Shu Embroidery in Sichuan, China: The Social Life of Things from a Cultural Perspective and Their Contemporary Evolution

Abstract

Shu embroidery, recognized as a distinguished brand of Sichuan, serves as a link between the people and society of the Sichuan region, and its evolution is intimately connected to the social life of this area. This study adopts a fresh perspective to investigate Shu embroidery, utilizing Arjun Appadurai’s concept of “the social life of things” and putting emphasisi on the social and cultural features of things. Arjun Appadurai regards things as an embodiment of social relations and cultural views, meaning that their significance doesn’t just depends on how practical they are but on how they are endowed with the role of representative. By integrating literature research with field investigations conducted in Pixian, Sichuan, and interviews with key informants including intangible cultural heritage inheritors, government officials, and local residents, the research explores the relationship between Shu embroidery and the social, economic, and cultural phenomena of various eras in China. This analysis of Shu embroidery culture enables to deepen people’s understanding of the social life of things in Sichuan and the whole China. At the same time, the study dissects the development and innovation of Shu embroidery in contemporary social life. It concludes that as an entity intertwined with social life, Shu embroidery has experienced the diverse historical periods of Sichuan, China. Throughout its evolution, one can observe the unique social, historical, and cultural connotations of Sichuan in different phases. Furthermore, the study analyzes the transformation of Shu embroidery from historical craftsmanship to contemporary art, discussing the dynamics and directions of this evolution in the context of historical and contemporary developments. It specifies the concrete directions for the modern application of Shu embroidery in terms of themes, techniques, materials, and artistic forms, offering insights for the sustainable development of Shu embroidery and other traditional crafts and fine arts.

-