Nanjing curator turns brocade into a business

Taiwan director revives ancient weaving craft with innovation

Chien Ming-wei, from Taiwan, has been a key figure in revitalizing the 1,600-year-old human oral and intangible cultural heritage of Nanjing Yun Brocade over the past four years, rescuing it from a survival crisis and unveiling its unique allure.

In 2021, Chien, born in the 1980s, assumed the director's role at the Nanjing Yun Brocade Museum in the capital city of Jiangsu province through a cultural talent introduction policy. His previous experience involved promoting porcelain brands during a 12-year stint on the Chinese mainland.

His fascination with Yun Brocade deepened during his initial research, recognizing it as a royal art used by emperors in the Yuan (1279-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. He marveled at its intricate craftsmanship, comparing the weaving process to a form of ancient "binary" wisdom akin to a computer.