GLOBALink | Centuries-old hair embroidery in east China’s Jiangxi

NANCHANG, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) — Gan hair embroidery is an art form with a history of nearly 500 years that features the use of human hair as the thread in creating intricate designs on fabric. This technique is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of east China’s Jiangxi Province which is traditonally referred as “Gan” in literary ocntext.
In the hands of Tao Yonghong, the 17th generation inheritor of Gan hair embroidery-making skills, hair is such a handy tool for her as the ink and colors for a painter in depicting all sorts of objects such as landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds.
Apart from inheriting the traditions, Tao has developed many customized works, sewing memories and blessings into the embroidery works for her clients.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service