Geared for a Better Future

The splendid brocade unfolds into large, romantic patterns; the delicate golden cloud designs shimmer and glint under the sunlight, with threads of brilliant clouds and rosy skies, reflecting an exquisite craftsmanship that is second to none. Nanjing Yunjin distills the essence of Chinese silk weaving techniques, and represents the pinnacle of Chinese silk craftsmanship; as a part of humankind’s intangible cultural heritage, it is traditionally known as the "Crown of Brocades". The interweave of warp and weft is filled with history, every inch and every section bearing a profound significance.

May 18th is International Museum Day, which was initiated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977. On this day, museums around the world hold various promotional and commemorative activities to celebrate their own festival, allowing more people to know museums, and to enable the museums themselves to better fulfill their social function. The theme for this year's International Museum Day was: Museums for Education and Research. To mark this year’s International Museum Day, NGC's corporate management department arranged for their staff members to bring their children to The China Nanjing Yunjin Museum, so that they could appreciate the "Crown of Brocades" together. The children created their own unique Yunjin decorative paintings, making this colourful cloud brocade known by more people so that it can be part of more people’s lives.

All participants visited the Yunjin Museum to learn about the history and production techniques of the Yunjin artform. The children also personally made brocade with a Yunjin loom, and under the guidance of teachers and together with their parents, created their own decorative paintings. At the end of the visit, a sharing session was held. Everyone agreed that participating in this parent-child activity on International Museum Day allowed them not only to appreciate the beauty and exquisite designs of Yunjin, but also through a collection of handicrafts, gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural values of this traditional craft. Some children even said that they were looking forward to creating new and innovative designs while preserving this respected form of Chinese culture, so as to inject new vitality into traditional crafts like Yunjin and allow them to shine more brilliantly in modern society. The participants wove a prosperous "Crown of Brocades" together at the Yunjin Museum, completing a journey that wove together both history and art.