New investigation of the pattern characteristics and creational aesthetics of Tujia Shusha

Tujia Shusha is one of the manifestation forms of primitive Tujia art, and its creational art form has unique Tujia characteristics. However, it attracts far less attention than the brocade of Tujia, known as Xilankapu, which Tujia people are skilled in weaving. There are few written records in early books and only over 30 pictures of real works are available. With the existing cross-stitch embroidery works of Tujia as the research object, this paper analyzes the concept of Tujia Shusha based on literature research, and distinguishes the handcrafts of " Xilankapu", " Colorful Belt" and " Shusha" . The theme of Tujia Shusha is rich and varied, and its composition, color and overall layout fully show Tujia cross-stitch embroidery culture. An analysis of real objects and restoring design is carried out to interpret patterns of Tujia Shusha. This paper makes a systematic and classified analysis of all Tujia Shusha works. The patterns can be classified into round, corner, side, central filling and broken branch patterns. The extraction elements of the patterns can be divided into the categories of curved patterns, animals, plants, texts, figures and folklore, which is similar to the classification form of the patterns in " Xilankapu", and most of the pattern prototypes come from people s production and life. In pattern structures of Tujia Shusha, the composition forms of " ?", "\chaines word presented and " ?" are commonly seen. Most of the existing literature studies the form of the Miao Shusha, and there are also detailed comparative studies on Shusha forms in Miao nationality, different regions or different branches of Yao nationality. Tujia Shusha is similar to those of Miao and Yao, but is still different visually to some extent. A comparative analysis of them is conducted in the four aspects of techniques, colors, patterns and styles. Tujia Shusha is simpler and straighter, in strict accordance with the rules of " three warp lines and four weft lines" and " crisscrossed short stitches", and plain and diagonal stitches are used occasionally for plain embroidery in addition to common stitches. Its composition is composed of " ?" and "\chaines word presented skeletons radiating from the center to all directions, or " ?" skeleton extending to both sides. In addition to symmetrical patterns, there are many separate patterns. Themes of patterns are mostly scenes of human activities detailed in structure and folklore, and blanks are usually left to create spaces, for the purpose of highlighting grand composition by fusing objects and backgrounds. Tujia Shusha follows the color matching schemes of " white and brown backgrounds + black and dark blue patterns " and " a black background + white patterns" . Diversified themes of patterns, composition, colors and overall layouts fully represent the characteristics of creation in the culture of Tujia cross-stitch embroidery culture. Through differences in the artistic expressions of Tujia Shusha, Miao Shusha and Yao Shusha, the paper further explores connotations of Tujia culture reflected by presentative art. Miao Shusha and Yao Shusha can also be used as references to promote the discussion on Tujia Shusha. Tujia Shusha explores and extracts Tujia culture through interpretations of pattern symbols. In the composition and the depiction of objects, it pursues the false or true complement, and is skilled in the composition of distant views and the picture is filled with a sense of space. In the process of embroidery, it emphasizes the beauty of order, radiates from the center to all directions and extends from the axis to both sides, which reflects the beauty of order and follows the law of order. On the premise of following symmetrical composition, it shows irregular minor changes in detail, and adds dynamic beauty to static scenes, so the irregularity is intermingled with regularity. With pattern symbols as the carrier, Tujia Shusha reflects the natural beauty of Tujia culture with its primitive simplicity and elegance, and contains rich Tujia culture. As a combination of wealth, art and culture of Tujia, it is also another interpretation of Tujia culture " keeping consistent with nature" and " living in harmony with nature" to adapt to the development of all things. Tujia culture determines that people should follow the harmony and unity of man, nature and society when doing any things, and it interprets Tujia people s ecological aesthetic concept of living in harmony with nature. The artistic creation form of Tujia Shusha with unique Tujia features is a component of Tujia culture that should not be underestimated. It can be said that Tujia Shusha makes up for interpretations of Tujia culture as an art form within a small group. This paper is expected to provide diversified theoretical support for the research on the inheritance and innovative development path of Tujia intangible cultural heritage, and also provide a useful reference for the study of Shusha in other ethnic groups.