Chinese culture takes center stage

In a matter of days, the art of the over 2,000-year-old Shu brocade will adorn the chests of young athletes at the Chengdu FISU World University Games.

The medals of the games, which take place from Friday until Aug 8, are attached to a ribbon made using the craftsmanship and materials of the Shu brocade, a revered national intangible cultural heritage of China.

"The Shu brocade holds a significant position as one of the world's earliest brocade fabrics," said Lai Fei, associate researcher at the Sichuan provincial museum. "In China, the Shu brocade, together with the Song brocade, Yun brocade, and Zhuang brocade, are listed as the four most famous brocades."

The Shu brocade ribbon, measuring 2.5 centimeters in width and 105 centimeters in length, boasts an array of patterns, including the "Sun and Immortal Birds," which represent themes of light, hope, and dreams. It also showcases auspicious clouds and Chengdu city flower hibiscus, adding further cultural significance to its design.

The distinctive beauty of Shu brocade lies in its plain, twill, and satin weaves, which give the ribbon a clear and well-defined appearance. When exposed to natural light, the ribbon reflects various colors, and the auspicious cloud pattern also takes on a lifelike quality that changes with the play of light.

Professor Ma Liwa of Chengdu University, the designer of the ribbon, describes the design process as "like riding a roller coaster," as it required numerous revisions and reorganizations, with more than 40 drafts crafted to achieve the final result.

"The use of the ancient Shu brocade weaving process for the sash presented various challenges," Ma said. "The ribbon's construction involves five yarns intricately woven by hand on a traditional loom."

The Chengdu ancient Shu brocade research institute was entrusted with the task of weaving the medal ribbons. Its director Hu Guangjun's exceptional expertise in the art of Sichuan brocade weaving, particularly in mastering all four major processes and over 70 procedures, sets him apart as a true master of this craft.

Weaving brocade is a highly intricate and labor-intensive craft that demands exceptional skill and patience. According to the historical records from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), it takes "60 days to weave around 33 meters of brocade".Even the experienced weavers at that time could only weave about 13 centimeters of brocade in a day.

Xinhua