2025-07-20 Liangshan Yi Embroidery Color System Debuts in Xichang
On July 19, 2025, the research achievement of the "Liangshan Yi Embroidery Color Definition" project, undertaken by the Color Research Institute of Tsinghua University's Art and Science Research Center, was officially released at the founding conference of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture Embroidery Industry Promotion Association and the Grand Liangshan Yi Embroidery Fashion Gala.
The unveiling represents not merely a systematic codification of Yi embroidery's chromatic legacy, but an audacious venture in visual storytelling from ethnic roots to global prominence. Through spectral analysis of heritage garments and semantic decoding of the Yi color lexicon, these ancient hues are being 're-seen' through the prism of contemporary color science - injecting new vitality into the preservation, dissemination and innovative evolution of this cultural heritage.
Authentic traditional culture should never be confined to static museum displays. It must remain tangible in texture, perceptible in warmth, learnable as language, and open to reinvention—while still serving as the spiritual homeland to which we whisper our gratitude. In this dialogue between color and technology, history and the future, Liangshan Yi embroidery’s chromatic legacy is not merely documented as visual symbols but reawakened, inherited, and empowered as living cultural DNA.
【 The Colors of Yi Embroidery 】
Color stands as one of the most distinctive signatures of Yi embroidery. The Liangshan Yi people, dwelling among mountains and drawing inspiration from nature, have developed a traditional costume system characterized by vibrant hues, bold contrasts, and explicit symbolism. Red, black, yellow, blue, and white are not merely visual embellishments—they encode rich cultural narratives about gender, age, social status, and festive traditions.
In this newly unveiled color standard, the research team conducted high-precision chromatic analysis on over 100 traditional garments from Zhaojue, Meigu, Butuo, Yuexi and other regions, systematically identifying 90+ heritage colors including the iconic "red, black, yellow, blue, and white" spectrum. These hues transcend mere visual elements - they are chromatic crystallizations of natural phenomena and folk linguistics, embodying the Yi people's distinctive cosmology and aesthetic philosophy.
[Digitalized Colors: Preserving Heritage Through Chromatic Language]
At the founding ceremony of the Liangshan Yi Embroidery Industry Association, Teacher Song Wenwen from Tsinghua University's Color Research Institute unveiled the groundbreaking methodology behind the Yi embroidery color preservation project. Utilizing hyperspectral spectrophotometry and physical color swatches, the research team conducted ultra-precise chromatic analysis on textile samples, establishing a comprehensive digital archive with cross-standard color values (RGB, Lab, etc.)—achieving both scientific conservation and visual retrieval of these traditional hues.
This initiative marks a paradigm shift from previous approaches reliant on photography or subjective documentation. By anchoring ethnic colors in measurable data, the project has transformed intangible cultural heritage into a verifiable chromatic lexicon—where every shade becomes a reproducible, future-proof cultural code.
[Quintessential Hues: A Chromatic Manifesto of Cultural Philosophy]
The Yi embroidery tradition reveals a spectrum of nuanced tones born from intricate dye-layering techniques—such as the indigo gradations achieved through kui dyeing (蒉染法), where a single blue unfolds into countless shades of depth and luminosity. This initiative spotlights the most culturally resonant core colors from this vibrant palette.
Following rigorous consultations with Yi linguists Professor Luo Qingchun and Professor Cai Fulian (Southwest Minzu University) and intangible cultural heritage experts, we unveiled the five cardinal colors of Yi embroidery—each harmonizing chromatic science with indigenous linguistics:
Yellow —— Shy (ꏂ)
Black —— Nuo (ꆈ)
White —— Qu (ꐎ)
Red —— Hni (ꅪ)
Blue —— Vut (ꃴ)
Ancient Yi manuscripts document the earliest classification of clans by five colors, reflecting the cultural belief in 'five as auspicious' and its philosophical evolution. The progression from a three-color tradition to a five-color system marks the deepening and intellectual transcendence of Yi chromatic cosmology.
【 Making Ethnic Colors a Global Language 】
This release of Liangshan Yi embroidery colors is not merely a regional cultural showcase, but a profound dialogue between color science and design artistry. Through the language of vision, it reveals "What defines Yi chromatic identity" while answering "How traditional Chinese colors become pillars of cultural confidence."
