This exhibition highlights the research, creation and preservation of Yun brocade by Mr. Jin Wen, an inheritor of the hand-weaving techniques of Nanjing Yun brocade on wooden looms. Divided into four sections — “Ming and Qing Classics,” “Radiant as the Clouds,” “Graceful Elegance,” and “Fashionable Splendor” — the exhibition showcases the historical legacy, artistic beauty, cultural depth, and contemporary expression of Yun brocade. It brings this treasured Chinese art form to life in the modern era, allowing it to shine with renewed brilliance.

China has a rich tradition of silk textiles, with Yun brocade standing out for its luxurious, cloudlike patterns. Originating in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Yun brocade is celebrated for its opulence and masterful craftsmanship, and was traditionally used to create dragon robes for emperors. 

The intricate process of weaving Yun brocade involves the finest materials, including silk, gold and silver thread, and feathers. The process consists of several key steps, such as pattern design, threading the warp (the vertical threads that form the foundation of the fabric), lifting the weft (the horizontal threads woven through the warp), and weaving. Using techniques like “continuous warp and cut weft” and “inlaid brocade,” Yun brocade has earned the saying, “An inch of brocade is as valuable as an inch of gold.” To this day, these complex techniques cannot be replicated by machines. Yun brocade flourished during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, but declined in the late Qing, with its techniques nearing extinction due to halted production. It was revived after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. In 2009, the Nanjing Yun Brocade Weaving Techniques were inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This revival owes much to the dedication of artisans who have tirelessly preserved and promoted this precious tradition. 

Among these artisans is Jin Wen, a leading inheritor of the traditional hand-weaving techniques of Nanjing Yun brocade on wooden looms. He is a master of Chinese arts and crafts, received a special allowance from the State Council, and has served as Director of the Traditional Crafts Research Office at the Nanjing Museum’s Institute of Folklore.

Born in 1954, Jin has devoted over fifty years to the art of Yun brocade, starting his career in 1973. He apprenticed with the last remaining Yun brocade artisans, mastering the entire craft. Jin has studied and replicated numerous ancient brocades from the Warring States period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. 

His renowned work, “The Embroidered Dragon Robe of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty,” won the highest honor, the Golden Cup at the "Hundred Flowers Award" of China Arts and crafts. His contemporary brocade works have also garnered numerous accolades at domestic and international exhibitions and competitions. 

Jin has published several books, articulating his insights into the development and techniques of Yun brocade, and he has taught courses on the subject at universities. He holds over 300 national patents and copyrights related to Yun brocade, and his works are featured in more than 10 museums. His contributions to the preservation and promotion of Yun brocade weaving techniques have been invaluable.