Yang Miao—the pathfinder of Dong brocade fashion

Jutroduction

古老的侗錦文化在侗家姑娘楊苗的手中煥發生機。這是平凡的女性在當今時代，對于文化傳承的發聲。

題材文章詞數文化傳承330 難度 ★★★體裁建議用時記敘文6′

難詞掃障

1.weave v.編；織

2.artisan n.手藝人；工匠

3.embroidery n.刺繡

4.linen n.亞麻布

5.Dong brocade侗錦

6.Dong ethnic minority侗族

7.intangible cultural heritage非物質文化遺產

8.shoulder cape披肩

Yang Miao was born in a village ofDong brocadeweavers.Her childhood clothes were all made by her mother,and the patterns came from the daily life of members of theDong ethnic minority.Yang left the remote Tongdao County in southwest China's Hunan Province to learn design in Changsha City,the provincial capital.One time,she went back to her hometown with her classmates and professor to study the region's intangible cultural heritage.For the first time,she found innovation（創新）in the local ethnic culture and felt the energy in the hand-woven Dong brocade.

However,artisanstraditionally weaved more than they could sell.Ashoulder capethat re-quires 40 days to finish would cost less than 100 yuan(14 US dollars).The younger generationhad no motivation to inherit（繼承）the skill.

So,Yangset out to preserveher heritage by modernizing theembroideryart.Famous designers were invited to help design new patterns.The combination of the elements,however,didn'twork wellat the beginning.As the designers were not familiar with how the brocade was made,the patterns could not be achieved using traditional techniques.Yang's crew and the designers had to learn the essence（精髓）of the Dong brocade from local weavers.Yang has fullydedicated herself tothe development and preservation of the Dong brocade since 2011.She established（創立）her own brand and introduced new materials and colors,combining ethnic and modern aesthetics（美學）.

Thelinenproducts she created with the team even won a golden medal at the first Hunan Cultural Creative Design Competition.The success of Yang's products brought more income to the local weavers,and attracted more young talents to work on the Dong brocade back in their hometown.“The weavers are happy,too.They'vebeen desperate to berecognized with a sense of belonging.” “Our brocade has been exhibited in Milan,Paris,London and New York,”she said.The once little-known Dong culture in remote rural areas is now spread across the world.

Reading Check

1.What inspires Yang Miao directly to promote Dong brocade？

A.The huge profit of shoulder capes.

B.The learning experience in Changsha.

C.The innovation and magic of the Dong brocade.

D.The encouragement of her mother sincechildhood.

2.What's the difficulty in modernizing the art?

A.Famous designers were hardly invited.

B.New patterns couldn't be created by modern techniques.

C.Development，preservation and introduction call for much energy.

D.Much time is needed to combine the traditional art and modern techniques.

Language Study

I.Important phrases in the text

1.have no motivation to do沒有動力去做……

2.set out to do著手做某事；開始做某事

3.work well有效；效果好

4.dedicate oneself to sth專心致力于某事

5.be desperate to do渴望做某事

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the phrases given above.

1.Yang________preserve her heritage by modernizing the embroidery art.

2.The weavers are happy,too.They've________be recognized with a sense of belonging.

3.The younger generation________inherit the skill.

4.The combination of the elements,however,didn't________at the beginning.

5.Yang has fully________the development and preservation of the Dong brocade since 2011.