1. Artistic Talent – The individual skills and development
Professional Silk Art artists go through a lengthy learning process to develop theirskills and talent. The very first lessons begin on grandma’s knee. For Silk Art families, teaching our children about the family legacy is a centuries old tradition.For those with talent and an interest, formal training starts in their late teens.

Artists must spend ten years as a student and another eight years as a teacher in order to meet the time requirement to be a Master Silk Artist. After five years as a Master Silk Artist, an artist may apply to become a Grand Master Silk Artist. These are general guidelines. Time alone does not necessarily make you a Master or Grand Master. Talent and skill must be demonstrated as well.

The post 77359 The tree first appeared on silkart.

The home of the House of Zhang and the birthplace of Silk Art is a city called Suzhou, located in the deltas of the Yangtze River in Southeastern China, about 60 miles west of Shanghai.

Suzhou has a history of more than 2,500 years, dating back to the late Shang Dynasty. Marco Polo called Suzhou “The Venice of the East“. An old Chinese saying calls Suzhou a “Paradise on the Earth“. Centuries of tourists have praised the beauty of Suzhou’s nature, classical gardens, bridges, waters, traditional operas, and the soft tone of the dialect. Suzhou is still a favorite tourist destination with a rich history and a fascinating present.

Over the years, Suzhou has evolved into a modern industrial city. With a total area of nearly 8500 square miles and a population of just over 6 million, Suzhou is a major manufacturing, technology, investment and exporting base in China.

The post 77154 Suzhou watertown first appeared on silkart.

The home of the House of Zhang and the birthplace of Silk Art is a city called Suzhou, located in the deltas of the Yangtze River in Southeastern China, about 60 miles west of Shanghai.

Suzhou has a history of more than 2,500 years, dating back to the late Shang Dynasty. Marco Polo called Suzhou “The Venice of the East“. An old Chinese saying calls Suzhou a “Paradise on the Earth“. Centuries of tourists have praised the beauty of Suzhou’s nature, classical gardens, bridges, waters, traditional operas, and the soft tone of the dialect. Suzhou is still a favorite tourist destination with a rich history and a fascinating present.

Over the years, Suzhou has evolved into a modern industrial city. With a total area of nearly 8500 square miles and a population of just over 6 million, Suzhou is a major manufacturing, technology, investment and exporting base in China.

The post 77226 Suzhou watertown first appeared on silkart.

2. Strand Size – The thinner the silk, the finer the art
The thickness of the silk thread is an important aspect of each work of Silk Art. One silk thread can be divided into 16 individual strands, the smallest, finer than a human hair. A good rule-of-thumb is the thinner the silk, the finer the quality of the silk embroidery.

Overall, the affected of Silk Art is similar to Pointillism. Up close you can see each of the tiny stitches and marvel at the design and execution of such detailed work, but when you step back, you are enthralled by the beauty of the image created.

The post 87141 Opera house first appeared on silkart.

Legend has it that when Qianlong went to the south of the Yangtze River for the second time, one day, he came to the outside of Suzhou City, dressed as a pilgrim with a trusted eunuch, and went to the temple for private visits. They came to a nun’s nunnery, burned the incense, and kowtowed. As I looked around, I suddenly saw a nun approaching me, who looked like a flower and jade, like a fairy in the palace…
苏州园林传说—狮子林
清乾隆年间，苏州狮子林附近，出了个状元叫黄熙，黄熙从小喜欢到狮子林里玩。那时，狮子林是狮林禅寺的后花园，寺内主持见黄熙聪明伶俐，也很喜欢他。便和黄熙开玩笑：“你不是很喜欢这座花园吗？那你要好好读书，将来中了状元，我就把这座花园送给你。”
说者无意，听者有心。后来黄熙果然考中了状元，只是尚未派到官职。这时候，老和尚送花园的事，当然也不提起了。不过，黄熙心里一直记着这件事。这在这前后乾隆皇帝下江南，来到了苏州，听说城北有座出名的狮林禅寺。寺里的假山堆得曲曲弯弯，，很是出奇，便叫地方官陪着到狮林禅寺游玩。
主持听说皇上要驾到，一时慌了手脚，不知如何接驾。老主持急中生智，想起隔壁黄熙。黄熙书读得多，方才好，又见过世面，让他过来接待龙驾，准不会出差错。
主意已定，老主持叫小和尚请黄熙过来。黄熙到了寺里，老和尚说尽好话，把接驾的事托付给他，黄熙满口应承下来。
不一会儿，只听得鸣锣开道，乾隆皇帝驾到。黄熙和主持带着那班小和尚，都俯首贴地跪在山门接驾。
乾隆一下轿，黄熙就山呼万岁，赶上去恭恭敬敬地带路。穿过弯弯曲曲的几处殿宇走廊，把乾隆引进了后花园。
乾隆见园中的作壁上观山，重重叠叠，峰回路转，十分奇妙。狮子，又名狻猊，据说是佛国之兽。这里的假山，堆得有的像大狮子，有的像小狮子；有的像公狮，有的像母狮；有的像狮子滚绣球，有的像双狮在嬉闹，真是千变万化。这假山还有许多好听的名字，比如：含晖、吐月、春玉、昂霄……最高的一层假山叫狮子峰。
黄熙对狮子林特别熟悉，向皇帝介绍起来，倒也十分生动。乾隆越听越高兴，连连点头，还兴致勃勃钻进了假山。这假山设计得也巧妙，钻到里面就像走进深山，半天也绕不出来。好比诸葛亮摆下的八卦图，奥妙无穷。
园里的树木疏疏密密，连枝交柯，也非常秀丽；一池清水，游鱼历历可数。所见景致无处不精，无处
不秀。乾隆越看越有趣。穿过假山，在一个亭子里坐下来，便问亭子叫什么名字。
黄熙知道机会来了，连忙回禀道：“这个亭子尚未取名，请圣上为它起个名字吧。”
乾隆是喜欢到处题名留字的人，黄熙的话正中下怀。不觉得心里一热，手头发痒，叫手下人取来了文房四宝。他想了好久，收肠刮肚的也骓下笔，一着急，就胡乱写下三个字：“真有趣”。
黄熙在一旁看着，见圣上题出这样粗俗、不伦不类的字句，将来挂了出去，不是要被人笑话吗？他灵机一动，上前奏道：“臣见圣上御题，笔笔铁划银钩，字字龙飞凤舞，其中这个‘有’字更是百媚千态，卧冒味该死，望乞圣上将个‘有’字赐给小臣吧”。
皇上题了“真有趣”三字，自己想想也有点俗气，正想改一改，听黄熙一说，省了这个“有”字，剩下“真趣”，倒也来得风雅，就点头应允。并在“有”字旁题了一行小字：“御赐黄熙有”，当场就裁了下来，赏给黄熙，把“真趣”两字留下来做了那座亭子的匾额。从此，那座亭子就叫做“真趣亭”了。
黄状元得到这个御书的“有”字，心中暗自高兴。乾隆走后，他就把这个“有”字贴在园门上。马上叫家人搬找笼，把家具都搬到园里来。狮林禅寺的主持和尚一看十分奇怪，拦住黄熙问道：“你怎么把家私搬到园子里来啦？”黄熙两眼一瞪：“‘御赐黄熙有’这几个大字你还没看见吗？可是有意要违抗圣命？”
主持一看，全明白了，中了黄熙的奸计。真是哑巴吃黄莲，有苦说不出。从这儿以后，这个花园就同狮林禅寺分了家，就黄家的私家花园了

The post 87033 Suzhou Garden first appeared on silkart.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden is located in the northeast corner of Suzhou City. As of 2014, it is still the largest classical garden in Suzhou, covering an area of 78 acres. The whole park is centered on water, surrounded by mountains and rivers, exquisite halls and pavilions, luxuriant flowers and trees, with strong characteristics of Jiangnan water town.

留园位于苏州市阊门外，苏州四大古名园（沧浪亭、拙政园、狮子林和留园）之一。明朝中期（约公元1460年）开始建筑，最初属当时官僚徐时泰所有。
清嘉庆五年（公元1800年）在明徐时泰东园旧址上筑寒碧山庄，因园主姓刘，又称“刘园”。
清光绪初年（公元1880年），留园归大官僚盛旭人所有。他以为留园虽在苏州城外，但未受历次兵燹之祸，园中建筑花木幸运地“留”下来了；再说“留”与“刘”同音，故称为“留园”。
拙政园既是苏州四大名园（沧浪亭、狮子林、拙政园、留园）之一，也是全国四大名园（北京颐和园、承德避暑山庄、苏州拙政园和留园）之一。
拙政园坐落在江苏省苏州市娄门内，初为唐代诗人陆龟蒙的住宅，元时为大宏寺。明正德年间（公元1506年～1521年），御史王献臣不满权贵弄权，辞职回乡，买下寺产，改建成此园。
王献臣以晋代潘岳自比。潘岳的《闲居赋》中有这样一段文字：“庶浮云之志，筑室种树，逍遥自得，池沼足以渔钓，春税足以代耕，灌园鬻蔬，以供朝夕之膳，牧羊酤酩，以立矣伏腊之费，孝乎唯孝，友于兄弟，此亦拙者之为政也。”王献臣取其中“拙政”二字为园名，借以发泄胸中之郁愤。
他在《拙政园图咏跋》中曾说：“余自筮仕抵今，余四十年，同时之人或起家至八坐，登三事，而吾仅以一郡倅老退林下，其为政殆有拙于岳者，园所以识也。”申明了“拙政园”名称的寓意。
王献臣死后，其子在赌博中，一夜之间便将拙政园输掉了。后来，拙政园曾几易其主。清乾隆时（公元1744年），拙政园为蒋诵先所有，并大加修葺，改名为“复园”。1860年－1864年，太平天国忠王李秀成攻入苏州，拙政园曾为忠王府建筑的范围。

The post 87037 Suzhou Garden first appeared on silkart.

Legend has it that when Qianlong went to the south of the Yangtze River for the second time, one day, he came to the outside of Suzhou City, dressed as a pilgrim with a trusted eunuch, and went to the temple for private visits. They came to a nun’s nunnery, burned the incense, and kowtowed. As I looked around, I suddenly saw a nun approaching me, who looked like a flower and jade, like a fairy in the palace…

苏州园林传说—狮子林
清乾隆年间，苏州狮子林附近，出了个状元叫黄熙，黄熙从小喜欢到狮子林里玩。那时，狮子林是狮林禅寺的后花园，寺内主持见黄熙聪明伶俐，也很喜欢他。便和黄熙开玩笑：“你不是很喜欢这座花园吗？那你要好好读书，将来中了状元，我就把这座花园送给你。”
说者无意，听者有心。后来黄熙果然考中了状元，只是尚未派到官职。这时候，老和尚送花园的事，当然也不提起了。不过，黄熙心里一直记着这件事。这在这前后乾隆皇帝下江南，来到了苏州，听说城北有座出名的狮林禅寺。寺里的假山堆得曲曲弯弯，，很是出奇，便叫地方官陪着到狮林禅寺游玩。
主持听说皇上要驾到，一时慌了手脚，不知如何接驾。老主持急中生智，想起隔壁黄熙。黄熙书读得多，方才好，又见过世面，让他过来接待龙驾，准不会出差错。
主意已定，老主持叫小和尚请黄熙过来。黄熙到了寺里，老和尚说尽好话，把接驾的事托付给他，黄熙满口应承下来。
不一会儿，只听得鸣锣开道，乾隆皇帝驾到。黄熙和主持带着那班小和尚，都俯首贴地跪在山门接驾。
乾隆一下轿，黄熙就山呼万岁，赶上去恭恭敬敬地带路。穿过弯弯曲曲的几处殿宇走廊，把乾隆引进了后花园。
乾隆见园中的作壁上观山，重重叠叠，峰回路转，十分奇妙。狮子，又名狻猊，据说是佛国之兽。这里的假山，堆得有的像大狮子，有的像小狮子；有的像公狮，有的像母狮；有的像狮子滚绣球，有的像双狮在嬉闹，真是千变万化。这假山还有许多好听的名字，比如：含晖、吐月、春玉、昂霄……最高的一层假山叫狮子峰。
黄熙对狮子林特别熟悉，向皇帝介绍起来，倒也十分生动。乾隆越听越高兴，连连点头，还兴致勃勃钻进了假山。这假山设计得也巧妙，钻到里面就像走进深山，半天也绕不出来。好比诸葛亮摆下的八卦图，奥妙无穷。
园里的树木疏疏密密，连枝交柯，也非常秀丽；一池清水，游鱼历历可数。所见景致无处不精，无处
不秀。乾隆越看越有趣。穿过假山，在一个亭子里坐下来，便问亭子叫什么名字。
黄熙知道机会来了，连忙回禀道：“这个亭子尚未取名，请圣上为它起个名字吧。”
乾隆是喜欢到处题名留字的人，黄熙的话正中下怀。不觉得心里一热，手头发痒，叫手下人取来了文房四宝。他想了好久，收肠刮肚的也骓下笔，一着急，就胡乱写下三个字：“真有趣”。
黄熙在一旁看着，见圣上题出这样粗俗、不伦不类的字句，将来挂了出去，不是要被人笑话吗？他灵机一动，上前奏道：“臣见圣上御题，笔笔铁划银钩，字字龙飞凤舞，其中这个‘有’字更是百媚千态，卧冒味该死，望乞圣上将个‘有’字赐给小臣吧”。
皇上题了“真有趣”三字，自己想想也有点俗气，正想改一改，听黄熙一说，省了这个“有”字，剩下“真趣”，倒也来得风雅，就点头应允。并在“有”字旁题了一行小字：“御赐黄熙有”，当场就裁了下来，赏给黄熙，把“真趣”两字留下来做了那座亭子的匾额。从此，那座亭子就叫做“真趣亭”了。
黄状元得到这个御书的“有”字，心中暗自高兴。乾隆走后，他就把这个“有”字贴在园门上。马上叫家人搬找笼，把家具都搬到园里来。狮林禅寺的主持和尚一看十分奇怪，拦住黄熙问道：“你怎么把家私搬到园子里来啦？”黄熙两眼一瞪：“‘御赐黄熙有’这几个大字你还没看见吗？可是有意要违抗圣命？”
主持一看，全明白了，中了黄熙的奸计。真是哑巴吃黄莲，有苦说不出。从这儿以后，这个花园就同狮林禅寺分了家，就黄家的私家花园了

The post 87044 Suzhou Garden first appeared on silkart.