Cloud pattern brocade show on Kongtong Mountain
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A fashion show of cloud pattern brocade (a traditional jacquard silk craftwork in Nanjing) is staged on Kongtong Mountain at the 9th China Folk Art Festivalon in Pingling city, Gansu Province, on September 12, 2012.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
About Nanjing cloud-pattern brocade
The origin of Nanjing cloud-pattern brocade can be traced back to 1,500 years ago. It used to be the brocade that was reserved only for the emperors and the royal family members in the dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. It is said that the cloud-pattern brocade was used to make imperial robes and hats as well as the concubines' clothing. In Qing Dynasty, the development of Nanjing cloud-pattern brocade entered its period of full bloom. At that time, there were more than 30,000 looms with nearly 300,000 workers engaging in this trade.
The weaving technique of Nanjing cloud-pattern brocade was so complicated that only five to six centimeters of brocade could be woven every day. In the year of 2001, Nanjing cloud-pattern brocade has been selected into candidate programmes of the oral and intangible heritage of human at UNESCO.
