China News Service, Kashgar, Xinjiang, September 26. Title: From "old craftsmanship" to "everyday good things", Xinjiang's intangible cultural heritage has gradually become a "favorite" for young people
Author Hu Jiachen
Dolls dressed in Adelaide silk, thermos cups with paintings of farmers, "Xinjiang lambs" wearing stamped printed shirts... At the ongoing third Xinjiang Kashgar Cultural Industry Expo and Trade, daily goodies derived from intangible cultural heritage have become "favorites" for young people to rush to check in and take home.
Daolang peasant painting skills are a representative project of county-level intangible cultural heritage in Maigaiti County, Xinjiang. In recent years, it has accelerated its "coming out of purdah". "We put farmers' paintings on hats, thermos cups, etc., and now there are more than 200 similar products." Anivar Aimaiti, a cadre of the Maigaiti County Cultural Center and a Daolang farmer painter, said in an interview with China News Service on the 26th that the most practical thing is to print farmers' paintings on sleeves. Maigaiti County is close to the desert, and sun protection is a necessity. Such products are cheap and affordable and meet local needs.
On September 25, at the 3rd Xinjiang Kashgar Cultural Industry Expo and Trade Fair, Anivar Aimaiti, a peasant painter from Daolang, Maigaiti County, Xinjiang, painted on a hat. Photo by Hu Jiachen
Xinjiang Uyghur Adelais silk weaving and dyeing techniques were included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008. Nowadays, sections of silk are also "changing their clothes". According to Lou Shuan, a teacher at the Kashgar Technician College, the college has cooperated with enterprises to launch the "Princess Laining" series of dolls. Students majoring in fashion design have made the dolls' costumes from the edge fabrics of Adelaide silk, which is not wasteful and has a sense of design. Each piece is unique. "100 products have been made and sold in scenic spots in the ancient city of Kashgar, and the sales are good."
The weaving and dyeing technique of stamped printed cloth is a traditional handicraft in Yingjisha County, Xinjiang. The local people use the white cloth they weave as the base material and use letterpress stamping for printing. Zulipie Kurban, a 21-year-old girl from Yingisha County, has been learning the above-mentioned skills from the representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage for half a year and has come up with creative products.
The popular "Xinjiang Lamb" doll became Zulipie's creative prototype. "Use minerals and plants to make dyes, and then use molds with different patterns to print the dyes on small shirts and wear them on lambs. They sell well." Zulipie said that she also plans to apply her skills to more objects so that more people can see the intangible cultural heritage in a way that young people like.
On September 25, at the 3rd Xinjiang Kashgar Cultural Industry Expo and Trade Fair, "Xinjiang Lamb" produced by Zulipie Kurban attracted attention. Photo by Hu Jiachen
The 3rd Xinjiang Kashgar Cultural Industry Expo and Trade Fair set up an intangible cultural heritage handicraft experience area. 13-year-old Kashgar boy Heidiqi Wusman picked up the stamp stamp for the first time and pressed it on the white cloth, and flowers "grew" out. "It's so fun to do handcrafts. I want to take home the printed fabrics I made and give them to my family."
In the exhibition area of the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, 15-year-old Omurbayev Elhan from Kyrgyzstan used his mobile phone to take pictures of a holographic imaging device, which played excerpts from the epic "Manas" sung by Xinjiang teenagers. "I didn't expect that 'Manas' could be presented like a movie. I hope our country can also have such innovation."
Data shows that Xinjiang currently has 5,956 representative intangible cultural heritage projects at all levels. The reporter observed that innovative forms such as short video live broadcasts, creative product exhibitions and youth night school experiences have attracted more and more young people to change from "visitors" to "participants" of intangible cultural heritage. (over)
