Text, photo/ Yangcheng Evening News all-media reporter Zhao Yingguang Wang Moyi (except for the signature)
Yangcheng Evening News reported on the cultural context of the tide on January 12
Strolling through the ancient streets and alleys of Chaoshan Province, it is difficult not to be attracted by the colorful decorations on the roof - they are colorful and dazzling, exquisite and realistic, from birds and animals to flowers, birds, insects and fish to mythological figures, almost everything, this is the famous Chaoshan inlaid porcelain.
Embedded porcelain, is a unique traditional folk craft in chaoshan area, it is based on painting, sculpture, the use of colorful glazed ceramic pieces, cut, knocked, inlaid, made into a variety of allegorical beautiful works of art, mostly used to decorate temples, ancestral halls and residential buildings, known as "blooming on the roof of the art".
Exquisite porcelain inlaid works in Daliao Village
Among them, Daliao Village, Chengtian Town, Chaonan District, Shantou City, is one of the main inheritance and development bases of Chaoshan inlaid porcelain, and is known as the "hometown of inlaid porcelain". As the only national intangible cultural heritage project in Chaonan District, "Daliao Inlaid Porcelain" has adhered to tradition and constantly innovated in the inheritance and development of more than 100 years, taking root in the local area and not forgetting to develop outward.
Daliao Village is full of exquisite porcelain inlays
Recently, when a reporter from Yangcheng Evening News went to Daliao Village to interview, he learned that with the help of the Shenzhen counterpart to help Shantou's task force in Chengtian Town, Chaonan District, Daliao Village plans to upgrade the original Daliao Inlaid Porcelain Craft Society into the Daliao Inlaid Porcelain Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (tentative name), and promote the "Daliao Inlaid Porcelain" to revitalize the new vitality in the tide of rural cultural revitalization.
Skillful use of discarded materials Craftsman spirit to achieve the legendary inlaid porcelain family
Bathed in the warm winter sun, in the Daliao Inlai Porcelain Craft Society in Daliao Village, Chengtian Town, Chaonan District, Shantou, several inlaid porcelain craftsmen are concentrating on polishing the works in their hands, and the busy figure of Xu Shaopeng, the representative inheritor of the provincial representative of Daliao inlaid porcelain, is also shuttling between unfinished inlaid porcelain works.
Xu Shaopeng, 46 years old this year, is the fourth generation of the "inlaid porcelain family" in Daliao Village. According to Xu Shaopeng, his great-grandfather Xu Shiquan was the first in the family to engage in porcelain inlay craftsmanship, and his great-grandfather, who originally studied gray sculpture and murals, seems to have embarked on the road of inlaid porcelain by chance.
Originally, in the era when Xu Shiquan lived, porcelain exports were at a great time, and there were many merchant ships transporting porcelain at the docks near Daliao Village. Fine ceramics are easily broken during transport, and these accidentally depleted pieces of porcelain are often discarded by merchants at the dock. Looking at the mountains of discarded ceramics, Xu Shiquan felt very sorry, and also touched his nerve of "loving materials and cherishing things".
In the end, Xu Shiquan, who had been pondering several times, thought of inlaid porcelain, so he paid homage to Wu Dancheng, a famous craft master in the Chaoshan region, and began to learn this craft. With the existing skills of gray sculpture and painting, coupled with diligent training, Xu Shiquan soon became a famous porcelain inlay craftsman.
The climate in the Chaoshan region is humid, the statues originally used for decorative buildings are easy to age and fade, and the porcelain pieces are brightly colored, more ornamental, and have the advantages that other materials are difficult to match - durable, after years of wind and sun, the pieces of ceramics are not only rarely shed, but also last for a long time, bright as ever, so the Chaoshan people are particularly partial to inlaid porcelain. The Qing Dynasty's "Haiyang County Chronicle" also recorded: "Large and small sects competed to build ancestral halls, and they did not hesitate to pay for the magnificence." "This includes the pomp and circumstance of inlaid porcelain decoration.
After Xu Shiquan learned something, he continued to polish his craft and passed on this skill to his descendants, and the reputation of the "inlaid porcelain family" gradually became louder, and many families in Chaoshan would rather wait for a year and a half to wait until the Xu family to make inlaid porcelain. Xu Shaopeng said that his grandfather Xu Meizhou's exquisite craftsmanship has been well received by people from all walks of life, and there was a legend in the Chaoshan area that "if you want to build a good house, it is not a good house if you can't invite Meizhou Division."
Later, the Xu family successively broke the stereotype of "passing on men not to women, passing on the inside and not passing on the outside", selflessly teaching the inlaid porcelain craft skills to those who came to learn, and promoting the vigorous development of inlaid porcelain in Daliao Village. Under this golden signboard, Daliao Village is already a veritable "inlaid porcelain town", and there are more than 100 porcelain craftsmen in the village's population of about 2,000, which continues to write a colorful chapter belonging to Daliao Village and inlaid porcelain art from generation to generation.
Cut and polish small pieces of porcelain inlay and paste to create a colorful world
A ball of shell ash, a colored porcelain bowl, a knife, an iron tong and a ash spoon, these are some of the main materials and tools of the Chaoshan porcelain inlay process. Seemingly simple objects can be carefully conceived and produced by inlay porcelain craftsmen, and transformed into lifelike inlaid porcelain works.
However, although the inlaid porcelain craft materials look simple and the process is not complicated, they draw on the strengths of painting, wood carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, puppets and other arts and crafts categories, which can be described as the real Chaoshan folk craft "essence", and it is not a day's work to fully master.
In Daliao Village, Xu Shaoxiong, who is also the representative inheritor of The Provincial Representative of Daliao Inlaid Porcelain and the fourth generation of the "Inlaid Porcelain Family" in Daliao Village, personally went to the battlefield and showed the inlaid porcelain production process for reporters. I saw him skillfully knock the porcelain bowl into the target shape with a knife, and then trim it with pliers, and the original irregular porcelain pieces became leaves and petals under his hands, which was amazing.
"Just looking at it may feel very easy to cut, in fact, ceramics have a certain hardness, in addition to practicing good skills also need moderate strength, the strength is larger, it is easy to damage the porcelain piece, small and can not cut the desired effect." Speaking of the process of inlaid porcelain, Xu Shaoxiong suddenly opened the conversation box. In Xu Shaoxiong's view, it is precisely because of the special production process of inlaid porcelain that it is impossible to find the exact same two pieces of broken ceramics in the world, so each production of the craftsman is a new creation, which also makes the inlaid porcelain more colorful.
Xu Shaoxiong's inlaid porcelain work "Lingyun Proud Snow" Xu Shaoxiong provided a picture
Xu Shaoxiong told reporters that Chaoshan inlaid porcelain needs to have a foundation of gray sculpture, and involves a variety of artistic techniques such as flat paste, relief, three-dimensional circular carving, etc. The difficulty is different, it needs to be learned step by step, and some details also need to be polished and finished in the form of painting, which requires the producer to do a good job. Especially as a desk decoration of the porcelain works, the requirements for local details are more precise, in order to create more natural lines and curves, it is necessary to cut out smaller porcelain pieces to collage, and the difficulty is greatly improved.
In addition, as the expression content and shape of inlaid porcelain works tend to be diversified and complex, sometimes when encountering very small components that cannot be installed directly by hand, it is necessary to design and conceive the production order in advance, which part is done first, which part is done first, and then use small tools to clamp these components and collage them to the main shape. "It's not just a physical job, it takes a lot of brains and minds." Xu Shaoxiong said.
It is worth mentioning that with the growing fame, Daliao inlai porcelain did not "paint the ground as a prison", but actively looked for opportunities to "go out". Nowadays, with their exquisite skills, The Daliao inlaid porcelain artists who have gone south to the north to perform art have not only left many porcelain inlaid works in Chaoshan province, cities in the province and all over the country, but also gone to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and other places to participate in relevant exhibitions, appraisals and craft activities, actively accept the collision and exchange of different art disciplines, and spread the Daliao inlaid porcelain and the cultural heritage behind it.
Shouzheng Innovation From Roof Art to "Taking Root"
During the interview, when the reporter visited Daliao Village, exquisite porcelain inlaid works and a strong inlaid porcelain cultural atmosphere could be seen everywhere, and the Daliao Inlaid Porcelain Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum was also in intensive planning for upgrading and transformation. It can be said that as an iconic symbol, inlaid porcelain is vividly reflected in all corners of life in Daliao Village.
In Xu Shaopeng's studio, chen Bichong and Xu Zhaoyong, two young apprentices, are patiently completing the production in their hands. After years of study and accumulation, they are expected to succeed in the field of inlaid porcelain and pass on this intangible cultural heritage skill, but there are few young craftsmen like them who can withstand loneliness and can stick to it for many years.
The development and inheritance of porcelain inlay technology is inseparable from the hard work of young craftsmen such as the porcelain inlay family and Chen Bichong, and even more inseparable from the innovation and pursuit of craftsmanship by generations of porcelain inlays, who continue to innovate in practice, so that inlaid porcelain can be revitalized in the context of the new era.
For example, the traditional porcelain inlay often uses the flat paste technique when working on the plane, but this technique has the risk of falling off, and the craftsmen of the Daliao inlai porcelain family have explored a new "piercing method", and there is an overlap between the porcelain pieces to achieve the effect of improving stability. Xu Shaopeng said that because part of the porcelain piece is inserted into the shell ash, this method will increase the consumables, "but the whole work will be more solid, so it is worth it."
In addition, in the conventional concept, inlaid porcelain often means the art of the roof, and as traditional houses are replaced by steel high-rise buildings, the role of inlaid porcelain in folk architecture is gradually declining. Returning from the "roof" to the "ground" is an innovative move to make the porcelain inlay art break through the limitations and broaden the public's cognition.
In order to better promote Daliao inlaid porcelain, Xu Shaopeng and other non-hereditary inheritors have tried to extend the function of inlaid porcelain artworks, from the original only as a folk architectural craft used in ancestral halls, temples, Chaoshan traditional houses, to now gradually produce some tea plates, screens, ornaments and other private household goods, the purpose of this transformation is to trigger more people to recognize and appreciate the inlaid porcelain, so that more inlaid porcelain crafts "fly into the homes of ordinary people", so that this intangible culture can be better passed on.
Xu Shaoxiong not only expanded more in the choice of themes combined with the present, but also pioneered in techniques. "Many of my current works are 360 degrees, which can be appreciated from any angle, front, side and back, and the completeness is very high." Xu Shaoxiong said that 360-degree porcelain inlay works are twice as difficult as flat porcelain inlays, requiring authors to have more exquisite ideas and designs, but the presentation effect of the works will also be doubled, "We always hope to present the best works."
Xu Shaoxiong's inlaid porcelain work "The Wind of the King" Xu Shaoxiong Courtesy of Xu Shaoxiong
In addition, the craftsmen of Inlaid Porcelain in Daliao are also actively trying to use the Internet, live broadcasting and other ways to publicize the inlaid porcelain, and have participated in the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Into the Campus" activity in Shantou City for many times, opening inlaid porcelain training classes to provide craft training for inlaid porcelain enthusiasts, so that they can cultivate their interest in traditional arts in hands-on experiments. Xu Shaopeng believes that in order to better protect this traditional handicraft, it is necessary to form a cultural industry and increase efforts in terms of financial support, talent training, and income security in order to promote the benign development of this industry.
【Context Observation】
Counterpart help to help Daliao inlaid porcelain to revitalize
The century-old traditional craft "Daliao Inlaid Porcelain" is currently the only national intangible cultural heritage in Chaonan District of Shantou. How to protect, carry forward and inherit this cultural treasure is a topic that all parties have been actively exploring. With the development of Shenzhen's counterpart to help Shantou's rural revitalization work, "Daliao inlaid porcelain" is expected to revitalize new vitality in the tide of rural cultural revitalization.
Inheriting and developing the excellent traditional culture of rural areas is one of the contents of the national rural revitalization strategic plan. In late July 2021, Shenzhen counterpart to help Shantou in the town of Bangzhen Fucun officially launched, the team stationed in Chaonan District Chengtian Town in the beginning of the investigation, deeply felt that the deep historical and cultural connotation of Daliao embedded porcelain can be used as an important starting point for rural cultural revitalization, in rural planning, talent training, market expansion, product innovation and other aspects to promote. To this end, they take the rural revitalization plan as the guide, take Daliao Village as an important node village, focus on the inheritance and development of Daliao inlaid porcelain culture, and contribute wisdom to promoting the revitalization of Daliao culture, telling the story of Daliao inlaid porcelain, and exploring the path of industrial development.
When the reporter was interviewed in Daliao Village, on the exhibition board of "Rural Revitalization Overall Planning and Key Project Planning and Design of Narita Town, Chaonan District" in the courtyard of the Inlaid Porcelain Craft Society, the renderings of the Daliao Inlaid Porcelain National Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum and the Daliao Water Inlaid Porcelain Garden were very eye-catching, and a landmark building will be built in Daliao Village in the future.
According to Zhang Zhimin, the leader of the task force stationed in Narita, at present, there are several main points of focus for the revitalization of inlaid porcelain in Daliao, in terms of publicity and promotion, the planned and built inlaid porcelain intangible cultural heritage museum will integrate two places for the provincial inheritors of inlaid porcelain intangible cultural heritage - Xu Shaoxiong Porcelain Art Zhai and Xu Shaopeng Inlaid Porcelain Craft Society, to improve the conditions for inlaid porcelain exhibition; in the village to add a variety of inlaid porcelain art sketches to create a garden with inlaid porcelain on the water. In addition, the use of a variety of platform resources to help promote the inlaid porcelain culture, be a good "propagandist" of this intangible cultural heritage, invite major media and famous artists to go to Daliao to understand the intangible inlaid porcelain, and carry out publicity and promotion.
A sound cultural protection and inheritance system is indispensable for the revitalization of inlaid porcelain, and to this end, the counterpart support team will strengthen the collection, preservation and display of precious physical works and the digitization of archives of other precious resources. At the same time, we will explore the establishment and implementation of the inheritance cultivation plan, cultivate non-genetic inheritors, carry out activities such as intangible cultural heritage into the campus, and strengthen academic and research exchanges with art colleges.
How to broaden the development path of the inlaid porcelain industry and effectively benefit the local cultural development and inheritors is also a key factor in achieving the sustainable development of the inlaid porcelain culture in Daliao. In Zhang Zhimin's view, on the one hand, it is necessary to develop the arts and crafts industry with the cultivation of masters as the center. Explore the establishment of an inlaid porcelain industry development fund, vigorously cultivate inlaid porcelain craft masters, introduce experts from art and art universities to carry out industry-university-research cooperation, and encourage outstanding talents to join. Encourage the innovation of themes, from folklore to arts and crafts. On the other hand, it is supplied, giving full play to the decorative function of inlaid porcelain, opening up diversified use scenarios, and integrating architectural decoration and home life, such as screens and ornaments. At the same time, we will explore and improve the technology of inlaid porcelain, promote the production of product lines, explore the establishment of an experience base for inlaid porcelain production, and promote the development of the experience industry.
Walking on the streets of Daliao Village, you can see the figure of inlaid porcelain elements everywhere, the indispensable inlaid porcelain on the eaves of the houses on both sides has long become a part of the villagers' lives, and in the 100-meter corridor specially opened on both sides of the road, the huge inlaid porcelain works look more vivid under the reflection of the sun, and also tell the glorious memories of the unique Daliao inlaid porcelain to passers-by.
【Context Week】
●On January 8th, Shantou City held a series of cultural volunteer service activities "Intangible Cultural Heritage into the Community", and the cultural volunteer service team composed of non-genetic inheritors such as Chao embroidery, bead embroidery, Daliao inlaid porcelain, Chaoyang paper-cutting, inner painting (Guangdong inner painting), and Chuantuo skills carried out intangible cultural heritage publicity and display and technical practice interaction to promote and disseminate intangible cultural heritage.
●In order to implement the "Regulations on the Protection of The Culture of the Shes in Chaozhou City," Zhang Chuansheng, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Chaozhou Municipal People's Congress, led a team to Visit Chao'an District on the 9th to understand the current situation and existing problems in the infrastructure construction, cultural protection of the Shes, and policy and financial support in various She's villages, and listened to relevant reports.
●From January 9th to 10th, the Guangdong Red Literary and Art Hussars walked into Jieyang and together with the Jieyang Municipal Literary and Artistic Volunteers, they delivered a warm literary and artistic condolence performance to the commanders and fighters of the Jieyang Airport Economic Zone Fire Rescue Brigade, and carried out relevant research activities and discussions.
●On the morning of January 7th, the Shanwei Lufeng Rural Cultural Market with the theme of "Golden Pen Streamer, Humanistic Convergence" was opened in Xibi Village Golden Pen Square, Chong Town, Lufeng Bridge. The colorful activities are full of "cultural flavor" and attract a large number of tourists to "catch the market". (Huang Shi)
Chief Planner / Wang Yiyang Liu Hailing Lin Haili
Director of the Editorial Board / Zeng Yingru Sun Aiqun Sun Xuan Hu Quan
Organizer / Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province Yangcheng Evening News
Coordinator of this issue / Ma Hanqing Yao Zhide
Source | Yangcheng Evening News Yangcheng Pie
Editor-in-charge | Zhu Guangyu