Original title:
Willow weaving artist who has persisted for more than 40 years: hoping that the old craft will rejuvenate with "new youth"
China News Service, Changzhi, January 3
Author Gao Ruifeng and Deng Rong
"At that time, I didn't know how to use force, and my father taught me step by step. , the willow branch will break if the force is a little stronger. It took five full days to weave a dustpan less than one meter high, and my back and legs were so tired." Yang Chunping still remembers the scene when he first learned to weave willow.
On January 3, in Shitang Village, Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province, 59-year-old willow weaver Yang Chunping sat in the yard, with wicker sticks flying between his fingers. “If I can’t sit still and have some free time, I will knit for a while.” He said that willow knitting has become a part of life.
"When I was sixteen or seventeen years old, I learned the willow weaving skills from my elders. I first watched and then taught them step by step. It seemed easy, but it was hard to learn. It required repeated practice. If you made a slight mistake, you had to tear it down and start over." Yang Chunping for Learning the art of willow weaving took a lot of hard work. Over the years, his index finger and thumb have become deformed.
Yang Chunping, a 59-year-old willow weaving artist in Shitang Village, Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province. Photographed by Guo Weizhe
"Willow weaving can turn common branches into exquisite handicrafts through the ingenious combination of skills and patterns, plus multiple processes such as cutting, shearing, threading, inserting and twisting. It can take as little as half a day to complete a handicraft, or more One day is a great test of the patience and carefulness of the craftsmen." Yang Chunping said with a smile that every time he completes a finished product, he will feel a full sense of accomplishment.
The origin of wicker weaving can be traced back to the early Paleolithic Age. Since then, willow weaving has been widely used in people's lives. Through various dynasties, it has become one of the common utensils in daily life. Yang Chunping said, "When I was a child, most people in the village could weave willow. It was one of the basic skills for survival. In addition to using it at home, they also sold it in the market."
After more than 40 years of exploration, Yang Chunping's weaving skills have become increasingly popular. Superb. In order to make it easier to obtain materials, Yang Chunping planted more than an acre of foggy willow, commonly known by locals. Although there are fewer and fewer willow weaving artists, he has been persisting. In his words, "the craftsmanship of our ancestors cannot be lost."
Yang Chunping, a willow weaving artist in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province, teaches his willow weaving skills to his neighbors. Photo by Guo Weizhe
As a well-known local willow weaving master, more than 20 people have come to learn from Yang Chunping. In order to rejuvenate ancient handicrafts, he often studies techniques with his apprentices, transforms shapes and patterns, and enhances the practicality and ornamental value of wicker products. He also participates in various expos and exchange meetings to continuously innovate on the basis of traditional techniques.
"Looking at flowers is easy, but embroidering is difficult." Willow weaving is not an easy job. Yang Chunping introduced that a high-quality dustpan needs to go through more than ten processes such as selecting, soaking, and cutting, with the help of tools such as axes, drills, sickles, crochet hooks, clips, awls, etc., and then through picking, pressing, inserting, winding, A series of techniques such as threading and pasting can be completed in as little as half a day or as long as one day.
"Liu weaving is not only a craft, but also an inheritance. As long as someone is willing to learn it, teach it carefully." Yang Chunping said that in order to let more people understand this ancient skill, he often posts willow weaving on online platforms and social platforms Production process.
Source: China News Network
