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Business Upturn
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Global Times: Fashion textile expert finds passion in decoding ancient silk legacy
Beijing, China, July 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With her short hair and bubbly personality, Yang Jiyuan is a bit of a pleasant mystery. She admittedly loves cats and toys packed in blind boxes in her daily life. But once she steps into the laboratory, a seeming alter ego emerges at work. She is a calm and meticulous protector of ancient silk textiles, having successfully replicated an ancient China's lightest silk garment, weighing only 49 grams, with days and nights of patience. Including the piece that is called 'plain unlined gauze gown,' Yang's dedication to work has enabled her to recreate multiple long-lost garments. Yet these feats alone cannot fully capture her career passion. Yang told the Global Times that what she truly seeks is to uncover 'the ancient wisdom and humanistic stories behind Chinese silk.' 'Prefer to stay grounded' Yang is an inheritor of China's Intangible Culture Heritage (ICH) yunjinbrocade, a traditional silk fabric rooted in Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) culture from Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province. Her expertise in silk textiles, however, extends far beyond just this brocade alone. Before entering the field of ancient silk textile conservation, Yang had already been a rising talent in the contemporary sector of the industry. At that time, she was in her early 30s, but had already had opportunities working with widely known haute couture designers like Laurence Xu, crafting 'red-carpet' statement garment for celebrities for global shows such as the Cannes Film Festival and Milano Fashion Week in Europe. Seeing fabrics she crafted gracing stages overseas once thrilled Yang, but years of experiencing the vanity fair-like glitz and glamour in overseas fashion circles gradually left her weary, prompting her to ask 'What am I truly pursuing?' 'Under neon lights and constant jet leg, I grew increasingly aware of how so-called 'prestige' can feel superfluous,' Yang noted, adding that she 'preferred to stay grounded.' Driven by such a thought, Yang returned to China and chose to enroll in a training program launched by the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) in 2013. From the glare of camera flashes to the glow of lab lamps, Yang's training journey transition was not always easy. She told the Global Times that, while dusk settled and fellow trainees departed one by one, only she and her closest colleague would still be hunched over the work table. 'We often worked until midnight. If we got hungry, we'd use a little stove typically used for fabric dyeing to cook instant noodles,' she said, adding that such experiences somehow intensified her passion for ancient silk textiles. Though the training experience was intense, it opened a new door to her career, allowing her to see and touch real garments unearthed from ancient sites such as the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD25) Mawangdui tomb and the Dingling Mausoleum dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In 2017, she was commissioned by the Hunan Museum to restore the one-and-only plain unlined gauze gown that is a national first-class relic. The piece has more than 2,000 years of history. Weighing a mere 49 grams, it could easily fit inside a matchbox when folded. The reproduction of such a delicate artifact inevitably brought pressure. 'When we were collecting data on the relic,' Yang recalled, 'even speaking slightly louder could make it flutter from our breath.' The greatest technical challenge in replicating this garment lay not in its cut or style, but in recreating its antique appearance and astonishing lightness. To match the original's weight, Yang and her team creatively put silkworms on a controlled 'diet' to produce finer threads. After numerous tries, an accidental black tea spill on her table inspired her to use tea and color-fixing agents as the dyes for the garment's subtle earthy yellow color. 'I still remember, my eyes were teary when delivered this replica successfully to the museum,' said Yang. Wisdoms behind the silk With her proven expertise in replicating the national first-class gauze treasure, Yang was entrusted with an even more challenging task, to recreate a Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD25) printed and painted floss silk-padded gauze robe, a piece that is even more challenging than the former. The robe consisted of seven gauze layers, each merely one-third the thickness of a tissue paper. Yet what astonished Yang most wasn't this intricate textile structure, but its densely intricate patterns revealed under a microscope. She told the Global Times that they were like an awe-inspiring testament to ancient artisans' precision. While restoring another piece of zhijin brocade (gold-woven silk fabric), she noticed variations in the sheen of its gold threads. Under a microscope, she uncovered ancient craftsmen's secret that they had mixed genuine gold threads with imitation ones to cut corners and lower fabric production costs. 'I felt I could communicate with those ancient craftsmen through touching the piece,' Yang noted. The more she handled ancient textiles, the better she understood the stories of ancient makers. She said that despite lacking advanced technology, ancient Chinese craftsmanship possessed astonishing wisdom, especially integrating diverse techniques. And this has also inspired Yang. She told the Global Times that she experimented on mixing silk and ceramics to make brooches. 'The boundary-defying genius of old masters,' she muses, 'lives on in our hands.' Song Jiabao also contributed to the story. This story first appeared in Global Times: Company: Global TimesContact Person: Anna Li Email: [email protected] Website: Beijing Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
The Star
16-05-2025
- General
- The Star
2nd LD Writethru: U.S. museum returns to China ancient silk manuscripts from Warring States period
WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art on Friday officially returned the Zidanku Silk Manuscript volumes II and III: Wuxing Ling and Gongshou Zhan from the Warring States period to China's National Cultural Heritage Administration. The handover ceremony took place at the Chinese Embassy in the United States in Washington, D.C. The silk manuscripts were unearthed in 1942 from the Zidanku site in Changsha, Hunan Province, and were illegally taken to the United States in 1946. The silk manuscripts are currently the only known silk manuscripts from the Warring States period (475-221 BC). The Zidanku Silk Manuscripts are divided into three volumes. The returning texts, Wuxing Ling and Gongshou Zhan, are the second and third volumes, respectively. As the only known silk manuscripts from the Warring States period unearthed in China, the Zidanku Silk Manuscripts -- over 2,000 years old -- are the earliest silk text discovered to date, representing the earliest known example of a classical Chinese book in the true sense. It is of foundational significance for the study of ancient Chinese script and literature, as well as for the history of Chinese scholarship and thought. The repatriation of Wuxing Ling and Gongshou Zhan "ensures that these invaluable artifacts can now be fully and rightfully protected and studied in the soil from which they came," Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Rao Quan, who is also the head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said in a video address. This will allow for a more accurate and comprehensive understanding and interpretation of their heritage value, transforming them into shared academic and civilizational assets for China and the world, said Rao. At the handover ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said that the return is a "cultural milestone" and a "testament" to China-U.S. cooperation in heritage preservation, bringing new vitality to people-to-people exchanges and friendship. China and the United States have made "notable progress" in heritage cooperation, with around 600 artifacts sent back to China -- including more than 40 pieces since the start of this year, according to the Chinese ambassador. At the ceremony, Chase F. Robinson, director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, said that the return of the manuscripts "reflects a carefully considered decision," calling it an example of "mutually beneficial and collegial international collaboration." The return of Wuxing Ling and Gongshou Zhan marks a successful case of proactive recovery of significant lost cultural artifacts. It also serves as a model for the application of the core spirit of dialogue and cooperation outlined in the Qingdao Recommendations, showcasing how research into provenance and transfer history can support the successful repatriation of Chinese cultural artifacts lost overseas. These manuscripts will be publicly displayed for the first time in July 2025 at the National Museum of China as part of an exhibition on the repatriation of cultural relics. The National Cultural Heritage Administration said it will continue to work toward the early return of Sishi Ling, another volume of the Zidanku silk manuscripts.
Leaders
18-03-2025
- General
- Leaders
Saudi-Chinese Team Achieves Progress in Archaeological Excavation at Al-Sirrain
As part of a Saudi-Chinese agreement, Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site in Al-Lith governorate, Makkah region. In collaboration with China's National Cultural Heritage Administration, the initiative seeks to exchange knowledge and expertise in archaeological excavation, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Through the precise studying of residential areas, city planning as well as connections to other urban centers, the excavation aimed at offering a deeper understanding of the site. Saudi-Chinese Team Achieves Progress in Archaeological Excavation at Al-Sirrain In addition, it prioritized the documentation of structural features, such as parts of the city wall, towers and gates. During the excavation, researchers discovered various artifacts, including pottery, stone vessels, decorative items, a gold dinar from the mid-second Hijri century and Chinese porcelain. They also found gravestones with distinctive carvings. In order to shed light on the site's significance along the Maritime Silk Road, the survey identified key architectural features, such as wall foundations and gravestones. Saudi-Chinese Team Achieves Progress in Archaeological Excavation at Al-Sirrain This remarkable milestone coincides with the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025. This newly launched initiative features various joint cultural initiatives aiming at boosting cultural exchange and strengthening historical ties between the two civilizations through the Silk Road. Therefore, it stands as a testament to both Saudi Arabia and China's dedication to fostering historical research and documenting shared heritage. Related Topics: Culture Ministry Launches Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025 Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award: Strengthening Saudi-Chinese Cultural Ties SFDA Boosts Saudi-Chinese Cooperation in Beijing Short link : Post Views: 5
Arab News
18-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi cabinet condemns renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza, urges immediate international action to end humanitarian crisis
Saudi-Chinese team discovers ancient treasures at Al-Sirrain RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site in Al-Lith governorate, Makkah region. The project was carried out in collaboration with China's National Cultural Heritage Administration as part of a bilateral agreement to exchange expertise in archaeological excavation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. It coincides with the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025, which features joint cultural initiatives. The goal is to strengthen cultural exchange and highlight historical ties between the two civilizations through the Silk Road. The collaboration reflects Saudi Arabia and China's commitment to supporting historical research and documenting shared heritage, the SPA reported. The excavation aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the site by studying residential areas, city planning and connections to other urban centers. It also sought to document structural features, including parts of the city wall, towers and gates. Researchers uncovered various artifacts, including pottery, stone vessels, decorative items, a gold dinar from the mid-second Hijri century and Chinese porcelain. Gravestones with unique carvings were also found. The survey identified key architectural features, including wall foundations and gravestones, highlighting the site's significance along the Maritime Silk Road. The port city thrived until the late third Hijri century, reaching its peak in the fifth and sixth Hijri centuries. It remains one of the largest archaeological sites on the Red Sea coast, according to the SPA. The Heritage Commission is committed to preserving antiquities and advancing archaeological research across the Kingdom, the SPA added. It also aims to expand cooperation with local and international partners in line with Vision 2030, promoting culture and ensuring the sustainability of heritage for future generations.
Arab News
18-03-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi-Chinese team discovers ancient treasures at Al-Sirrain
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission has completed the third season of the archaeological excavation at the Al-Sirrain site in Al-Lith governorate, Makkah region. The project was carried out in collaboration with China's National Cultural Heritage Administration as part of a bilateral agreement to exchange expertise in archaeological excavation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. It coincides with the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025, which features joint cultural initiatives. The goal is to strengthen cultural exchange and highlight historical ties between the two civilizations through the Silk Road. The collaboration reflects Saudi Arabia and China's commitment to supporting historical research and documenting shared heritage, the SPA reported. The excavation aimed to provide a deeper understanding of the site by studying residential areas, city planning and connections to other urban centers. It also sought to document structural features, including parts of the city wall, towers and gates. Researchers uncovered various artifacts, including pottery, stone vessels, decorative items, a gold dinar from the mid-second Hijri century and Chinese porcelain. Gravestones with unique carvings were also found. The survey identified key architectural features, including wall foundations and gravestones, highlighting the site's significance along the Maritime Silk Road. The port city thrived until the late third Hijri century, reaching its peak in the fifth and sixth Hijri centuries. It remains one of the largest archaeological sites on the Red Sea coast, according to the SPA. The Heritage Commission is committed to preserving antiquities and advancing archaeological research across the Kingdom, the SPA added. It also aims to expand cooperation with local and international partners in line with Vision 2030, promoting culture and ensuring the sustainability of heritage for future generations.
