Chinese Brocade Weaving

Chinese Brocade Weaving

Chinese Brocade Weaving

The predecessor of the Nanjing Brocade Research Institute was the "Brocade Research Working Group" established in 1954, with the renowned Chinese arts and crafts expert Professor Chen Zhifo serving as the head of the group. In October 1956, Premier - personally instructed: “The comrades in Nanjing must ensure the inheritance and promotion of the brocade craft...” In 1957, with the approval of the Jiangsu Provincial Government, the “Nanjing Brocade Research Institute” was established. Since then, as the only national professional research institution dedicated to brocade, it has shouldered the historical responsibility of inheriting and preserving this craft. Today, the Brocade Research Institute has become a national industrial tourism demonstration site.

Nanjing Brocade is an outstanding representative of China’s rich traditional culture. It earned its name for its dazzling beauty, reminiscent of clouds in the sky, and boasts a history of nearly a thousand years. Among ancient silk fabrics, “brocade” represents the highest level of craftsmanship. Nanjing Brocade synthesizes the artistic techniques of brocade weaving through the ages, ranking first among China’s three most famous ancient brocades. It was an imperial tribute during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. With its profound cultural and technological significance, experts have called it the last milestone in the history of ancient Chinese brocade weaving. It is widely recognized as the “Oriental Treasure” and a “Unique Wonder of China.” It is also one of the most precious historical and cultural heritages of the Chinese nation and the world, and has successfully been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.