One needle, one thread — two thousand years.

From the Warring-States Chu tomb at Changsha to the Mawangdui Han tombs, Xiang-Chu embroidery has never broken a thread. Today, you can wear it in your own life.

Warring States
3rd c. BCE
Mashan Tomb — Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger, craft already at its peak.

Western Han
2nd c. BCE
Mawangdui — four masterworks side by side.

Today
National intangible heritage, now in everyday objects.

The Five Masterworks

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Mashan Tomb No.1, 1982
Phoenix treads a dragon, tiger pounces; red-black stripes, fierce yet graceful.
View Detail →
Riding the Clouds

Riding the Clouds (ChengYun)

Mawangdui
Chain-stitch, clouds with a hidden phoenix.
View Detail →
Longevity

Longevity (ChangShou)

Mawangdui
Cloud scrolls, buds, branches, bird heads — wishes long life.
View Detail →
Returning Swallow

Returning Swallow (XinQi)

Mawangdui
Swallow-tailed birds among clouds — "the swallows return".
View Detail →
Dogwood Motif

Dogwood Motif (ZhuYu)

Mawangdui
Rows of dogwood, earliest plant-as-symbol motif.
View Detail →

DIY · Stitch Studio

Three steps: Choose line skeleton → Pick artifact palette → Drag, scale & rotate for live embroidery preview.

Stories

Artisans

Artisan Profiles

Records of Xiang-Chu embroidery inheritors and their craft narratives.
Tutorials

Embroidery Tutorials

From chain stitch to motif recomposition — learn the Chu embroidery language.
Cases

Featured Cases

How traditional motifs enter contemporary fashion, home goods and digital products.

Archive

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Mashan Tomb No.1, 1982
Phoenix treads a dragon, tiger pounces; red-black stripes, fierce yet graceful.
View Detail →

Riding the Clouds (ChengYun)

Mawangdui
Chain-stitch, clouds with a hidden phoenix.
View Detail →

Longevity (ChangShou)

Mawangdui
Cloud scrolls, buds, branches, bird heads — wishes long life.
View Detail →

Returning Swallow (XinQi)

Mawangdui
Swallow-tailed birds among clouds — "the swallows return".
View Detail →

Dogwood Motif (ZhuYu)

Mawangdui
Rows of dogwood, earliest plant-as-symbol motif.
View Detail →

Stitch Studio

Click a line-drawn motif on the left to drop it onto the canvas. Drag to move, use the corner handles to scale and rotate, then pick a thread color. Compose your own Xiang-Chu motif.

Preview Canvas

Drag a motif here, or draw freely

Drag to move · corner handles to scale & rotate · click a swatch to recolor the selected motif

Thread: ■ Cinnabar

Shop

Every product comes with a motif origin, material details and DIY customization option. Scroll down to browse — choose a historical motif or your own custom design.

Everyday

Chu Motif Tote Bag

Cinnabar · Gold · Ink
$18

Inspired by Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger embroidery. Heavyweight cotton canvas, built for everyday use.

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger Cinnabar Gold Cotton Canvas DIY Custom
Motif Origin

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Material

16oz Cotton Canvas

Process

Heat Transfer

Dogwood Motif Coaster

Rows of Dogwood
$6

Dogwood rows interspersed with scroll grass and cloud patterns. Cork base, heat-resistant.

Dogwood Scroll Grass Cork Base Heat-Resistant
Motif Origin

Dogwood Embroidery

Material

Cork + Fabric

Process

Embossed Texture

Riding the Clouds Silk Scarf

Cinnabar · Olive · Gold
$38

Chain-stitch language reimagined as a lightweight silk scarf. Wear it around the neck, on a bag, or in your hair.

Riding the Clouds Phoenix Cloud Silk Multi-way
Motif Origin

Riding the Clouds

Material

Mulberry Silk

Process

Fine Print

Wearables

Longevity Motif Cap

Cloud · Bud · Branch
$22

Cloud scrolls, flower buds and bird heads stitched on the side. Cream cotton twill with cinnabar accent.

Longevity Cloud Bud Baseball Cap Side Embroidery
Motif Origin

Longevity Embroidery

Material

Cotton Twill

Process

3D Embroidery

Returning Swallow Shirt

Swallow · Cloud · Vine
$46

Swallow-tailed birds among cloud scrolls, distributed across the body and cuffs — wearing "the swallows return".

Returning Swallow Swallow Motif Long Sleeve Body Print
Motif Origin

Returning Swallow

Material

Cotton-Linen

Process

Partial Embroidery

Home

Chu Motif Bedding Set

Riding Clouds · Longevity
$98

Riding the Clouds and Longevity motifs recomposed as a large-scale bedding pattern. Raw-silk ground with cinnabar, olive and gold.

Riding Clouds Longevity 4-Piece Set Long-Staple Cotton
Motif Origin

Mawangdui

Material

Long-Staple Cotton

Process

Active Print

Chu Motif Framed Wall Art

Dragon · Phoenix · Tiger
$64

Cinnabar and ink stripes from the Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger motif, organized into a modern wall-ready composition.

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger Framed Art Walnut Frame Customizable
Motif Origin

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Material

Canvas + Wood Frame

Process

HD Giclée

Stories

Artisans Tutorials Cases

Master Liu

Hunan Embroidery Inheritor

Over forty years in the craft, specializing in translating Mawangdui motifs into contemporary embroidery language.

42 YearsChu MotifsIntangible Heritage

Master Chen

Folk Craftsperson

Focuses on chain stitch and satin stitch, balancing cinnabar, ink and gold in every piece.

Chain StitchSatin StitchColor

Designer Zhou

Contemporary Cross-Disciplinary Designer

Brings Chu embroidery motifs into fashion, home goods and digital patterns — exploring new outlets for a tradition.

Cross-DisciplinaryFashionPattern

Chain Stitch Basics

Learn the most representative stitch of Chu embroidery and build a continuous, rhythmic line.

01Start 02Loop 03Continue 04Finish

Cloud Pattern Construction

Use arcs, curls and forks to understand the movement logic of Chu embroidery cloud patterns.

01Skeleton 02Arcs 03Curl 04Combine

Palette Practice

Build primary-secondary hierarchy from cinnabar, raw silk, gold, ink and olive.

01Primary 02Secondary 03Gilding 04Layer

Motif Recomposition

Break phoenix, cloud and dogwood into base elements, then recompose them into new patterns.

01Decompose 02Select 03Layer 04Adjust

Chu Motif in Apparel

Inspired by Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger embroidery — cinnabar, ink and gold translated into ready-to-wear.

FashionCinnabar GoldDragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Home Textile

Riding the Clouds, Longevity and Dogwood recomposed as bedding and wall art patterns.

HomeBeddingWall Art

Digital Stitch Studio

Choose base, pick colors, compose — an interactive flow where users stitch their own Xiang-Chu motif.

InteractionDIYMini Program
← Back to Shop

Design Story

You May Also Like

← Back to Stories

Craft Philosophy

Selected Works

← Back to Tutorials

Step-by-Step

Related Tutorials

X

My Space

Welcome back, Xiang-Chu Explorer

Phoenix Rising

Created on 2026-09-10 · Based on Riding the Clouds

Golden Cloud Scroll

Created on 2026-09-05 · Based on Longevity

Returning Swallow V2

Created on 2026-08-28 · Based on Returning Swallow

Order #XC-2026-0912 Delivered
Chu Motif Tote Bag

Quantity: 1 · Cinnabar / Gold

$18.00
Order #XC-2026-0830 Processing
Riding the Clouds Silk Scarf

Quantity: 1 · Custom: Phoenix Rising

$38.00
Order #XC-2026-0715 Delivered
Longevity Motif Cap

Quantity: 2 · Cream / One Size

$44.00

Profile

Display Name Xiang-Chu Explorer
Email explorer@xiangchu.com
Location Changsha, Hunan

Preferences

Email Notifications
Order Updates
New Tutorial Alerts
Public Profile

Account

Password ••••••••••
Two-Factor Auth
← Back to Archive

Dragon-Phoenix-Tiger

Provenance: Mashan Tomb No.1, 1982 · Warring States, Chu State

Palette & Technique

Core colors extracted from the original silk artifact.

Stitch: Chu chain stitch, flat satin stitch, outlined with fine gold thread.

Symbolism

Dragon represents heaven, phoenix symbolizes vitality, tiger wards off evil. The triad embodies ancient Chu cosmic worship and pursuit of harmony.

← Back to Archive

Riding the Clouds (ChengYun)

Provenance: Mawangdui Han Tombs · Western Han, 2nd c. BCE

Palette & Technique

Cinnabar, light brown-red and olive-green chain stitch.

Stitch: Chain stitch, phoenix hidden among flowing cloud patterns.

Symbolism

Phoenix riding the clouds — transcendence and auspiciousness in Han dynasty belief.

← Back to Archive

Longevity (ChangShou)

Provenance: Mawangdui Han Tombs · Western Han, 2nd c. BCE

Palette & Technique

Raw-silk ground with cloud scroll chain stitch.

Stitch: Chain stitch with continuous cloud scrolls.

Symbolism

Cloud, bud and branch motifs carry wishes for long life and peace.

← Back to Archive

Returning Swallow (XinQi)

Provenance: Mawangdui Han Tombs · Western Han, 2nd c. BCE

Palette & Technique

Vine and cloud scrolls with long-tailed swallow forms.

Stitch: Fine chain stitch for delicate vine and swallow shapes.

Symbolism

Swallow returning home — reunion, faith and seasonal remembrance.

← Back to Archive

Dogwood Motif (ZhuYu)

Provenance: Mawangdui Han Tombs · Western Han, 2nd c. BCE

Palette & Technique

Repeated botanical dogwood pattern with scroll grass.

Stitch: Chain stitch for repeated plant pattern.

Symbolism

Dogwood wards off misfortune — symbolizing health and protection.