Xu Chiguang, Master of Guang (Canton) Embroidery in Guangzhou (Photo: www.nddaily.com)

One unique tradition in Guang Embroidery is that male embroiderers outnumber their female counterparts who dominate textile art in other regions. The tradition still exists and can be found in the family tree of Xu Chiguang -- another master of Guang Embroidery.

Xu Chiguang is a male master of Guang embroidery keeping needle arts alive. Born in a family of embroiders, he started his apprentice at the age of 7 from his father and He is now the fourth generation master of this Guang Embroidery family.

He is particularly specialized in embroidering people, landscape, animals, flowers and birds and he has tremendous experience. In 1947, Xu Chiguang and his father Xu Song were honored with Class 8 title, the highest rank for an embroiderer. In 1959, Xu Chiguang and eight Class 8 fellows summarized 27 stitching methods and compiled a book named Guang Embroidery Stitches, which served as a guide book facilitating the design and stitches of Guang Embroidery. According to the book, Straight stitches were commonly adopted when stitching the patterns of human eyes; Random Stitches was mainly used when creating a painting effect and Knotted stitches is mostly used to create three-dimensional effect.