用英文介绍苏绣

Su embroidery

With a history of more than 3,000 years, Su embroidery is the general name for embroidery products in areas around Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.

The craft, which dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), became a sideline of peoplein the Suzhou area during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Well known for its smoothness and delicateness, Su embroidery won Suzhou the title City ofEmbroidery in the Qing Dynasty.

In the mid and late Qing, Su embroideryexperienced further developments involving works of double-sided embroidering.There were 65 embroidery stores in Suzhou City.

During the Republic of Chinaperiod (1912-1949), the Su embroidery industry was in decline due to frequentwars and it was restored and regenerated after the founding of new China. In

1950,the central government set up research centres for Su embroidery and launched training courses for the study of embroidery. Weaving methods have climbed from18 to the present 40.

%j{}'nc-jbxM Su embroidery features a strong, folk flavour and its weaving techniques arecharacterized by the following: the product surface must be flat, the rim must be neat, the needle must be thin, the lines must be dense, the colour must be harmonious and bright and the picture must be even.

Su embroidery products fall into three major categories: costumes, decorations for halls and crafts fordaily use, which integrate decorative and practical values.

Double-sidedembroidery is an excellent representative of Su embroidery.