Sutra Cover with Embroidery of Lotuses, Mallows, and the Five Poisonous Creatures

This work includes a background of yellow gauze made with a two-warp and straight-warp method on which colorful yarns and Sichuan threads in red, blue, yellow, green, brown, and white were used to embroider an intricate pattern. Using a color-blending method involving two to three tones, the artisan utilized various embroidery techniques. The upper part of the cover is embroidered with clouds in five colors; the lower part is embroidered with lotuses and mallows in full bloom. The large leaves of the mallows are embellished with the five poisonous creatures—a group of commonly abhorred creatures that includes the centipede, scorpion, snake, toad, and either the lizard or the spider—and other designs in various arrangements.