An Ou embroidery work created by Xu Zhenzhen and Zhang Jun of the mascots of the Hangzhou Asian Games. [Photo/66wz.com]
Two young embroiderers from Taoshan village, Rui'an, Wenzhou recently completed a series of needle works featuring the mascots of the 19th Asian Games to express their anticipation for the international event.
The works are inspired by Ou embroidery, a local traditional embroidery handicraft that boasts a history of more than 1,000 years.
"I learned Ou embroidery from my mom when I was a child and have developed quite an interest in it over the years. We threaded the mascots so as to welcome the Asian Games as and promote our traditional culture," said Xu Zhenzhen, one of the embroiderers.
"I hope the Hangzhou Asian Games are a complete success and that athletes achieve strong results," said Zhang Jun, another embroiderer.
Ou embroidery, which originated in the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279) and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), is known for its simple patterns, bright and balanced colors, multiple varieties of precise stitches, and smooth and lustrous surfaces.
In 2008, Ou embroidery was listed as part of the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage items by China's State Council.
Learning Ou embroidery takes much more than just acquiring basic sewing skills. It also requires one to master traditional Chinese realistic painting, traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, watercolor painting and sketching, flawlessly combining realism and abstractionism and ensuring balanced colors.
