Shui ethnic ponytail embroidery [Guizhou Sandu specialty]

What is aquamarine ponytail embroidery? Authentic Guizhou Sandu Specialty: Shui Shui Horse Tail Embroidery

Summary:Do you want to know what Shui Shui Horse Tail Embroidery is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product ofin the three cities of Guizhou - Shui Shui Ma Tail Embroidery. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network after reviewing and collecting relevant information on Shui Shui Ma Tail Embroidery. The full text takes about 8 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Shui Shui Ma Tail Embroidery and the product characteristics of Shui Shui Ma Tail Embroidery? How did the history of aquamarine ponytail embroidery come about? The production method of aquatic ponytail embroidery and the awards and honors of aquatic ponytail embroidery

Basic Introduction to Aquatic Horse Tail Embroidery

Sandu Aquatic Horse Tail Embroidery is a specialty of Sandu Aquatic Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. On November 4, 2016, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine approved the implementation of geographical indication product protection for "Sandu Aquatic Horse Tail Embroidery". Shui ethnic horse tail embroidery is a unique folk traditional craft of Shui ethnic group, distributed in Shui ethnic villages such as Sandong, Zhonghe, Tingpai, Tangzhou, Shuilong and other towns in Sandu. It is the oldest and most vibrant primitive art still existing in Sandu Shui Autonomous County, Guizhou Province, and is known as the "living fossil" of embroidery. In the long-term process of production and life, aquatic women have a keen observation and aesthetic ability towards various things in the natural world. After imagining and processing all natural and folk phenomena, they reflect them in the ponytail embroidery craft. The flower, bird, insect, and fish shapes on the embroidery are unique and rich in ethnic charm and artistic effects

Regional Scope

The production area of Sandu Shui Ma Tail Embroidery is currently under the administrative jurisdiction of Sandu Shui Autonomous County, Guizhou Province

Perhaps it is mainly due to the custom of raising horses and racing horses in the aquatic community that ponytail embroidery emerged. In fact, this embroidery method of wrapping a ponytail with silk thread to create patterns has two obvious advantages. Firstly, the ponytail has a harder texture, which makes the pattern less likely to deform. Secondly, the ponytail is less prone to decay and deterioration, making it durable. In addition, the ponytail may contain oil components, which are beneficial for maintaining the luster of the outer silk thread

There is another unique feature of ponytail embroidery, which is that the embroidery is decorated with copper ornaments. The shape of the copper decoration is made to resemble ancient coins, but it is very small, with a thin diameter only the size of a soybean. It is threaded with red thread and pasted into the embroidery of the ponytail, resembling small flowers scattered like stars. In addition to being used for decoration, the aquatic compatriots also believe that copper has the function of exorcising evil and warding off evil. In feudal society, copper was the object of coinage, and some dynasties strictly prohibited the minting of copper by the people. However, there were copper decorations in the ponytail embroidery of the Shui ethnic group. This is another place where the value of ponytails is reflected

How did the history of aquamarine ponytail embroidery come about

There is no record of the origin of the Shui ethnic group's ponytail embroidery in water books or related materials, but this is a skill that has been passed down for thousands of years, and can only be seen from the festival customs of the Shui ethnic group

The traditional Water Festival (equivalent to the Han Chinese New Year) has the custom of horse racing, and raising horses for horse racing has a long history. Among them, aquatic women invented the art of making embroidery with ponytails. In traditional festivals, men race horses and women participate in festival activities dressed in ponytail embroidery costumes. This may be mainly due to the custom of raising horses and racing horses in the aquarium, which gave rise to ponytail embroidery

There is a serious gap in the inheritance of ponytail embroidery techniques, and the quality of modern ponytail embroidery products has declined. People are rarely willing to use them. In 2006, Shui ethnic ponytail embroidery was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, which is of great significance for rescuing, protecting, inheriting ponytail embroidery techniques, preserving the continuity of culture, and providing materials for cultural research

The production method of aquatic ponytail embroidery

The production process of ponytail embroidery is very complicated and can be divided into six steps:

The first step is to make the ponytail thread. Wrap two to three ponytails with silk thread (mostly white) to make a ponytail

Step 2, fix the frame pattern. Use a large needle to thread the ponytail thread, then use another slightly smaller needle to thread the same colored silk coin. While using the ponytail thread to set various patterns on the fabric, use a small needle with silk thread to specifically fix the patterns on the fabric

The third step is "filling the heart". Fill the gaps in the fixed pattern with various colored silk threads (mostly black, dark green, and purple)

Step four, edging. Use orange and dark green silk threads to create a border pattern of "Sichuan peppercorns" around the edges

Awards and honors for Shui ethnic horse tail embroidery

In June 2006, horse tail embroidery was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.