Your current location:HOME >style >The fabric of Chinese culture 正文
TIME:2024-05-20 09:52:57 Source: Internet compilationEdit:style
The Nanjing Yunjin Research Institute adopts yunjin technique in replicating cultural relics, includ
The Nanjing Yunjin Research Institute adopts yunjin technique in replicating cultural relics, including a garment that belonged to an empress from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). [Photo provided to China Daily]
Silk has always been interwoven with the nation's history, and the textiles that employ the fine material remain sought after the world over — arguably, none more so than hangluo gauze, Xu Haoyu reports.
Editor's note: There are 43 items inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists that not only bear witness to the past glories of Chinese civilization, but also continue to shine today. China Daily looks at the protection and inheritance of some of these cultural legacies. In this installment, we admire a much-coveted textile that threaded its way to every corner of the globe.
"The sun, the sun, like a golden shuttle; the moon, the moon, like a silver shuttle. They are handed to you and also to me, to see who weaves the most beautiful life," goes a popular song from the last century named The Golden and Silver Shuttles.
It was common back then, but relatively rarely seen now, to use the loom shuttle to metaphorically describe the passage of time; and through numerous small workshops and skillful hands, the resources bestowed by nature were transformed into useful and exquisite items for daily life.
The production of silk involves the cultivation of mulberry trees and the breeding and care of silkworms, which produce cocoons from which silk filaments are unwound. It is one of the things that, even today, remains firmly archaic — continuing to exist in a time when patience was not a scarce resource.
People have been weaving silk, which is known as si in Chinese, into fabric for more than 5,000 years.
Once upon a time, when spring transitioned into summer, the Grand Canal, a vast waterway system connecting Beijing and Hangzhou in today's Zhejiang province, presented a bustling scene. Countless boats traversed the waterway, transporting exquisite fabrics. This precious cargo would take two months to reach the capital city, where they would be transformed into cool and lightweight robes, and worn as the favored attire of officials and nobility.
Living Heritage: Chinese Silk Craftsmanship
China's Luo Shifang breaks world record at IWF World Cup2024-05-20 09:50
Drew Barrymore unveils new fashion collaboration with Justin Bieber's Drew House brand2024-05-20 09:20
Leprosy spread between people and red SQUIRRELS in medieval England, study reveals2024-05-20 09:18
Ireland knocks out Argentina again in Singapore Sevens2024-05-20 09:06
Vietnam nominates its public security minister as new president2024-05-20 08:27
Marijuana reclassification marks Biden's latest election2024-05-20 08:12
Judge denies pretrial release of a man charged with killing a Chicago police officer2024-05-20 07:58
Narváez outsprints Giro d'Italia favorite Pogačar to win opening stage in Turin2024-05-20 07:47
Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai2024-05-20 07:36
Britney Spears' sister Jamie Lynn Spears isn't bothered by Toxic singer branding her a 'b***h2024-05-20 07:10
Saudi historical district expects to cooperate with more Chinese partners: official2024-05-20 09:13
ANDREW PIERCE: Don't mention the Tories! How Darlington2024-05-20 08:49
Dua Lipa 'invites two2024-05-20 08:47
China and Russia are working on a JOINT invasion of Taiwan, US intelligence fears2024-05-20 08:37
Former South Africa leader Zuma promises jobs and free education as he launches party manifesto2024-05-20 08:36
Arizona is boosting efforts to protect people from the extreme heat after hundreds died last summer2024-05-20 08:10
China and Russia are working on a JOINT invasion of Taiwan, US intelligence fears2024-05-20 08:05
Ashley Graham and Sam Smith go head2024-05-20 07:46
Trump will address the NRA. He's called himself the best president for gun owners2024-05-20 07:37
Rita Ora, 33, and husband Taika Waititi, 48, put on a very loved2024-05-20 07:11