Han Dynasty (221B.C.-220A.D.) Embroidery

Through progress over Zhou dynasty, Han Dynasty witnessed a leap in embroidery at both technique and art style. Designs covered a large range, from  sun, moon, stars, mountains, flowers, grass, clouds, tigers, dragon to phoenix and geometric patterns, also auspicious words.

Most of women were able to embroider. Embroidery became part of their life by adopting techniques and practicing products daily, and they became good at this. The Royal families and aristocrats needed lots of embroidery products for their wall hanging, floor decorating, bed covering, cloths wearing and even burial articles. Embroidery was stimulated and, as the national economy developed, entered the lives of people.

Embroidery in this period symbolized social status. Court embroidery was set and specialization came into being. High quality embroidery products were for noble needs. The common people could not afford top grade embroidery products, so they only could have few embroidery adorning their daily items. Chain-stitch was still the main stitch method, but some straight stitches were developed during this period.

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