Introduction of Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute

Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute is located at the World Cultural Heritage site --- Baisha Ancient Town, where was the capital of Naxi Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty (618---907 AD),(Baisha is also at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain).   Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute is the largest and best ethnic embroidery institute in China. It occupies an area of 3200 square meters with four typical Naxi ancient courtyards. The institute was opened in the year 2003 with the support of the government. Zhang Chunhe, the best and most famous Naxi painter, who is also the creator of the modern Dongba painting was invited to be the general art consultant, Xu Yunkui,one of the most famous strong colour wood-block printers,a member of the National Art and Literature Association was invited to be the principle, and Mo Meiyan,one of the best skilled ethnic embroidery masters in China was invited to be the embroidery preceptor of the institute.

There are 15 masters, 36 teachers and over one hundred students in the institute. The missions of this institute are: firstly, to preserve, maintain and develop the local Naxi handmade embroidery which had been disappearing since the Cultural Revolution; Secondly, to teach and train more and more local Naxi and other ethnic farmers to become embroiderers and try to make Naxi embroidery become one of the main industries for the local people; Thirdly, to protect, maintain and promote Chinese   embroidery culture and art.

Since the institute had been opened, it had cooperated with the Women's Federation, the Human Resources and Social Security Department, the Immigration Bureau,Federation of Disabled Persons,Cultural Affairs Bureau and other departments concerned to protect, maintain and promote the ethnic embroidery technique and culture. The institute had opened seventy community classrooms in the countrysides to train the local women who have no good educational background but want to learn the ethnic embroidery techniques to earn their livings.

Two of the community classrooms are opened in two relocate villages. (the recolated villages refers to the villages who were moved from the Yangtze river valley by the terrace hydro-power dams. The villagers were given big new houses, some money but not enough lands,so embroidery becomes one of the best choices for the them to earn their livings.) The institute had already trained over 2000 people(Naxi,Pumi,Lisu,Yi,Miao,Bai,Tibetan nationalities) from the rural-areas or remote villages. The institute also signed contract with the women who had graduated from it's training classes to employ them or to help them to sale their embroidery works.

The institute also managed the works from masters, teachers and students to exhibit in Shanghai,Beijiang, Kunming and other cities. And many of the works won gold and silver prizes in different compititions.Yang Jinfeng, a Naxi embroidery master won the reputation of "Yunnan Provincial Embroidery Master", XiongYan, a Pumi embroidery master won "Yunnan Provincial Superior Ethnic Embroidery Master" .

Because of the great contribution in terms of cultural maintaince,promotion and the women's employment, Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute was honored as "Model of Women's employment","Pioneer of the Provincial Handcrafts and Women's Employment","Foundation of Human Resources Training" etc. Exhibition and demonstration center of the provincial intangible cultural heritage.The institute are giving more and more attention by different government departments from both municipal and provincial level. It is also facing more and more marketing pressure withing more and more women are involved. Baisha Naxi Embroidery Institute really needs more support from home and abroad on marketing and works collection.