Tu Ethnic Group Embroidery

Tu Ethnic Group Embroidery

　　Tu Ethnic Group folk embroidery artworks are among the most distinctive souvenirs of Qinghai tourism. These embroidered items are closely tied to the daily lives of the Tu people. For example, clothing embroidery includes collar pieces, sleeves, embroidered pockets, abdominal covers, wide belts, sock heels, and embroidered shoes; household items feature embroidered pillows, money bags, tobacco pouches, needle cases, and sachets; religious items include embroidered and appliquéd Buddha images, as well as Lama headdresses and ritual objects. The uniqueness of Tu Ethnic Group embroidery is inseparable from the ethnicity's religion, culture, and customs. As such, Tu girls begin learning embroidery skills from as early as 8 or 9 years old, continuing until marriage and even throughout their lives, taking pride in this craft. The content of Tu embroidery is rich and varied—chests may be adorned with religious motifs such as “Rotating Kuizi,” “Five-Petal Plum Blossom,” and “Taiji Diagrams”; flowered abdominal covers with folk charm feature traditional patterns like “Peacock Playing with Peonies,” “Pomegranate Flowers,” “Sparrows Peeking at Plum Blossoms,” and “Lions Rolling Embroidered Balls”; and colorful embroidered patches, needle cases, and sachets display auspicious and blessing designs such as immortal peaches, peonies, and Buddha’s hands. Three common stitching techniques are used: flat stitch, layered stitch, and insertion stitch. The flat stitch creates an even, smooth overall effect with a “flat coloring” style; the layered stitch achieves a natural transition between light and dark shades with a “blending” effect, resulting in a glossy, textured finish; and the insertion stitch adds localized splashes of color in a “decorative” style, making certain parts of the design more vibrant. Different stitching methods have also given rise to unique techniques such as coiled embroidery, drawn embroidery, and hanging embroidery. Coiled embroidery involves twisting several silk threads into thin cords and using them to embroider patterns in a coil style, creating a three-dimensional effect, often used for wide belts and money bags; drawn embroidery produces a woven-like effect with the silk threads, typically applied to ribbons, floral shoes, and tobacco pouches; hanging embroidery uses colored threads to stitch colorful strips, serving as decorative suspenders; and pile embroidery involves stuffing cotton wadding between layers of fabric at the core of the main design, creating a raised, relief-like, three-dimensional effect. Nowadays, Tu ethnic embroidery has entered the market and become a distinctive and culturally rich tourist souvenir.