History of Vietnamese traditional hand embroidery
Around the early years of AD, people started using dyed thread, wool and sometimes silver, gold or brass… and started basic embroidery to decorate the motifs. for clothes. They embroidered embroidered images of simple natural scenes such as flowers and leaves or abstract images simulating activities and activities in life. Many of these costume artifacts are found around the world.
In Vietnam, it is said that the profession of embroidery appears from the time of King Hung. Grandparents used thread, silk, and dyed yarn to embroider and decorate on the fabric. Like other countries, the ancient Vietnamese often embroidered motifs of plants, trees, shapes, flowers, birds, animals, daily life scenes… on towels, bags, clothes, flags…
Traditional embroidery with bold Vietnamese soul
Embroidery has a strange attraction because of its sophistication and uniqueness imbued with the Vietnamese soul. Shiny and colorful silk threads like a rainbow through the skillful hands of craftsmen, artisans have “drawn” beautiful pictures of their homeland and country.
With materials (threads, fabrics) becoming more and more abundant, with a sense of artistic creativity, the artisan has gradually turned embroidery paintings to the pinnacle of art. To create a perfect hand-embroidered picture, the artist must use the right traditional thread dyed from the color of natural plants. Especially silk thread with a characteristic smooth luster to give paintings, especially landscape paintings, the most natural colors. The embroiderer must have both passion and talent for painting. Thus, the flexible lines and the soul of the new painting are conveyed in many colors.
Not only the needles and thread, hand embroidered paintings have shown both the ups and downs of time, recreating the events of history. At the same time, each embroidery picture only hides the beauty of the national culture, the rustic and simple beauty and the sincere and warm humanity of the Vietnamese people… The outstanding works of the embroidery industry are embroidery paintings. landscapes such as banyan trees, waterfronts, boats, scenic spots such as One Pillar Pagoda, Ngoc Son Temple, Hong Thai Communal House, Hue Ancient Capital, or paintings bearing bold ancient legends such as: Mouse wedding, Vinh Quy, Catching Coconut, Carp looking at the moon…, the paintings are “woven” from needles and stitches have really conquered art lovers.
Experiencing the changes of history and the development needs of the market, besides the traditional embroidery paintings, the embroidery profession has now developed the embroidery segment of fashion goods, ao dai, tablecloths, blankets and pillows. … Besides the traditional embroidery techniques such as: punching, twisting, bunting, ramming, head-joining, blocking, beading, single-striped and double-scaled… the embroidery profession is now more developed. many difficult techniques such as double-sided embroidery, single-screen embroidery, double-screen embroidery, water-based embroidery with glossy thread… The finer the thread, the more the thread’s legs are hidden, the more the product has artistic and aesthetic value.
Embroidery paintings in particular and embroidery products in general of Vietnam have long since gone beyond the village bamboo wall, not only being consumed throughout the country but also being exported to dozens of international markets such as Japan, Korea China, Singapore, America, Europe… Embroidery has become the main income earner for many households and has become an important craft industry, contributing to the local economic development as well as metalworking. exports of the country.