Zhang Chunmei - Inheritor of Yi Embroidery Skill in Dayao County, Chuxiong 

Introduction

Zhang Chunmei (born 1970) is a representative inheritor of Yunnan’s provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. She is a Yi ethnic woman from Tadi Village, Longjie Township, Dayao County, Chuxiong Prefecture. Influenced by her mother, a well-known embroidery artisan, Zhang developed a lifelong passion for Yi embroidery from a young age.

As a cultural guardian and innovator, she not only masters the traditional embroidery techniques of the Yi people but also incorporates modern design elements, creating clothing and accessories that combine heritage with contemporary aesthetics. Her works, known for their vivid colors, exquisite patterns, and fine craftsmanship, are often referred to as a “national history book worn on the body.”

Background and Learning Journey

Family Influence

Zhang grew up in a family deeply rooted in Yi embroidery traditions. Her mother, Zhang Bixiu, was a renowned embroidery expert who passed down essential skills and instilled cultural values in her daughter.

Artistic Growth

• Early Practice: She started learning embroidery as a child, guided by family traditions.

• Mastery: By adulthood, she had mastered various techniques such as 架花 (framework stitch), 游花 (freehand stitch), and 挑花 (pick stitch).

• Innovation: Beyond tradition, Zhang integrates modern aesthetics into Yi-style clothing, making her creations appealing to younger generations and international audiences.

Features of Yi Embroidery

Craftsmanship

• Materials: Traditionally, embroidery is done on locally woven linen or homespun cloth, using brightly colored threads in red, yellow, blue, green, and black.

• Techniques: Zhang expertly applies diverse stitches such as framework, freehand, and pick stitch, along with plain, chain, double-sided, and seed stitches.

• Decorative Methods: Her works incorporate techniques like appliqué, locking, weaving, knotting, and cut-thread embroidery, bringing depth and vitality to each piece.

Artistic Style

• Designs & Patterns: Motifs include mountains, rivers, flowers (camellia, azalea, peony), animals (tiger, dragon, phoenix, birds, butterflies), each carrying symbolic meanings.

• Colors: Yi embroidery often uses black, red, and blue as dominant tones, contrasted with vibrant highlights.

• Cultural Symbolism: Fire motifs represent fire worship, tiger-tooth patterns symbolize strength, and gourd flowers honor ancestral beliefs.

Representative Works

Traditional Clothing

• Women’s Wear: Embroidered jackets, pleated skirts, aprons, and belts with floral and animal motifs.

• Men’s Wear: Embellished collars, cuffs, and hems with simple yet elegant stitches.

• Children’s Wear: Colorful tiger-head hats, embroidered shoes, and baby carriers.

Accessories

• Embroidered Hats: Highly time-consuming, often requiring three months to complete.

• Shoes & Bags: Featuring insects, birds, and floral motifs, both traditional and modern styles.

• Baby Carriers (背带): Functional yet decorative, combining protection with beauty.

Modern Creations

Zhang also designs contemporary Yi-inspired fashion and cultural products, such as notebooks, wallets, and phone accessories, blending heritage with daily life.

Cultural Contribution

Heritage Transmission

As one of Dayao County’s two provincial-level embroidery inheritors, Zhang plays a vital role in passing down skills. Supported by local policies, she has her own embroidery workshop and shop, combining cultural preservation with economic development.

Local Identity

Her works strengthen cultural identity in Longjie Township, a birthplace of the famous Yi “Left Foot Dance.” Her embroidery embodies the community’s traditions and collective memory.

Economic & Tourism Value

By promoting “Intangible Heritage + Tourism” and “Intangible Heritage + Cultural Creativity”, Zhang contributes to cultural tourism in Yunnan. Her embroidery is not only art but also a cultural experience for visitors.

Longjie Township and Yi Culture

Cultural Background

• Historic Roots: Dayao County is celebrated as the “Land of the Flower Lantern Opera” and “Birthplace of the Meige Epic.”

• National Recognition: Yi costumes are recognized as a national-level intangible cultural heritage item.

• Local Uniqueness: Among the seven Yi costume styles in Dayao, Longjie embroidery is renowned for its brilliant colors and fine workmanship.

Artistic Value

Yi embroidery is more than decoration—it is a living record of history, folklore, and beliefs. It reflects Yi people’s worldview, aesthetic taste, and connection with nature.

Preservation and Future

Despite challenges such as declining youth participation and competition from machine-made products, new opportunities are emerging:

• Government Support: Training programs, funding, and cultural parks for Yi embroidery.

• Integration with Tourism: Embroidery workshops and exhibitions for visitors.

• Innovation: Creative cultural products that adapt traditional motifs to modern lifestyles.

Dayao County is even building China’s first Yi Embroidery Cultural Theme Park, envisioned as a hub for heritage protection, cultural tourism, innovation, and international exchange.

Conclusion

Zhang Chunmei stands as both a guardian and innovator of Yi embroidery. Through her artistry, she preserves centuries-old traditions while adapting them for contemporary life.

For visitors to Yunnan, experiencing Yi embroidery is more than admiring handicrafts—it is a chance to understand a culture where every stitch tells a story, every color carries a meaning, and every piece embodies the spirit of the Yi people.