Safeguarding And Inheritance Of Pan Embroidery Of Tu Nationality

Tu nationality, which is one of ethnic minorities with less population in China, lives at borderline area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau of China. The nationality is rich in traditional culture and its various manifestations. These two features play important role in maintaining Chinese culture character of pluralistic integration. As the most representative art expressions of Tu nationality traditional culture, in 2006, Pan embroidery of Tu nationality was inscribed into the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List of China. Carrying abundant cultural connotations of Tu nationality, Pan embroidery is an exclusive and unique embroidery technique, which is characterized in simple tool, unique stitching techniques, vivid and gorgeous colors, and delicate compositions. It vividly conveys personality and aesthetic sense of Tu nationality, and has important authentic value, cultural value, and social value. These make research and safeguard of Pan embroidery very significant as it’s a great carrier of research in the field of traditional culture of Tu nationality. Along with in-depth development of Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereafter referred to as ICH) safeguarding practices, research of Pan embroidery of Tu nationality from an angle of ICH safeguarding becomes more and more important. Though interviews with local cultural administration departments, related local corporates, and ICH bearers, the author adopts approaches of literature review, field research, and questionnaire survey to study current situation of safeguarding and inheritance of Pan embroidery of Tu nationality, practices of "productive protection", achievements and experiences as well as difficulties and problems during the safeguarding practices and etc. Though analysis of current situation and existing problems of Pan embroidery of Tu nationality, this paper aims at finding out possible solutions for current problems and propose approaches to raise social engagements under guidance of local governments, to promote innovations based on inheritance of traditions, to cultivate possible ways of communication, to suggest measures to carry out "rescuing protection" and "integrated protection", and to facilitate efficient safeguarding, inheritance, and revitalization of Pan embroidery of Tu nationality and other related ICHs.