History

• A Chu tomb held the earliest piece of Chinese silk embroidery ever discovered. This early embroidery displayed the image of a dragon and a phoenix. Given other tomb excavations performed by archaeologists, it is likely that the art of embroidery began in China nearly 4000 years ago, and most definitely dates back to at least the Han dynasty. Both men and women participated in embroidery in China.
  
  

Use

• Traditionally, most Chinese silk embroidery was used to decorate religious and official costumes. As the art continued to progress, shoes and purses as well as robes and clothing also started to feature elaborate embroidery. Additionally, specific embroidery was used for flags and banners that indicated rank or station for officials.
  
  

Famous Embroideries

• In China, four types of embroidery work have become famous, each with its own unique history, according to the China Culture website. The Xiang embroideries are in Central China's Hunan Province. This type of embroidery is well known for its uniqueness and high level of craftmanship. Most popular as the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911) was ending, the technique uses a mixture of nylon, soft and hard satin and silk. The Shu embroideries originated in Western China's Sichuan Province. The apex of the popularity of the Shu embroideries was during the Song Dynasty (960 to 1279). The works created by these embroideries are smooth and bright and include geographical images such as mountains and rivers as well as animals, flowers and humans. The Yue embroideries developed in Southern China's Guangdong Province. Emphasizing national folk art qualities, these embroidered crafts displayed images of dragons and phoenixes as well as flowers and birds. The heyday for the Yue embroideries was during the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907). Su embroideries, in Eastern China's Jiangsu Province, have a strong folk influence and were popular during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644). Su embroiderers were the first to create double sided embroidery.
  
  

Contemporary Styles

• Chinese silk embroidery continues today. Many more embroidery styles have developed since the four most famous led the way. Western style embroidery is one new type of Chinese silk embroidery and often involves using silk threads to recreate the work of master painters like Van Gogh. Double sided embroidery that uses a special wood frame to embroider both sides of transparent silk is also a modern style of Chinese silk embroidery. Many of the old styles are also still used today, either as reproductions or in the form of new interpretations of old styles. Embroidery continues for the purpose of craft as well as decoration of items such as clothes, purses, shoes and robes. In addition, works of wall art with Chinese silk embroidery are commonly woven and hung in houses.