Textiles are simply fabrics or cloths and are one of the oldest forms of art practiced by many cultures. Perhaps no one, however, has appreciated the art form of textiles quite as long as the Chinese. Examples of truly artistic textiles going beyond simple rugs or shirts date back in China nearly to the Stone Age. Chinese textiles have a deep history in Asian culture but were actually amongst the most powerful forces in human history as well. No kidding. It’s amazing what a good outfit can do. (Excerpt from here)
Recommended Reading
China's Dragon Robes5000 Years of Chinese CostumesChinese & Central Asian Textiles Selected Articles From OrientationsChina Chic: East Meets WestSecret world of the Forbidden City: Splendors from China's Imperial PalaceChinese Clothing: Costumes, Adornments and Culture (Arts of China)Chinese Arts and CraftsThreads of Gold: Chinese Textiles: Ming to Ch'ingChinese Dress: From the Qing Dynasty to the PresentA Collector's Guide to Chinese Dress AccessoriesImperial Chinese Robes: From the Forbidden CityChinese Clothing (Introductions to Chinese Culture)Silk Splendour: Textiles of Late Imperial China 1644-1911Chinese Silks (The Culture & Civilization of China)Embroidered Identities: Ornately Decorated Textiles and Accessories of Chinese Ethnic MinoritiesForbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, BeijingTribal Textiles of Southwest China: Thread Songs from Misty Land; The Philippe Fatin CollectionThe Arts of China, Sixth Edition, Revised and ExpandedEvery Thread a Story & The Secret Language of Miao EmbroideryChinese Rank Badges: Symbols of Power, Wealth, and Intellect in the Ming and Qing DynastiesMongol Court Dress, Identity Formation, and Global Exchange (Routledge Research in Art History)Imperial Robes and Textiles of the Chinese Court Exhibition