Weaving preservation with tradition

Intricate patterns

The most fascinating step is the embroidery. Li women use fabric as their canvas and a shuttle as their pen to weave intricate patterns, relying on their imaginations and delicate needlework.

Nature is often abstracted into wave-like lines, triangles and star shapes. Animal and plant totems are symmetrically arranged.

Human patterns represent a tribute to ancestors and a plea for their protection. Fish patterns symbolize peace throughout the seasons and abundance year after year. Floral and grass patterns express wishes for happiness and good fortune.

Color choices are also meaningful. Black is believed to ward off evil and bring good luck; green symbolizes life and health; red, a favorite among women, is often paired with white to symbolize the purity of their hearts; and yellow represents male strength, peace and prosperity.

The use of light and shadow, combined with strong color contrasts, makes Li brocade even more vivid and full of life.

As Liu watched elderly artisans pass away one by one, she was overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness and loss.

This made her grit her teeth and persist. As she puts it, after weaving for decades, it felt as if she had woven her life into brocade and could not escape.

"The bottom line is that we shouldn't let this traditional skill become lost," she says.

In 2013, with support from the local government, she established a center in her village dedicated to the study and practice of brocade making, encouraging women to join the efforts to preserve this intangible cultural heritage.

The following year, she started a company selling products, including clothes and tapestries.