Renowned Textile Archaeologist Wang Yarong Passes Away, Longtime Assistant to Shen Congwen
September 18, 2024 – Wang Yarong, a distinguished textile archaeologist and former assistant to renowned Chinese writer Shen Congwen, passed away in Beijing on September 16, 2024, after a long illness. She was 82 years old.
Wang Yarong, born on April 6, 1942, in Beijing, was a prominent figure in the field of textile archaeology. She was a special researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the executive dean of the Fashion Technology College at Shenzhen Technical University. Throughout her career, Wang Yarong made significant contributions to the preservation, research, and teaching of ancient textile cultural heritage.
Wang Yarong’s academic journey began in 1961 when she enrolled in the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts, now the Academy of Arts and Design at Tsinghua University. From 1978 onwards, she worked at the Institute of Archaeology and the Institute of History at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, eventually becoming a senior engineer.
In 2016, Wang Yarong was honored with the title of Great Craftsman by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and was named 2016 Chinese Culture Person of the Year by the China Culture Promotion Society for her exceptional work in textile archaeology.
Wang Yarong’s association with Shen Congwen, a prominent Chinese writer, was significant. She served as his assistant for an extended period, assisting in the completion of Ancient Chinese Costume Research, a seminal work on the subject. The book was meticulously organized, illustrated, and published with her assistance.
Wang Yarong dedicated her life to the meticulous examination of textile remnants from various archaeological sites. She was involved in the extraction and preservation of silk fabrics from the No. 1 Chu Tomb in Jiangling, Hubei, the Yuan Tomb in Yuanling, Hunan, and the Tang Pagoda Underground Palace in Famen Temple, Shaanxi. She led the textile conservation efforts for the ancient tombs in Niya, Xinjiang, the Laoshan Han Tomb in Beijing, the Dongzhou Zhou Tomb in Jingdong, Jiangxi, and the Western Han Tomb of the Prince of Haihun in Nanchang, Jiangxi. She also participated in the conservation and research of textiles from the Mawangdui Han Tomb in Changsha, Hunan, the Han Tomb in Mancheng, Hebei, the Han Tomb in Dabao Tai, Beijing, and the Liao Tomb in Yemaotai, Liaoning.
Wang Yarong’s expertise extended to textile experimental archaeology, where she replicated and reconstructed ancient fabrics. She successfully recreated the textiles and clothing from the No. 1 Chu Tomb, embroidered pieces from the Mawangdui Han Tomb, textiles from the Dongzhou Zhou Tomb, the Hundred Sons Robe of Empress Xiaojing, and the Twelve Pattern Silk Robe of Emperor Wanli.
Wang Yarong authored several books, including Chinese Embroidery, Six Hundred Years of Hidden Splendor – The Yuan Dynasty Cultural Relics of the Pigeon Cave in Hebei Longhua, Ciyun’s Radiance – The Northern Song Dynasty Relics Found in the Ciyun Temple Pagoda in Ganzhou, and The Reality of Ritual Dress – Starting from Shen Congwen’s Later Years.
Wang Yarong was committed to the preservation, inheritance, and innovation of ancient Chinese textile techniques. She served as the president of the Textile Cultural Relics Professional Committee of the Chinese Cultural Relics Society and as a board member of the International Costume Society. In 2016, she was appointed as the leading figure in the field of textile archaeology by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Under her leadership, multiple textile archaeological research bases were established, including the Suzhou Kesi Research Base. She also contributed to the training of professionals in ancient textile restoration and costume reconstruction through various doctoral programs at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences University and the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology.
Wang Yarong’s passing is a significant loss to the world of textile archaeology. Her contributions to the field, her dedication to preserving China’s textile heritage, and her role in training the next generation of textile archaeologists will be remembered and celebrated. Her legacy will continue to inspire scholars and archaeologists worldwide.
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