Students from Wuhan Business University Revitalize Traditional Skills

On April 18th, Xiang Feixuan, a junior student enrolled at the School of Economics of Wuhan Business University, engaged in inventory management at the team's entrepreneurial retail store in preparation for an upcoming live broadcast event. The brilliant fabric, adorned with vivid colors and boasting a luxurious texture, radiates under the light.

Beautiful Xilan Kapu Photo courtesy of Wuhan Business University

In September 2022, Xiang Feixuan and her classmate Zhang Can applied to their institution's innovative entrepreneurial initiative, "Xilan Kapu," and founded the "Digital Transmission and Intelligent Embroidery" team to engage in collaborative industry-university-research efforts focusing on intangible cultural heritage. This collaboration involved Wuhan University, Three Gorges University, Hebei GEO University, and Inner Mongolia Normal University. The team members integrated traditional Tujia brocade skills with modern technology to digitally create a intangible cultural heritage representation, aimed at promoting Tujia brocade culture and fostering awareness of the cultural and creative products of "Xilan Kapu." The digital representation of intangible cultural heritage enables continuous 24-hour platform live broadcasts featuring products suitable for various age groups, thereby significantly reducing the need for human and material resources.

Team members with local villagers  Photo courtesy of Wuhan Business University

Additionally, the team collaborated with textile enterprises to assist villagers in developing Tujia intelligent looms. They established a Xilan Kapu heritage base in Xuan'en County, which facilitated local employment opportunities for villagers directly within their communities. As the first group of pilot families, Liu A-ma's family in Gao Gongqiao Village earns over 100,000 yuan annually through their reliance on Xilan Kapu handicrafts.

Villagers are weaving the Xilankapu brocade Photo courtesy of Wuhan Business University

Moving forward, Wuhan Business University's "Digital Transmission and Intelligent Embroidery" team aims to advance the profound integration of traditional Tujia brocade skills with modern design. This initiative seeks to rejuvenate ancient intangible cultural heritage, thereby contributing to rural revitalization and the transmission of cultural knowledge to younger generations.