Gu embroidery （顾绣）is also known as" Lu Xiang Yuan Gu embroidery ", and it is one of the Han traditional embroidery. Gu embroidery crafts in Shanghai is a magnificent and wonderful work. "It originated in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) from Songjiang Gu Family (now in eastern Shanghai, China) region.
During the period of Emperor Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (1521 - 1567), Songjiang Prefecture Scholars Gu Shi built up a Lin Yuan residence, named "Lu Xiang Yuan” in his later years in Shanghai. Gu descendants specialized in embroidery and Gu embroidery is exquisite and elegant, has unique techniques, commonly used in home furnishings and gifts for relatives, so called "Gu embroidery." "Gu embroidery" has always enjoyed "embroidery painting" in the world, is a wonderful work of Chinese embroidery.
According to legend, Gu embroidery came from the royal palace. The silk used by Gu embroidery is thinner than a human hair, needle is as thin as hairs. When sewing, Gu embroidery requires not only the shape, but also pay attention to the performance of the original charm and fine workmanship, varied techniques. An embroidery often takes several months to complete. Embroidered landscapes, figures, flowers and birds are extremely fine and lifelike, so it was widely respected official and civil.
In the late Ming Dynasty, Shanghai Songjiang Prefecture County Lu Xiang Yuan Gu embroidery has a deep impact on future generations for elegant art of embroidery. The four famous embroideries in Qing Dynasty are all benefited from Gu embroidery. The secrets of Gu embroidery in Ming Dynasty lies in art conservation, elegant theme, painting and embroidery integration, fine timber, flexible and innovative stitch, work with perseverance, six elements of perseverance. The Gu embroidery masterpieces represented by Han Ximeng has deep physical, artistic and cultural connotation. They are all cultural treasures and the major museum collections.
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Currently the largest collection of Gu embroidery is in Liaoning Provincial Museum, which has eight embroidery works including "Han Yuan Embroidery", "Han Female Needle Work". Shanghai Museum is in possession of Han Ximeng "algae shrimp map" and other four embroidery. In addition, Jiangsu Nanjing Museum, Zhenjiang Museum, Suzhou Museum also has a collection of masterpieces of Gu embroidery, such as “Xinghua Village," "Landscape of Mountains and Rivers" and other works. "Gu embroidery" in opening up era, makes it reputation spread far and wide and abroad, and now, "Gu embroidery" can not only produce small embroidered works, but also have greatly complicated embroidered works.
Now, the country attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20, 2006, the State Council approved the inclusion of the estate the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. On June 5, 2007, determined by the Ministry of Culture, Songjiang District, Shanghai Dai Mingjiao was confirmed as cultural heritage inheritors representative, was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage inheritors representative 226 list.
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