Bian silk It got its name from Bianliang, the ancient capital of seven dynasties. It began in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and now has a production history of more than 300 years. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Jingwenzhou, a native of Hongdong County, Shanxi Province, went to Kaifeng to do business. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Jingwenzhou Silk Store was founded, which became a famous product in the Central Plains due to its good management, reputation, good product quality and increasingly wide marketing area.
During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, business flourished. The governor of Henan presented Bian silk as a tribute to the imperial court. Later, it was produced not only for the royal family, but also as a gift to foreign envoys. At its peak, Jingwenzhou Silk Shop had 99 wooden looms and more than 250 craftsmen. The main products are cloud cover, black scarf, Zhanger scarf, handkerchief, Baotou, Bian silk, Bian damask, etc. It is exported to Yunnan, Guizhou, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet, Lanzhou and other places, and a small amount is exported abroad. Jingwen silk is characterized by durability, elegance and strong tension. The longer the wearer wears it, the brighter the color.
Bian silk is 2.35 feet wide, 50 feet long, 7200 pieces and 40 taels in weight. The raw material is silk from Zhecheng, Shangqiu and other regions. The production process is: --- wire soldering --- warp drawing --- upper machine --- closing the pillar --- lower machine --- soaping --- dyeing --- upper shaft --- drying --- finished goods.
Zhuxian Town Woodcut New Year pictures
Zhuxianzhen woodcut New Year pictures, known as "door gods" in ancient times, can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty and is one of the earliest woodcut New Year pictures in China. So far, it still retains the traditional production skills and unique national style. Its composition is simple and unsophisticated, the lines are rough, the freehand brushwork is exaggerated, it is taken from natural colors, and it is printed by artificial engraving. The content is mostly based on historical myths and legends. The characters are primitive and vigorous, colorful, moth resistant, fadeless, and suitable for mounting. During the Spring Festival of 1995, the New Year pictures of Zhuxian Town in Kaifeng were exhibited in Singapore, which was highly praised and praised as a treasure of Chinese folk art. The National University of Singapore and the National Museum of Singapore have purchased and collected complete sets.
