Song Brocade (Song Jin)
Song Jin, a renowned traditional Chinese silk handicraft, is predominantly produced in Suzhou, earning it the name "Suzhou Song Jin."
Song brocade is known for its soft texture, vibrant colors, elegant floral patterns, and profound historical significance. It embodies strong national characteristics, with a unique organizational structure and complex craftsmanship. Its artistic style is both elegant and simple, rich in the characteristics of its era, and it is celebrated as the "splendid crown" of Chinese textiles. Alongside Nanjing Yunjin and Sichuan Shu brocade, Song brocade is one of China's "three famous brocades."
Historical Origins
Song Jin originated during the Eastern Wu period, took shape in the Song Dynasty, and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The famous saying "Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below" dates back to the Song Dynasty, when the Yangtze River Delta region became extremely prosperous, akin to a vast granary. This led to the local proverb, "When Suhu is ripe, the world is full."
During the Southern and Northern Song dynasties, the silk weaving industry shifted to the south, making the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions the silk production centers of that time. Historical records indicate that Song Gaozong, in the process of moving the capital to the south, needed a large amount of high-quality brocade for framing calligraphy, painting, and making clothing. Consequently, Gusu emerged as the main production area for this exquisite brocade, eventually known as Song brocade.
Subsequently, Song Jin evolved by incorporating the mature flower and bird painting styles of the Tang Dynasty, forming a distinctive brocade style representative of the Song Dynasty.
In the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it was referred to as Song-style brocade or imitation Song brocade, but collectively, it remained known as Song Jin.
Intangible cultural heritage inheritor - Qian Xiaoping
In 2006, Song Jin was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists. In 2009, it was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the 2014 APEC meeting, the Chinese and foreign leaders wore Chinese-style clothing made of Song brocade fabric.
Today, while cooperating with cultural and creative products, Song Jin also closely links with martial arts online games. Song Jin expands from the traditional content form and application field, and builds a bridge across history and the present. Song Jin is not only an important part of Suzhou's excellent silk traditional culture, but also an outstanding representative of Chinese silk traditional skills, with high historical and cultural value. Although it has evolved for thousands of years, it is still well-known at home and abroad for its simple and elegant style and unique artistic charm.
Source: China Arts and Crafts Society
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