China has a long and glorious history in traditional crafts. The most representative are Bronze Vessels Jade, Silk, Embroidery, Porcelain, Pottery, Cloisonne, Lacquerware, Kites, Paper Cuttings, Seals, and Folk Toys.
Bronze Vessels were delicately decorated with a diverse range of designs and motifs and widely used in many aspects of life, such as musical instruments, ceremonial offerings and weapons of war, being of great significance in Chinese history.
The Elegance of Chinese Traditional Crafts: Jade, Silk, and Embroidery
Jade symbolizes merit, grace and dignity and occupies a special position in people’s consciousness.
Silk. A silkworm produces 1000 meters of silk thread in its lifespan of just 28 days and is of great value. Major local silk products in China are Shu, Yun, Song and Zhuang Brocade and brocades by ethnic minorities such as the Zhuang and the Dong peoples are well renowned.
Embroidery has four major traditional styles: Su, Shu, Xiang, and Yue. It is also an accomplished skill for the Chinese ethnic minority groups such as the Bai, Bouyei and Miao.
The Artistry of Chinese Porcelain, Pottery, and Cloisonné
Porcelain is characterized with fine texture, bright colors, and distinctive shapes and styles. Jingdezhen, located in Jiangxi province is the Porcelain Capital of the world and attracts countless people from near and far to appreciate, and buy the choicest porcelain around.
Pottery is known as the oldest artwork of human beings. Chinese accomplishments in pottery works can be seen from Terracotta Warriors and the Tricolor Glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty.
Cloisonne is an enamel artwork with the primary color being blue. It is renowned for its use of high-quality material, the complex manufacturing process and its use of bright and vivid colors.
The Vibrant Craftsmanship of Lacquerware, Kites, and Paper Cuttings
Lacquerware. With the primary colors being black and red, lacquerware is of various types and has a wide range of uses that makes it favored by people throughout the entire world.
Kites are made of paper and bamboo and are of numerous shapes such as swallow, centipede, butterfly, etc. Regarded as an artistic marvel, the kite makers’ skill in both painting and in the design of the kites’ flexible flying movement are well renowned.
Paper Cuttings are diversified patterns cut into red paper with scissors. Different patterns such as monkey, flowers and figures can be cut vividly and perfectly by some female artisans in rural areas. People paste paper cuttings onto their windows and other places to express their hopes and wishes.
The Cultural Significance of Folk Toys, Seals, and Shadow Puppetry
Folk Toys are items combining artistic appreciation and playful enjoyment, and endowed with numerous meanings that express the people’s wish for a happy and contented life.
Seals can be made of metal, jade, animal tooth or horn and caved with characters. It is a combination of Chinese calligraphy and engraving.
Shadow Puppetry is the general name for shadow play and the theatrical property used in the play. Shadow puppets, including the figures and the scenes, are plane and made from leather. The shadows of these puppets are projected onto a white screen; meanwhile artists operate the puppets behind the screen to finish this traditional form of play.
