Buza: An art of needlework in Yunnan’s Jianchuan

When walking in the streets of Jianchuan County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, one is very likely to encounter old grannies who sit on small benches and sew skillfully. Next to them are their works: the small and delicate “Buza”.

Buza is a kind of handmade embroidery ornament which originates from local Bai ethnic people’s farming festival customs in Jianchuan. In the Bai culture, children often wear Buza to exorcise evil spirits and to pray for happiness and peace.

Making Buza is an essential skill for Bai females. To make a Buza, a embroiderer needs to sew the prototype with colourful cloths first, and stuff it with Asiatic wormwood before further embroidery. The shapes of Buza are diverse and each of them has different connotations. For instance, the round ball with strips of silk symbolizes good luck, and the monkey stands for intelligence.

Buza has been inscribed in the intangible cultural heritage list of Yunnan Province. In recent years, the Buza embroiderers have continuously innovated its types and crafts.

Editor: Wang Shixue