Mongolian embroidery has a long history in Hejing County, Xinjiang. Photo by Shi Yujiang
China News Service, Urumqi, April 2 (Shi Yujiang and Li Huihui) "I think this is not only a skill, but also an attitude towards life." The 83-year-old "Mongolian embroidery felt pattern" from Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang "Sameer, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, said.
Walking into an elderly person's home, the variety of traditional veils is dazzling. The reporter noticed that there are more than a dozen types of hats alone. Saimir is "carving" attentively on a piece of Mongolian clothing. Although he is very old, in the eyes of reporters, the old man is full of energy, his movements are nimble, and his clear voice shows his confidence.
83-year-old Saimir is "carving" attentively on a piece of Mongolian clothing. Photo by Li Huihui
Saimir was born in a Mongolian family in Hejing County. He lost his mother when he was 4 years old. In his 70s, he stubbornly survived the torture of illness. His life was full of twists and turns but he was optimistic and open-minded. He devoted his life to the inheritance and development of Mongolian felt embroidery and clothing embroidery art. Won the gold medal in the first eight-province Mongolian costume show and traditional Mongolian costume show, and now has nearly 80 apprentices.
Mongolian embroidery has a long history in Hejing County, Xinjiang. The Turghut nomads who returned to the east have embroidered their own folk customs and formed unique Mongolian embroidery skills in their long-term life practice.
Saimir, who has been with Meng embroidery for more than 80 years, believes that every piece of embroidery has been deeply ingrained in her heart. According to the old man, traditional Mongolian embroidery not only embroiders on soft fabrics, but also uses camel hair thread, beef tendon, etc. to embroider on hard fabrics such as wool felt and leather boots. The embroidered grassland-style works display the clothing and daily necessities of the Turghut nomads and their craftsmanship.
Saimir often embroidered with felt for several hours. Photo by Shi Yujiang
Adherents of Mongolian embroidery and traditional ethnic costumes
Samir’s craftsmanship runs in the family. "I started learning from my grandma. After my grandma passed away, my aunt taught me. Before I went to school, my grandma and my aunt taught me how to embroider and make clothes."
"Whether it is the craftsmanship of clothing or the embroidery on felt, I am very interested." Saimir said that during her school days, she won many awards in embroidery competitions organized by the school.
Saimir, who has been ingenious since he was a child, learned to embroider while growing up, often holding a felt and embroidering for several hours. As an adult, he will not only be able to do felt crafts, but also design and sew Mongolian women's clothing, jewelry, weaving crafts and other traditional handicrafts.
The Turghut nomads who returned to the east have embroidered their own folk customs and formed unique Mongolian embroidery skills in their long-term life practice. Photo by Shi Yujiang
“Many of our yurts, saddles, felts, clothes, and pillowcases have my works on them,” Saimir said.
In the 1960s and 1970s, due to the lack of daily necessities, the optimistic Saimir used crafts to make a living. "I made traditional clothes for them, and they gave me some daily necessities, so my life was not greatly affected."
It was at that time that people kept asking her to learn her craft. She teaches free of charge regardless of age, gender, or nationality. "As long as you are determined to learn skills, I think it is a good thing."
Brought out nearly 80 apprentices
Saimir started her business when she was over 50 years old. She opened a sewing department in Hejing County Trade City, specializing in traditional Mongolian clothing. When the business started, she had to give up due to a serious illness.
After tenaciously surviving the illness in the hospital and recovering at home, Saimir, who was already in her 70s at the time, continued to do her beloved craft work.
Saimir hopes that through her efforts, more people will understand Mongolian culture. Photo by Li Huihui
The warm-hearted Saimir is not only skilled in his craftsmanship, but also very patient with his apprentices. Some of her nearly 80 apprentices have become leaders, while others continue to pass on the art. Among them, the niece who was brought up by Saimir was the most affected.
The 53-year-old Caicai mainly relies on making traditional costumes to increase her income. Many people in the county come to her to make costumes. "My aunt taught me not only craftsmanship, but also the principles of life." Caicai's gratitude was beyond words.
One of Saimir's most outstanding apprentices, Naren Cecik, founded Lanyin Clothing Co., Ltd. in 2015. It mainly deals in modern Mongolian clothing and traditional Torgut clothing. Currently, the company has more than ten employees, most of whom are Saimir. A disciple who was taught by Mir step by step. Narencaetsike was named the intangible inheritor of Hejing County’s “traditional ethnic costume making skills” in 2020.
Traditional skills take on new life
Mongolian costumes in Hejing County, Xinjiang (data map). Photo by Shi Yujiang
Mr. Saimir has three sons and three daughters, all of whom now live their own lives. The old man devotes his time and energy to the career he loves, making clothes, leading apprentices, and connecting the apprentices to start a mutual assistance model between apprentices.
Saimir said: "I have many apprentices. Some of them open their own shops, and some take over work at home. Sometimes they take on a lot of work and need everyone to work together. I will introduce them to help each other. As long as they can earn money from this craft." With money, more people will be willing to learn.”
"We and the Mongolian people in Jing have deep feelings for traditional costumes. When children can walk, they will make a set for them. When children go to school to participate in group activities, and adults wear traditional costumes during festivals, Wearing a mask," Mr. Saimir told reporters.
The young daughter-in-law Ariteng, who often stays with the old man, is also Saimir's apprentice. At first, Ariteng saw her mother-in-law working hard and wanted to help her. Unknowingly, she also fell in love with this craft. In 2012, she learned from her mother-in-law. With her mother-in-law's guidance, Ariteng quickly became I learned my mother-in-law’s craft.
Mongolian costumes (data map). Photo by Shi Yujiang
Speaking of her mother-in-law, Aliteng's eyes were full of tenderness: "My mother-in-law has a good temper and loves to help others. I feel very comfortable with her and I can learn a lot from her."
Today, Ariteng's main source of income is making felt mats and Mongolian clothing. "It takes about three days to make a felt mat and sells it for about 800 yuan. A set of ordinary ethnic costumes sells for about 450 yuan. Now I can make one set in one day."
Saimir hopes that the skills of making traditional Mongolian clothing and embroidered felt will be passed on to Ariteng. "As long as I can still pick up needle and thread, I will continue to do it until the last moment of my life." Saimir, who has always lived a simple life, told reporters that through her efforts, she hopes that more people will understand Mongolian culture. (over)