Production techniques of costumes and tools

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: production skills of costume and play set

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Project No.: 432

Project No.: VIII - 82

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Protection unit: Suzhou opera costume and play set Co., Ltd

Brief introduction to the production techniques of costumes and play sets:

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

The production of costumes and tools is a unique handicraft in Suzhou. Its origin can be traced back to the middle of Ming Dynasty. It was accompanied by the most elegant and beautiful Kunqu Opera in the south to North opera at that time.

Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Suzhou has always been the main producing area of silk and cotton, and Suzhou's embroidery is famous at home and abroad for its exquisite skills. On this premise, Suzhou costume production has incomparable advantages compared with other areas. In the 1830s, the costumes of Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Xun Huisheng and Shang Xiaoyun, the most famous actors in Peking Opera, were all customized in Suzhou.

Suzhou has a wide range of costumes, rich varieties, unique patterns, elegant colors, meticulous workmanship and excellent production. At present, only Suzhou can produce more than 1000 kinds of costumes, helmets, shoes, swords and guns, masks and headgear, including 378 kinds of costumes, 246 kinds of hats, 276 kinds of swords and guns, 41 kinds of boots, 79 kinds of bearded headgear and 23 kinds of headgear.

Suzhou opera costumes have their own characteristics in terms of craftsmanship. So far, they are still handmade one by one. However, due to the different colors and specifications of embroidery, stitching and sewing, each piece needs to be checked. The selection of various patterns follows the traditional expression and cultural elements, and the embroidery color shows the elegant and beautiful characteristics of Suzhou Water Town.

Suzhou costume opera has a profound historical and cultural heritage. It combines painting, embroidery, color, history, literature and other cultural and artistic elements, and combines modeling, printing, sewing, leather and other techniques to form a unique and systematic hand-made craft. In the current situation, the decline of traditional drama has brought depression to the production of costume and play sets. The aging of employees, the decrease of skilled workers and the low income of the industry have affected the inheritance and development of production technology. It is necessary to take measures for rescue and protection.