Cheng Shizhen – Master of Panxiu Embroidered Skill in Wenshan County, Wenshan 

Chen Shizhen (陈世珍), female, Han ethnicity, was born in 1921 in Leshichong Village (乐诗冲村), Leshichong Township (乐诗冲乡), Wenshan City (文山市), Wenshan Prefecture (文山州), Yunnan Province (云南省). She is a renowned master of panchui (盘绣) and kouhua (扣花, coiling embroidery) in the local area. Originally from Zhedi Village (者底村), Pingba Township (平坝乡), Wenshan City (文山县), she later married into Leshichong Village (乐诗冲村) and had two sons and two daughters.

Chen Shizhen received four years of formal education in her childhood, enabling her to read books and newspapers. Her embroidery, pattern design, and related skills were self-taught, primarily learning from her second aunt and by observing others. Driven by the necessities of life, she gradually mastered these crafts.

Craft Characteristics

Versatile Skills

Chen Shizhen is a versatile artisan, skilled in both embroidery and pattern drawing. Her main works include embroidered baby carriers, waistbands, apron flaps, and embroidered shoes. Among them, her signature creations are baby carriers made with the kouhua (扣花) technique.

Unique Kouhua Technique

Her kouhua method involves using two needles: one primary needle and another that wraps the thread around the main one, then secures it in place. This intricate coiling embroidery, known locally as kouhua (扣花), is highly time-consuming, with a single baby carrier taking about one month to complete.

Social Contributions

Chen Shizhen is not only excellent at needlework but is also adept at various rural tasks, making her a respected figure in the community. Her craftsmanship and works have earned great renown locally, significantly contributing to the inheritance and development of Zhuang (壮族) embroidery culture.

Transmission and Influence

Chen Shizhen’s embroidery skills have been passed down within her family and have influenced the local embroidery culture. Her works and techniques have become an important part of the Zhuang (壮族) embroidery heritage in Leshichong Village (乐诗冲村) and the broader Wenshan (文山) region.

Unique Aspects of Chen Shizhen’s Embroidery Art

1. Unique Kouhua Technique

Chen Shizhen excels in a distinctive kouhua (扣花) technique that involves using two needles to create coiled and secured stitches. This demanding and time-consuming method endows her works with exceptional artistic value and visual appeal.

2. Versatile Artistic Skills

Beyond embroidery, Chen Shizhen is highly skilled in pattern drawing and designing. Her main creations, such as baby carriers, waistbands, apron flaps, and embroidered shoes, demonstrate her mastery not only in technique but also in the artistic aspects of pattern and color coordination.

3. Unique Personal Style

Chen Shizhen’s works exhibit a distinctive personal style. Her pattern designs and color combinations blend traditional Zhuang (壮族) embroidery elements with modern design sensibilities, making her pieces both timeless and contemporary.

4. Integration of Tradition and Innovation

While faithfully preserving traditional embroidery techniques, Chen Shizhen also embraces innovation. She continuously experiments with new patterns and stitching methods, rejuvenating the traditional craft and enhancing both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of her works.

5. Contributions to Cultural Heritage

Chen Shizhen is not only a masterful embroidery artist but also an outstanding cultural inheritor. Through the “master-apprentice” model, she has trained a new generation of embroidery practitioners, ensuring the continuation of this traditional craft. Her reputation and contributions have played a vital role in preserving and promoting Zhuang (壮族) embroidery culture.

Chen Shizhen’s embroidery skills vividly showcase the unique charm of Zhuang (壮族) embroidery and have injected new vitality into the inheritance and development of this precious intangible cultural heritage.

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