The Chinese word Yue(粵 )is an abbreviation for Guangdong Province 广东 in southern China (formerly Canton). One of the four famous schools of embroidery in China is Yue Embroidery 粤绣 which comprises embroidery works from both Guangzhou city 广州 and Chaozhou 潮州 (Teochew) City. Although both cities are in Guangdong Province, their residents speak very different dialects.
Yue embroidery uses more brightly coloured threads, especially red and green. They are also characterised by the frequent use of gold and silver threads, glossy rayon threads, and yarns which render a shimmering and sparkling effect. Typically, costumes used by opera singers are heavily embroidered with elaborate designs with gold, silver, and high-gloss threads, which look spectacular and glamorous under stage lighting. Those who were king and queen would wear period costumes embroidered with dragons and phoenix birds. Many works intended as luxurious artworks for enhancing the decor of rooms and halls appear like relief artworks and are framed like paintings. The framed work of peony flowers in gold and silver on a transcultural fabric appears stunning and would surely add beauty and a feeling of opulence to any wall space!
Please enjoy some examples of Yue Embroidery. I have also included some iconic scenes of Chaozhou. Two show the ancient bridge (Guangji Bridge) crossing the Han River. The bridge comprises 24 pavilions and 18 wooden boats in the middle section, which can move away when the bridge is not in use.
