Chinese Embroidery: Su, Yue, Xiang, and Shu — Four Regional Traditions

Chinese embroidery (刺绣, cixiu) is one of the oldest textile arts in the world, with a history stretching back over three thousand years. Using silk threads on silk or cotton fabric, Chinese embroiderers created works of extraordinary technical virtuosity and artistic beauty.

Four Famous Embroidery Traditions

China has four major regional embroidery traditions: Suzhou embroidery (苏绣), characterized by its fine stitches and depictions of landscapes and figures; Hunan embroidery (湘绣), famous for its double-sided embroidery technique; Guangdong embroidery (粤绣), known for its rich colors and bold designs; and Sichuan embroidery (蜀绣), which combines the strengths of the other three traditions.

Su Embroidery

Su embroidery from Jiangsu Province is considered the finest. The famous "Cat" embroidery — depicting a cat's fur with such realism that it appears to move — demonstrates the extraordinary technical skill of Su embroidery craftspeople.