Cantonese Embroidery, an intricate art form with a history dating back to over 1,300 years, is being revitalized through the efforts of its intangible heritage inheritor Wang Xinyuan, who is dedicated to promoting China's rich cultural heritage on a global scale.
As one of China's four major schools of embroidery, "Guang Xiu," the traditional handicraft, is now playing a vital role in China's pursuit of cultural confidence.
In a quiet studio in Guangzhou, the master craftsman leans over an embroidery frame, his skilled hands weaving threads finer than a human hair and creating vibrant, life-like images.
Wang entered the world of embroidery when he was just 13 years old. But it wasn't until 2001 that he met his mentor in Guangzhou and began professional training.
"There was no subway back then, so I had to take a seven-hour bus ride every time I went to see my mentor. It was exhausting for sure, spending seven or eight hours a day on a piece, not knowing if it would ever pay off. (My passion) probably also gave me the perseverance," Wang said.
Bringing embroidery into the modern age is challenging. To keep this heritage alive, it can't remain a luxury art item on the walls - it needs to become a part of everyday life through fashion, home decoration, and gifts.
Wang has expanded the scope of Cantonese embroidery by incorporating national treasures, western masterpieces, and even modern landscapes.
"Western paintings focus on the colors and perspectives. In terms of numbers, some oil painting require over 1,800 or even 3,000 colors. Cantonese embroidery has long had western audience when it was exported overseas. I hope to find a way to not only revive its glory in the Qing (1636-1912) or Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but also to take it even further," he said.
Wang's expertise has taken him around the world, from Switzerland and Italy to New Zealand, where he shares this ancient craft with new audiences. Back home, his studios welcome students from all walks of life.
"I think it's a beautiful culture, and you can see the traditional styles, but you also can see how it's still kept alive in a new modern way," said Christine, a Brazilian designer.
The story about Wang Xinyuan is part of a larger effort across China to preserve, elevate, and share cultural traditions with the world, ensuring they thrive in the modern age.
Cantonese embroidery master gives new life to ancient art
The People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s drills in the Taiwan Strait show its "all-weather" combat readiness and capabilities, military experts said on Monday.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command on Monday organized army, navy, air force and rocket force troops to conduct "Joint Sword-2024B" drills in the Taiwan Strait and the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan.
The Liaoning aircraft carrier group participated in the drill, said Li Xi, spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command.
During the military exercise, the air and sea forces coordinated with each other as the Liaoning aircraft carrier group deployed at a choke point east of Taiwan island, with the bomber formation breaking the "first island chain" and conducting joint exercises with the aircraft carrier group.
"What does an aircraft carrier do? An aircraft carrier is a portable airport on the sea, and it has a relatively larger combat radius. So its presence reflects the great improvement on our army's cooperative combat and joint operation capability so as to be ready for any such situation in the future," said Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the National Defense University of Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The operations were accompanied by patrols of China Coast Guard vessels, showcasing the PLA's enhanced joint command and combat capabilities.
The exercises also simulated blockades of key ports, presenting the PLA's ability to conduct such operations if necessary. "In this drill, we enriched our operation pattern including sea-air combat police patrol, the containment of key ports and areas, jointly seizing air and sea control and long-range precision strikes on critical targets. Meanwhile, we employed flexible organization of fire units and strike modules. It can be seen that the PLA's toolbox is getting more resourceful and its fist is getting stronger," said Zhang Chi, associate professor at National Defense University of Chinese People's Liberation Army. The exercises commenced overnight into Monday, with forces rapidly deploying and initiating military deterrence actions by 05:00, and experts say the drills send out a clear signal of the PLA's combat capabilities and readiness.
"What do [the drills] imply? They imply that the combat readiness level of our army is very high, at all times. Last night the Eastern Theater Command issued a poster with just four words 'be ready for battle'. That means delivering all-weather battle readiness, ready to fight at any time," Meng said.
PLA drills shows "all-weather" capacity, combat readiness: military experts
