Chinese Brocade Village

Chinese Brocade Village

Chinese Brocade Village is located at Jiangdongmen. Brocade is a type of ancient Chinese jacquard silk fabric, produced using traditional weaving techniques and unique craftsmanship, characterized by its rich and vibrant colors as well as exquisitely delicate patterns. Among them, Nanjing Yun brocade, Sichuan Shu brocade, and Suzhou Song brocade are the most renowned.

The Nanjing Brocade Village displays the brocade-making techniques of China's various ethnic groups. In addition to housing a collection of looms and actual brocade pieces from different ethnicities and historical periods, it also offers live demonstrations of the brocade production process and craftsmanship for visitors. Visitors to the village can learn about the history and techniques of Chinese brocade craftsmanship, and purchase a variety of exquisite and valuable brocade handicrafts. Nanjing Yun brocade, before chemical fibers became a textile material, high-end garments in Europe and America were mostly made of wool, whereas in China, silk was the primary material. Nanjing satin comes in two types: “plain satin” and “patterned satin.” The latter, also known as “Yun brocade,” is divided into three categories: “Ku brocade,” “Zhuanghua,” and “Ku brocade (gold base).” Zhuanghua is a type of patterned satin with multicolored designs woven onto a satin base, and it is the most luxurious and also the most difficult to produce. Among these, the ones woven on a gold thread base with up to eighteen color combinations are called “Jin Bao Di” (Golden Treasure Ground), which are particularly precious and were historically used as materials for the emperor’s dragon robes. Nanjing’s satin industry has a long history. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the ruling courts established “Weaving Bureaus” in Nanjing specifically for producing silk fabrics for imperial use. At the same time, private workshops also flourished.