\"One inch of Nanjing Yunjin brocade is worth one inch of gold.\" This age-old saying highlights the unparalleled value and craftsmanship of the luxurious silk fabric produced in Nanjing City, located in east China's Jiangsu Province.
Yunjin brocade is renowned for its intricate weaving techniques. Historically, artisans crafted a wooden shuttle loom with over 1,900 parts specifically designed to create garments for the emperor and his family. The meticulous process involves weaving gold and silver threads and incorporating peacock feathers, a level of complexity that even the most advanced modern machines cannot fully replicate.
The vibrant colors of Yunjin brocade are often likened to the beautiful hues of the sky, earning it the nickname "cloud brocade." This shuttle-woven textile, representing the pinnacle of China's weaving artistry, was recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
Mastering the art of Yunjin brocade is a painstaking endeavor. According to Chen Cheng, a Yunjin inheritor, understanding the properties of raw silk, operating the intricate looms, mastering hundreds of colors, and knotting tens of thousands of threads requires at least three years of dedicated training.
In this episode, Chen shares a brief history of Yunjin brocade and offers valuable insights into preserving this precious cultural heritage. Readers will also witness firsthand the operation of the loom and the delicate weaving of gold into the fabric, illustrating why \"one inch of gold\" is not merely a figurative expression for Yunjin brocade.
