Meet Sylvia & Sau Ling
Teacher
Sylvia Yue’s contribution to Bridges to China centres on a traditional Chinese baby sling used by her mother when she was an infant. Embroidered with Chinese characters meaning ‘happy child’ or ‘blessed child’, the sling carries her parents’ hopes and wishes for her life. Passed down through generations and later used to carry Sylvia’s own son, the object reflects themes of care, continuity and the transmission of love and blessings within family life.
She also has a really cool Mum, Sau Ling Li.
Watch Sylvia’s Story
Video also available on Panopto
Mumories
Mum
I remember using this baby sling to carry my daughter on my back until she was about two years old. It was a gift from my mother-in-law and it quickly became part of my daily life. The sling was practical and comfortable and it reflected traditional Chinese wisdom, allowing me to keep my daughter safe and close while still freeing my hands for housework.
I kept the sling for many years and later passed it on when my grandson was born in Northern Ireland. For me, it carries my love and blessings for my family. I hope it can continue to be passed down, connecting generations through care, memory and affection.
Daughter
I remember being told that this was the baby sling my mum used to carry me when I was a baby. Even though I don’t remember that time myself, the sling has always felt connected to my earliest years and to the care my parents gave me. Knowing that I was carried so close to my mum makes the object feel very personal and reassuring.
The embroidered Chinese characters on the sling read 幸福兒童, meaning “happy child” or “blessed child”. My parents explained that these words carried their wishes for me to grow up with love, joy and good fortune. When I look at the sling now, I think about those hopes and about how they were woven into everyday family life, not spoken loudly but held quietly through objects like this.