Hunan embroidery, one of China's Four Famous Embroideries, has journeyed over two millennia from its humble origins as decorative patterns on rural women's clothing and pouches to its current status as a Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Through centuries of evolution, countless embroiderers and Chinese painting artists have dedicated themselves to refining its techniques and blending diverse artistic essences from Suzhou embroidery, Guangdong embroidery, calligraphy, ink-wash painting and others, who finally developed Hunan embroidery’s unique technique: “Use needles as brushes and threads as paints.” It achieves artistic reinvention while faithfully recreating original paintings. Celebrated for “its exquisite works like vibrant flowers seemingly scented with aroma and vivid birds supposedly singing”, Hunan embroidery marks an indelible chapter in China's traditional artistic legacy.
湘绣，作为中国四大名绣之一，从古代农村妇女衣服、荷包上的花纹，到如今闻名海内外的非物质文化遗产代表性项目，这一路，它走了两千多年。一路走来，历经无数刺绣艺人的探索和国画画家的潜心投入，吸收了苏绣、粤绣乃至书法、水墨中的多种艺术精华，最终形成了“以针代笔，以线晕色”的独特技巧，在刻意追求画稿原貌的基础上，进行艺术再创造，有着“绣花生香，绣鸟闻声”的美名。是勤劳智慧的湖南人民在中国传统艺术宝库中留下的浓墨重彩的一笔。
策划：禹振华 秦慧英 冒蕞
视频：唐煜斯 王柯沣 齐颢然
翻译审校：欧阳凤