Traditional culture nurtures and broadens horizons
- By staff reporter Jiao Feng
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The Zhenquyuan Museum of Intangible Cultural Heritage is located in Beijing's Zhaodengyu School. Green bamboo flanks its old-style "moon gate" – a circular opening in a garden wall, and a pebble path leads to the exhibition hall. A small craft studio occupies the outer section, and at its core is an exhibition space for the traditional handicrafts on display. Students often spend their lunch breaks looking at these works which acquaint them with the workmanship of China's various custodians of intangible cultural heritage.
Xu Wei, the school principal, sees the museum as a platform for students' deeper understanding of Chinese history and traditional Chinese culture.
Interest Educates
Sadly, this array of intangible cultural heritage has evolved from folk handicrafts that bear little relevance to contemporary urban life. Seventh grader Xun Zhichao is a Beijing native. But she admits to having had complete ignorance of traditional local handicrafts before the museum opened.
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Handicraft custodians are invited to give weekly lectures designed to interest students. |
"Now I can see and even touch these skillfully crafted items. I particularly like the hairy monkey toys. Their delicate workmanship is fascinating." Hairy monkeys are made of cicada slough and magnolia buds. They are positioned in scenarios representative of street culture and social conventions. "We have courses on intangible cultural heritage at school, and I immediately signed up for the one on how to make hairy monkeys," Xun said.
Xu Xiaoxiao, the advisor on the school's intangible cultural heritage programs, spoke of the extracurricular craft courses that include seal cutting, new-year woodblock printing, gourd pyrography, and making kites, clay rabbits, and hairy monkeys. Handicraft custodians are invited to give weekly lectures designed to interested students.
After a six-class program, Xun can now fashion simple hairy monkeys. "My grandfather is thrilled, because they remind him of his childhood," Xun said. "The teacher also gives us background information. I now know the four Chinese herbs that are among the materials needed to make hairy monkeys and also that their history goes back hundreds of years – longer than that of some countries." Xun has since signed up for the clay rabbit-making class. When she becomes adept she can present another gift to delight her grandfather.
The people of a country should be well versed in its history and culture. "It requires only the kindling of students' interest for them to become keen to learn," Xu Wei said. "We aim to provide a base that helps them discover what truly interests them. If they desire to learn more, we can help them to pursue their interest. But this is entirely up to them, because craft classes are optional."
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