Beijing Masters: preserving Chinese treasures
Updated: 2013-12-27 17:52
By Wen Yi (chinadaily.com.cn)
|
|||||||||||
The passion of protecting these “human treasures” propelled her to not only pursue an MA in Chinese intangible cultural heritage protection at China Arts Academy, but also to insist on interviewing those leading practitioners, sole inheritors and other craftsmen of arts in Beijing, resulting in a total of nearly 50 articles which were later compiled in a book. Comprising fantastic crafts made for the Imperial Palace, as well as Beijing’s folk handicrafts, Beijing Masters vividly introduces Beijing crafts by describing the traditional handicrafts’ origins, historical background, manufacturing process and the personal stories of the artists behind the work.
"I hope this book will give craftsmen confidence, so that they and their descendants can continue to do their work. I hope these crafts can be developed and acquire support from various aspects. I hope the increasing number of people can become concerned about the crafts, so that the traditional cultural heritage will gradually keep going," Chen Xiaorong said.
In an increasingly modernized and globalized world, the book carefully sketches the contours of old Beijingers’ crafts, reflecting their histories and life philosophies, with one stroke after another creating a painting. It provides Chinese people with a strong sense of identity and continuity, and introduces the Chinese national ethos and characters to foreign readers. By creating such a work of art, Beijing Masters inherits and preserves Chinese treasures in a different but meaningful way.
Related Stories
Tie-dye technique inheritor passes down traditions 2013-12-14 10:35
UNESCO adds 25 entries to intangible heritage list 2013-12-06 16:23
Hui'an, home of stone carving 2013-12-10 14:22
Kimchi added to UNESCO list 2013-12-06 15:53
Preserving Erjiaxian opera in Hua county 2013-12-05 17:10
Huishan clay figurine master Xia Zheng 2013-11-29 15:12
Today's Top News
Attack on reporter reignites Ukraine protest
Anger over Abe's shrine visit
'An overall view' on Mao required
Factories halted to clear air in Beijing
China's urbanization rate to hit 60% by 2018
Foreign patients treated like natives
Couples who lose a child to receive higher subsidies
Arafat died of natural causes: Russia
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
The new temples of a twilight age |
Hebei aims for pollution fight |
Door opens on system for official residences |
Restoring a link to their heritage |
Top universities face exams for corruption |
Taking a humane look at cosmetics |