Chinese Arts and Crafts
Silk – Chinese Culture
China is the earliest country to have produced silk. Chinese archaeologists believe that technology of silk weaving has at least a history of 4,000 years. Silk fabrics had been the main materials to make clothes for the noblemen and their families as well as an important commodity for export since long ago.
There are various kinds of ancient Chinese silk. As early as the Han Dynasty of 2,000 years ago, Zhang Qian, a famous diplomant of the time, opened up the “Silk Road”leading to West Asia and Europe.
It was along this road that silk was continuously transported to those countries. Westerners were very fond of Chinese silk. It is said that during the first century AD, a Roman emperor went to a theater wearing silk, which made a great stie in the audience.
Since then, people wished to wear clothes made of Chinese silk. China, therefore, was called the “silk country”.
Silk has made people’s life beautiful and promoted friendly exhcanges between China and other countries.
Paper-Cuts – Chinese Culture
Many Westerners are fond of Chinese paper-cuts, because they are pretty and exquisite with a unique oriental style. Indeed, Chinese paper-cuts help viewers to feel the real daily life and a festive atmostphere.
Chinese paper-cuts are mostly created by women in rural areas. The designs are familiar ones close to peasants’life, such as fowls, domestic animals, crops, flowers, birds, babies, episodes from local operas, auspicious symbols, etc.
They are used on the Chinese Lunar New Year or other festivals, usually pasted on windowpanes, door lintels, walls, ceilings, lamps, etc. Some are used as copies for embroidery. Their elegant lines and pleasing images add delight and festivity to the life of the ordinary Chinese people.
Paper-cuts fall into two categories: the simple and natural single-colored ones, and the gorgeous and colorful ones. As custom varies from place to place, paper-cuts of different regions are different in style.
Kite – Chinese Culture
Kite in anceient China, was invented by the Chinese people. It is said that Lu Ban, a well-known ingenous carpenter, made a bamboo magpie that could fly. To make a kite need first make a frame and then cover it with paper or thin tough silk, which can then be painted with pictures. It requires high craftsmanship to make a good kite and particular skills to fly a kite steadily in the sky.
There are various design of Chinese kites, including birds, beasts, insects and fishes, of which the the most popualr are swallow, butterfly and eagle.
There are alaso kites made in the shape of characters of mythical stories such as the Monkey King. And when the centipede-or-dragon-shaped kite composed of many sections is flown up high, it thrashes and dances about like a huge dragon in the air.
Because flying kites is beneficial to one’s health, it is gaining popularity in many countries. The Chinese regard it as a game as well as sport. Some people hang kits on the wall for decoration. Chinese kites are now available for sale in Japan, Southeast Asia and many counties in Europe and America.
Four Treasures of the Study – Chinese Culture
In the old days , one needs paper, ink stick, Chinese brush and ink stone to write or paint. They are called “four treasures of the study”.
Paper
The best paper used for writing or painting with a Chinese brush is called Xuan paper since it was produced in a place near Xuancheng in Anhui Province.
Being high quality paper, it was used as a tribute to the emperor early in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Xuan paper is white, smooth, refined, even, soft, resilient and absorbent. As soon as the ink touches the paper it quickly seeps in, which can best present the characteristics of Chinese calligraphy and paintng.
As Xuan paper can be preserved for a long time without decay or change of color, and is insect proof, many ancient calligraphic works and t raditional Chinese paintings have been preserved intact for several hundred years or even a thousand years.
Ink Stick
Chinese calligraphers and artists paid particular attention to the quality of the ink stick. The best ink stick is produced in Huizhou, Anhui Province. It was first produced in the Tang Dynasty more than a thousand years ago.
Some Chinese medicine and perfume or even gold flakes are mixed into the materials in order to make better ink stick. Ink made by such a stick is particularly black with some fragrance. Ink sticks made in Huizhou can still be used after scores of years.
Chinese Brush
The production and use of the Chinese brush can be dated back several thousand years. A Chinese brush is made primarily of hairs from a beast and a small bamboo pipe.
It takes 70 processing methods to make a good Chinese brush. Tens of thousands of hairs of a sheep, rabbit or weasel have to be chosen one by one and bound together to make the brush. The best-known Chinese brush is manufactured in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, which produces more than 200 years.
Ink Stone
The ink stone is used for grinding the ink stick in order to make ink. The ink stone has a history of 3,000 years in China. Ink stones produced in Duanxi, Shexian County, Taohe River and Henan are the best-known types.
Ink produced on an ink stone of Duanxi takes less time to prepare and will not easily dry up. In ancient times, the ink stone of Duanxi was not only a precious artistic object but also a tribute to the emperor.
Fan – Chinese Culture
In summer, the fan can drive away summer heat and help bring cooling breeze. Since old ages, the Chinese fan has been carrying artistic and unique national style.
There are many kinds of Chinese fan, such as paper fan, silk fan, palm fan, feather fan, bamboo-knitted fan, etc. Regarding the shapes of the fan, there are rectangular, round, pentagonal, hexagonal and sunflower-shaped fans.
The folding fan is the most common in China. It is conveninet to carry and hand some to look at. Hangzhou is the most famous place for producing fans in China. The frame Hangzhou folding fan is usually made of precious meterials. The fmous black paper fan, sandalwood fan and ivory fan are not only the notable products among Chinese fans but also famous around the world.
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