Miao Embroidery from Guizhou

Miao Embroidery from Guizhou

　　　　Miao embroidery in Guizhou has a history of over 500 years. This embroidery art is cherished not only by the Miao people but also by the Buyi, Shui, Dong, and Gelao ethnic groups. During festivals, New Year celebrations, family visits, and especially during the "Tichang" gatherings, they wear their hand-embroidered floral dresses to compete in beauty. The one with the most patterns and the most exquisitely beautiful designs earns praise. Young Miao girls often give their most beloved and finely embroidered clothing as tokens of love during their first romance. Many elderly Miao women still preserve floral dresses that are decades old.

　　The design patterns of Miao embroidery from Guizhou mostly feature individual motifs, bilateral repeat patterns, and all-over repeat patterns. Individual motifs are most commonly seen on back garments, back fans, and garment hems. The garment hems, sleeves, and lower edges of back fans typically use bilateral repeat patterns, while some sleeves feature all-over repeat patterns. For pattern motifs, the designs are mainly based on elements familiar to the Miao people in their daily work and life—such as cattle, sheep, cats, dogs, flowers, birds, fish, and insects. There are also auspicious symbols like pig’s trotters, lions, and dragon-fish; everyday plants such as duckweed, caltrop, pomegranates, and others; in addition, there are patterns composed of geometric shapes. In terms of color schemes, the main hues used are bright red, pink, yellow, emerald green, blue, and white. Bright red and white dominate, with other colors used for edging. In terms of technique, the embroidery is categorized into different styles such as cross-stitch, inserted stitch, and bean stitch.