Known as “soft gold”, Gambiered Canton Gauze(香云纱) is the perfect silk fabric (布料) for cheongsam (旗袍). It feels smooth and comfortable, easy to wash and dry, and is also good for people’s health.
Today, Gambiered Canton Gauze is the only silk fabric in the world that’s still hand-dyed (手工染) and using natural plants. It gets its color from shuliang, a yam (薯蓣) plant growing in Shunde, Guangdong, which can help fight against bacteria (细菌) and bad smells.
The skill of dyeing Gambiered Canton Gauze has a long-lasting history of more than 500 years. In 2008, it was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage (国家非物质文化遗产).
Mr. Ouyang is an inheritor (继承人) of the Gambiered Canton Gauze dyeing technique. He started learning the technique in 2017.
The dyeing process includes 30 steps. It can take up to six months and is done by hand with materials from nature. “The plant shuliang, river mud, sunshine and grass all play key roles in dyeing,” Mr. Ouyang said.
To dye the fabric, workers put it in shuliang juice and let it dry on the grass. They repeat this many times until it turns brownish-yellow. Then, they put river mud on it to help shuliang react fully. After washing and drying again, the fabric turns black!
Mastering the technique is a tricky (棘手的) task, according to Mr. Ouyang, who said the most challenging part is controlling the density (浓度) of shuliang juice. “ Too much may cause color loss, and too little may not lead to a dark enough fabric,” he said. “Better control of density comes after many failures.”
Passing on the craft is also challenging. The job can be exhausting as workers have to be at work under the sun for eight hours each day. Therefore, only a few people work in the industry, and skilled masters are getting older as fewer young people take part.
Considering this, Mr. Ouyang has worked harder to develop the traditional craft by combining other dyeing techniques such as tie-dye (扎染) and batik (蜡染) and cooperating with famous fashion designers. They are turning the silk into both traditional and fashionable clothes that are popular worldwide. In this way, according to Mr. Ouyang, the craft can stay alive and even draw more people to join the industry.
12. What can we learn about Gambiered Canton Gauze from the passage?
A.It is hand-dyed using natural plants. |
B.It feels comfortable, but is not easy to wash. |
C.The art of gauze-dyeing has a history of 1,000 years. |
D.It is the perfect material for bedding items. |
13. According to Mr. Ouyang, what is the most challenging part in the dyeing process?
A.Washing the fabric by hand. | B.Drying the fabric on the grass. |
C.Putting river mud on the fabric. | D.Controlling the density of shuliang juice. |
14. What does Paragraph 8 mainly talk about?
A.The challenges of working with silk. |
B.The importance of skilled workers. |
C.The challenges of passing on the craft. |
D.The reasons why this job is important. |
15. How is Mr. Ouyang working to develop the traditional craft?
A.By promoting the traditional craft abroad. |
B.By working with famous fashion designers. |
C.By making the dyeing process shorter. |
D.By combining modern technology with dyeing skills. |