Answer: The Long History of Chinese Embroidery Culture.
Embroidery is a traditional Chinese folk craft with a long history. Using silk as the primary material, it involves the use of needles and various colored threads to create patterns on fabric (base material) by repeatedly threading the needle. This ancient craft, with its vibrant and dazzling beauty, captivates people’s imaginations, evoking a lingering sense of wonder and nostalgia.

A Legend of Nimble Hands: The Story of Women’s Needlework
There is a widely circulated legend about the origin of embroidery: Zhongyong, also known as Yu Zhong, was a man from the late Shang Dynasty in Zhou (modern-day Qishan County, Baoji, Shaanxi). He had two brothers, Taibo and Jili. To fulfill their father, King Tai of Zhou’s wish, Zhongyong and Taibo left the Central Plains, embarking on a long journey to the southern region (modern-day Jiangnan). They adopted the local customs of cutting their hair and tattooing their bodies. Zhongyong assisted Taibo in establishing the Gouwu State. After Taibo passed away, Zhongyong became the ruler. He couldn’t bear seeing people tattooing their bodies, so he convened a meeting to discuss the matter. His granddaughter, Xiaohong, was sewing in another room and accidentally pricked her finger, causing blood to stain the fabric like flowers. Inspired by this, Xiaohong used five-colored silk threads to embroider patterns on the cloth. She presented the embroidered garment to her grandfather, who found it more beautiful than tattoos. He then advocated for people to wear embroidered clothing instead of tattooing. In memory of Xiaohong’s invention, this craft was called “women’s needlework.”

Archaeological Evidence
Though the legend is fascinating, there is no concrete evidence to pinpoint the exact origin of embroidery. However, the discovery of an 18,000-year-old bone needle at the Zhoukoudian site in Beijing suggests that humans had mastered weaving and sewing techniques in prehistoric times. This provided the material foundation for the birth of embroidery.

Literary Evidence
In the ancient text “The Book of Yu – Yi and Ji,” there are descriptions of the specific patterns on the emperor’s garments: “I wish to see the symbols of ancient people: the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, and beautiful insects as drawings; religious vessels, algae, fire, rice grains, axes, and symbols of loyalty and respect embroidered with five colors, displayed on five-colored garments.” These twelve symbolic patterns represented various elements of nature and were embroidered on clothes, reflecting ancient nature worship.

The Transition from Tattoos to Embroidery Driven by Weaving Technology
Considering legends, literary records, and recent archaeological findings, it is plausible that early embroidery originated from the practice of body tattooing among ancient people. As weaving techniques matured and became widespread, these patterns were gradually transferred to daily clothing, symbolizing status and identity while serving as vivid decorations. Over time, embroidery evolved into both a practical and artistic expression, enduring to this day.

From the simplest forms of sewing and embroidery to the diverse styles seen today, embroidery has never ceased to beautify and enhance life on the Chinese landscape over thousands of years, leaving behind countless remarkable works and techniques, still vibrant and dynamic.