wedding days, Miao girls would put on costumes they have embroidered with patterns about the ethnic group's migration history.

Miao embroidery features varied needlework as well as bold and bright colors. Today, it is well combined with fashion design to turn out more diversified products that are introduced to the world and even appear in Paris's fashion shows, known as "Haute Couture Hidden in the Mountains". In addition to artistic charm, Miao embroidery has also become an important source of income. Countless female embroiderers have lifted themselves out of poverty through this ancient craft.

穿在身上的史書--苗繡

苗族刺繡是苗族的手工藝代表,2006年被列入中國第一批國家級非物質文化遺產名錄。更重要的是,它被稱為“穿在身上的史書”。苗族是沒有文字的民族,苗繡成為一種記載民族遷徙歷史的方式。

傳說,有位叫蘭娟的女首領想出了用彩線或符號標記遷徙經歷的辦法,就這樣從衣領到褲腳繡滿各種花紋,苗女出嫁都會親手繡制盛裝,將本民族的遷徙歷史穿在身上。

在藝術上,苗繡有自己獨特的技法,針法豐富多變;色彩強烈夸張,而又古樸艷麗。如今,苗繡和時尚嫁接,產品更加多元化,走向世界甚至登上巴黎時裝秀舞臺,被稱為“藏在深山里的高級定制”。除了藝術上的魅力,指尖上的技藝還成為指尖上的經濟。無數繡娘通過這種古老的手工制作藝術擺脫了貧困。