Zhang Juhua, the Inheritor of Sichuan Maliu Embroidery: Sichuan Maliu Embroidery Creates Splendid Culture

Zhang Juhua, a 45-year-old woman from Maliu Township, Chaotian District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, has been recognized as an inheritor of Maliu embroidery. Since Zhang started learning embroidery, she has gone through the transformation from an ordinary embroiderer to an embroidery master, from an apprentice to a national-level inheritor within 37 years. Now, when it comes to the inheritance of Maliu embroidery, she considers more about the development of Maliu embroidery than a piece of work.

In order to promote the inheritance of Maliu embroidery, Zhang Juhua goes to Maliu Township Central Elementary School every week to teach pupils the techniques of Maliu embroidery. "Through the classes, children can learn the basic techniques of Maliu embroidery for further study ," zhang said.  

Zhang Juhua also keeps exploring and innovating, and constantly improving embroidery skills on the basis of traditional techniques. Now, her works not only retain the traditional features, but also add some modern elements, making the picture more harmonious and three-dimensional.

At present, Zhang's representative works "Chrysanthemum" and "Orchid" have been exported to Singapore; "Pillow with Flower Pattern" and "Hand Towel with Dragonfly and Lotus Pattern" have been collected by Sichuan Folk Art Museum.

Zhang Juhua, inheritor of Maliu embroidery [Photo by Liu Xu]

A Maliu embroidery art piece made by Zhang Juhua [Photo by Liu Xu]

Zhang Juhua teaches basic stiching skills to the pupils [Photo by Liu Xu]

Zhang Juhua (R) introduces an embroidery pattern to a visitor. [Photo by Liu Xu]