Vibrant heritage of Hunan crafts

Tujia brocade

Originating in the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1100 BC), brocade is an essential part of the Tujia people's culture and daily life. They wear clothes with delicate brocade to participate in traditional ceremonies and dances. When a Tujia baby is born, the grandmother will give her grandchild a piece of brocade as a present.

The brocade has different colors for various occasions. It not only tells the stories of the ancient Tujia civilization, but also silently records the local people's customs and lifestyles.

"In 1976, I first came to western Hunan to study local life," said researcher Wang Weiyi. "I was completely fascinated by the charming scenery and the lives of the Tujia people in Zhangjiajie. Their brocade is the focus of my research."

Wang later established a folk art research team at the Hunan Arts and Craft Institute. He has visited a number Tuijia brocade practitioners and collected a large number of brocade patterns over the years.

Wang had once designed a 170-square-meter piece of Tujia brocade called Wuling Scenic Spot, which is now on the lounge wall of the Changsha Railway Station.

"From design to the completion of weaving, the work took me a year. A total of 10 excellent Tujia brocade artisans finished the work in eight months with five knitting machines.

"With the magnificent composition, harmonious colors and fine craftsmanship, the work presents the unique characteristics of Hunan province," said noted artist Liu Keshan, who is also the deputy director of the China Folk Arts and Crafts Committee.

"But during the creation process, we need to go deeper into the lives of more ordinary people and find more details," Wang said about the future of Tujia brocade.

"For inheritors of the ancient craft, we need to learn to combine traditional techniques with the times and incorporate some new elements rather than get into a rut."