Ou Embroidery

Ou Embroidery

Ou Embroidery is an intangible cultural heritage of Zhejiang Province.

　　Ou Embroidery, also known as painted curtain embroidery, is a traditional local art form from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, originating in the Ou River region and also referred to as "Wenzhou Embroidery." It is one of Zhejiang’s “Three Carvings and One Embroidery” specialty crafts, developed from traditional Chinese embroidery. Along with Hunan Embroidery, Suzhou Embroidery, and Sichuan Embroidery, it is counted among China’s Four Famous Embroideries. Ou Embroidery is one of China’s renowned export embroideries—not only is it treasured by the state, but it has also been given as a national gift. There is even a saying about “hair embroidery diplomacy.” Ou Embroidery comes in many varieties, including various decorative items such as painted pictures and wall hangings, as well as practical goods such as tablecloths, theatrical costumes, pillowcases, and quilt covers. The designs feature four main categories: figures, landscapes, flowers, and animals, encompassing more than 1,000 patterns and styles.

　　Artisans scrape off the green outer layer of bamboo, split it into layers, boil and draw out the fibers, then weave them into bamboo curtains. They then create artworks such as flowers, birds, landscapes, and figures on the curtains using pigments or colored threads. The most distinctive features of Ou Embroidery are its wide variety of stitching techniques and exquisite craftsmanship. For example, in the piece "Pine and Eagle," a single eagle incorporates over ten different stitching methods such as fan stitch, cut stitch, and flat stitch, and uses many threads of varying textures, thicknesses, and colors. The composition is concise, the texture clear, the stitches neat, the stitching techniques varied, the embroidery surface bright and pleasant to the eye, the colors fresh and harmoniously blended, the animal feathers lively and dynamic, and the figures and orchid-bamboo motifs finely embroidered with lifelike detail. Its stylistic characteristics are “prominent themes, vivid colors, concise compositions, and distinct embroidery textures.” It carries a strong sense of decoration and regional style. The production method involves scraping off the green skin of bamboo, splitting it into layers, boiling and drawing out the fibers, then weaving it into a bamboo curtain, upon which artworks are created using pigments and colored threads. There are over 20 types of stitching, including break stitch, roll stitch, and random stitch.

　　Ou Embroidery began during the Tang and Song dynasties. More than 800 years ago, people in the Wenzhou area were already using embroidery to beautify clothing, and the craft had reached a fairly advanced level. As a traditional handicraft of southern Zhejiang, Ou Embroidery is comparable to Hunan, Suzhou, Guangdong, and Sichuan Embroideries and is recognized as one of China’s famous embroideries. In the third year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1853), Wenzhou had specialized embroidery shops. The number of embroiderers once reached 600 to 800. It is said that Ou Embroidery originated from the hands of skilled female embroiderers among the folk. In ancient times, young women in Wenzhou followed the tradition of “at eleven or twelve, girls comb their hair; at thirteen or fourteen, they learn to embroider,” which shows how widespread and prosperous Ou Embroidery was at the time.

　　As early as the Song and Yuan dynasties, embroidery on shoes, hats, and clothing was popular among the people of Ou Yue—this was the origin of Ou Embroidery. After centuries of transmission, its colors grew more vibrant, and its varieties more numerous, gradually forming a unique embroidery style in craftsmanship. Ou Embroidery is known for its ingenious compositions, rigorous stitching techniques, delicate needlework, and vivid colors. Many outstanding works have been selected as national gifts and have been exhibited multiple times at international art fairs. In 2001, Ou Embroidery was listed as a key protected art form by Zhejiang Province. Ou Embroidery is not one of the Four Famous Embroideries. The Four Famous Embroideries are: Suzhou Embroidery, Hunan Embroidery, Guangdong Embroidery, and Sichuan Embroidery. Ou Embroidery, Gu Embroidery, and Beijing Embroidery are all well-known, but they are not classified among the Four Famous Embroideries.