Long Lingxiang, a Dong woman from South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has dedicated her life to pursuing her dream — displaying the unique charm of Dong embroideries. During the past 10-plus years, she has invested much time and effort into promoting the development of the traditional Dong craft, and especially to helping Dong women attain wealth by making embroideries.

Long is a native of Pingqiu, a village in Jinping, a county in Guizhou's Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. Pingqiu is renowned for the production of Dong embroideries. For thousands of years, the craft has been handed down from generation to generation, especially among Dong women. By using colorful silk threads, and different embroidering methods, craftswomen have depicted numerous images — with a three-dimensional effect. The exquisite artworks have tremendous aesthetic value. In 2011, China added the craft (making Dong embroideries) to the list of the country's intangible cultural heritage.

Influenced by both her father, a Dong singer, and her mother, known far and wide for her embroideries, Long developed an interest in singing and embroidering when she was young. Long began learning how to make embroideries, from her mother and grandmother, when she was 8 years old.

During the past three decades, Long has strived to improve her skills. Given the items' beautiful patterns, and Long's exquisite workmanship, countless Chinese have been fascinated by her embroidered clothes and adornments.

To promote the craft's development, Long in 2005 established a Dong embroidery studio in Jinping. She employed more than 20 women to produce various embroidered items (including shoes, clothes and adornments) for the residents. In recent years, Long has put much effort into cultivating inheritors of the craft. So far, she has taken on 22 apprentices, to promote the craft's development.

During the past several decades, Long has devoted her life to studying and saving the craft (of making Dong embroideries). In recognition of her efforts to promote development of the craft, China's Ministry of Culture in 2018 named Long a State-level inheritor of the craft.

In 2016, Long established Qiandongnan Beidong Culture Inheritance and Management Co., Ltd. (in Pingqiu), which produces and sells embroidered tourist souvenirs, clothes and adornments. "During the past few months, we have received an increasing number of orders from customers (from across the country). We are working hard to make up for our loss, caused by the novel coronavirus epidemic, and to promote the traditional craft throughout the world," says Long.

She hopes, through her company, she can help more women improve their embroidering skills, so they can create more, and better, works of art.

(Source: Xinhua/Women of China English Monthly September 2021 issue)