用英语讲中国非遗文化：苏绣「Suzhou Embroidery」

苏绣，被誉为中国四大名绣之一，是一种传统手工艺品，展现了中国人民非凡的技艺和审美意识。其历史跨越 2000 多年，长期以来一直是中国文化中优雅与精致的象征。

The origin of Suzhou Embroidery can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, the area of Suzhou (now in Jiangsu Province) was already known for its advanced textile industry. People began to embroider on fabrics to add beauty and value to their clothing and daily items. As time went on, Suzhou Embroidery gradually developed and improved.

苏绣的起源可以追溯到春秋时期。当时，苏州地区（现位于江苏省）已经以其先进的纺织业而闻名。人们开始在织物上刺绣，为他们的衣物和日常用品增添美感和价值。随着时间的推移，苏绣逐渐发展和完善。

During the Song Dynasty, with the prosperity of the economy and culture, Suzhou Embroidery entered a golden age. It absorbed elements from painting, calligraphy, and other art forms, making the embroidery works more artistic and expressive. The Ming and Qing dynasties witnessed further development of Suzhou Embroidery. The themes of embroidery expanded, covering landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds. The craftsmanship became more sophisticated, and the reputation of Suzhou Embroidery spread far and wide.

在宋代，随着经济和文化的繁荣，苏绣进入了黄金时代。它吸收了绘画、书法和其他艺术形式的元素，使刺绣作品更具艺术性和表现力。明清时期，苏绣进一步发展。刺绣主题扩展，涵盖了山水、人物、花鸟等。工艺变得更加精湛，苏绣的声誉也远扬四方。

Fine Needlework（精细的针法）

One of the most remarkable features of Suzhou Embroidery is its fine needlework. The stitches are so delicate and neat that they can create extremely detailed patterns. For example, when embroidering a flower, the embroiderer can use different stitches to show the texture of the petals, the veins on the leaves, and even the dewdrops on the flowers. The density and direction of the stitches are carefully controlled to make the image look vivid and three - dimensional.

苏绣最显著的特点之一是其精细的针法。针脚非常细腻整齐，能够创造出极其精细的图案。例如，在刺绣一朵花时，绣工可以使用不同的针法来表现花瓣的质感、叶子上的脉络，甚至花朵上的露珠。针脚的密度和方向都经过精心控制，使图像看起来生动且具有立体感。

Rich Color Palette（丰富的色彩）

Suzhou Embroidery is also known for its rich and harmonious color palette. Embroiderers use a wide range of colored threads to match the colors in nature or in paintings. They can blend different colors skillfully to create smooth color transitions. Whether it is the bright colors of a blooming flower or the soft hues of a sunset, Suzhou Embroidery can reproduce them accurately. The use of color not only enhances the visual appeal of the embroidery but also helps to convey the mood and atmosphere of the subject.

苏绣还以其丰富和谐的色彩搭配而闻名。绣工使用各种各样的彩线来匹配自然界或绘画中的颜色。他们能够巧妙地混合不同颜色，创造出流畅的色彩过渡。无论是盛开花朵的鲜艳色彩，还是日落的柔和色调，苏绣都能准确地再现。色彩的运用不仅增强了刺绣的视觉吸引力，还有助于传达主题的情绪和氛围。

Diverse Themes（多样的主题）

The themes of Suzhou Embroidery are diverse. As mentioned before, it can depict natural landscapes, such as mountains, rivers, and forests. It can also portray human figures, including historical figures, folk characters, and modern people. In addition, themes like flowers, birds, animals, and traditional Chinese patterns are frequently seen in Suzhou Embroidery works. Each theme is carefully crafted to tell a story or express a certain emotion.

苏绣的主题多样。如前所述，它可以描绘自然景观，如山川、河流和森林。它也可以刻画人物形象，包括历史人物、民间人物和现代人。此外，花鸟、动物和中国传统图案等主题在苏绣作品中也很常见。每个主题都经过精心制作，以讲述一个故事或表达某种情感。

Suzhou Embroidery is an important part of Chinese cultural heritage. It reflects the long - standing tradition of craftsmanship in China and the Chinese people's pursuit of beauty. The embroidery works often incorporate elements of Chinese philosophy, literature, and history. For example, an embroidery of a scene from a classic Chinese novel can not only show the beauty of the story but also convey the values and wisdom contained in the work. Moreover, Suzhou Embroidery has played a role in promoting cultural exchanges. It has been exported to many countries around the world, introducing Chinese culture to a global audience.

苏绣是中国文化遗产的重要组成部分。它反映了中国悠久的手工艺传统以及中国人民对美的追求。刺绣作品常常融入了中国哲学、文学和历史的元素。例如，一幅中国经典小说场景的刺绣，不仅可以展现故事的美感，还能传达作品中蕴含的价值观和智慧。此外，苏绣在促进文化交流方面发挥了作用。它已出口到世界许多国家，向全球观众介绍中国文化。

In modern times, Suzhou Embroidery faces some challenges. The development of modern industry and the popularity of machine - made products have affected the traditional embroidery industry to some extent. The process of learning Suzhou Embroidery is time - consuming and requires great patience, which makes it difficult to attract young people. However, efforts are being made to protect and promote this precious handicraft. The Chinese government has recognized Suzhou Embroidery as a national intangible cultural heritage and provided support in terms of funds and policies. Local embroidery workshops and cultural institutions are also actively involved in training new embroiderers, innovating embroidery techniques, and promoting Suzhou Embroidery through various exhibitions and online platforms.

在现代，苏绣面临一些挑战。现代工业的发展和机制产品的流行在一定程度上影响了传统刺绣行业。学习苏绣的过程耗时且需要极大的耐心，这使得吸引年轻人变得困难。然而，人们正在努力保护和推广这一珍贵的手工艺品。中国政府已将苏绣认定为国家级非物质文化遗产，并在资金和政策方面提供支持。当地的刺绣作坊和文化机构也积极参与培养新绣工、创新刺绣技术，并通过各种展览和网络平台推广苏绣。

A. In the Tang Dynasty.

B. In the Song Dynasty.

C. In the Spring and Autumn Period.

D. In modern times.

A. Coarse and uneven stitches.

B. Fine, delicate, and neat stitches.

C. Only using a few types of stitches.

D. Stitches that are randomly arranged.

A. Only modern - day scenes.

B. Natural landscapes, human figures, and traditional patterns.

C. Only abstract designs.

D. Only foreign - related themes.

A. It is just a modern handicraft with no cultural value.

B. It reflects Chinese craftsmanship and promotes cultural exchanges.

C. It is only popular among a small group of people.

D. It has no connection with Chinese history.

A. The over - protection by the government.

B. The lack of traditional themes.

C. The impact of modern industry and the difficulty in attracting young people.

D. The excessive innovation of the art form.

Explanation: The passage clearly states that “The origin of Suzhou Embroidery can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period.” Options A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not match the origin time of Suzhou Embroidery described in the passage.

Explanation: “One of the most remarkable features of Suzhou Embroidery is its fine needlework. The stitches are so delicate and neat...” Options A, C, and D do not match the characteristics of the needlework in Suzhou Embroidery as described in the passage.

Explanation: “The themes of Suzhou Embroidery are diverse. It can depict natural landscapes... It can also portray human figures... In addition, themes like flowers, birds, animals, and traditional Chinese patterns are frequently seen...” Options A, C, and D do not match the diverse themes of Suzhou Embroidery as described in the passage.

Explanation: “Suzhou Embroidery is an important part of Chinese cultural heritage. It reflects the long - standing tradition of craftsmanship in China... Moreover, Suzhou Embroidery has played a role in promoting cultural exchanges.” Option A is wrong as it has great cultural value. Option C is incorrect as it is widely known, not just popular among a small group. Option D is not true as it is connected with Chinese history.

Explanation: “In modern times, Suzhou Embroidery faces some challenges. The development of modern industry and the popularity of machine - made products have affected the traditional embroidery industry... The process of learning Suzhou Embroidery is time - consuming and requires great patience, which makes it difficult to attract young people.” Option A is incorrect as there is no over - protection. Option B is wrong as there is no lack of traditional themes. Option D is not true as innovation is being done to help the art form, not over - innovation being a problem.