Xin'an Evening News Anhui Network Dawan News Slightly upturned big eyes, well-defined beard, imposing eyebrows... The Lunar Year of the Tiger is approaching, and in Qingcao Town, Tongcheng City, Anhui Province, 85-year-old Fang Guohua is sewing tiger head shoes at home. The shoemaking technique was inherited by his grandmother's grandmother, and Fang Guohua has been making tiger-toe shoes for more than 60 years, and his craftsmanship is well-known in the local area. Over the years, the elderly are also passing on this craft to more young people.
Nafoe The octogenarian sews tiger-toe shoes by hand
Tiger head shoes are one of the traditional Chinese handicrafts, is a kind of children's shoes, because the toe is in the shape of a tiger's head, so it is called tiger head shoes. According to public information, the making technique of tiger head shoes has been included in China's intangible cultural heritage.
As the Lunar Year of the Tiger approaches, the elderly Fang Guohua in Qingcao Town, Tongcheng City, Anhui Province, has already begun to be busy. On the morning of January 25, when reporters from Xin'an Evening News, Anhui Net, and Dawan News contacted Fang Guohua, she was knitting the laces of tiger-headed shoes (the role is to hang the shoes as decorations). Locally, the old man is known for his craftsmanship, especially her hand-sewn tiger-toe shoes.
On the big red or black red tiger head shoes, the tiger's eyebrows and whiskers are embroidered with a needle and a thread, the roots are clear, the nose is a pink three-dimensional upturned nose, the texture is outlined with red lines, and in the middle is a "king" word... Fang Guohua poked and pulled and pulled, skillfully operating the needle and thread, the action was completed in one go, a pair of powerful and cute tiger head shoes sewn by her skillful hands. She introduced to reporters that the process of making a complete pair of tiger head shoes is complex, it takes about two days, "embroidery is the most test of patience is a link, each time the needle must be just right."
Today, Fang Guohua is already a well-known "red man" in Qingcao Town. Every Spring Festival, when relatives and friends give birth, she will make a pair of tiger head shoes as a gift. "The city is made by machine, and there is no intention of making it by hand." Fang Guohua said that some of the fabrics for making shoes are bought by themselves, some are hundreds of cloths spelled out by neighbors, and tiger-toed shoes made of one stitch and one thread can better convey blessings.
Inheritance Pass on the craft to young people
Fang Guohua recalled to Xin'an Evening News, Anhui Net, and Dawan News reporters that sewing tiger head shoes is a traditional handicraft, she began to learn it at the age of 7, the technique was taught by her grandmother's grandmother, and has been doing it for more than 60 years.
"When I was young, I went to work, I didn't have time to do it during the day, and I did it every day after I was 65 years old, and I never left a day behind." The 85-year-old laughs and says that she "can see very clearly at night."
In the big family of the four generations, Fang Guohua mentioned his children and grandchildren, and his face was full of love. "I don't usually have any other hobbies, I just like to do handicraft work." She personally made new clothes for the children one by one, including small cotton jackets, suspender pants, small tank tops and other styles. "It's not very fashionable, but it's all traditional craftsmanship." Fang Guohua said with a smile that the children can wear from small to large.
Over the years, Fang Guohua is also passing on this craft to more young people. Her youngest grandson, now 5 years old, has begun to try to learn, and sometimes when she works, she can help with the handle. "They all love it too." Fang Guohua said proudly, "[They] will come to help when they are not busy at work."
From spring to autumn, with the completion of a pair of exquisite handmade tiger head shoes, the ingenuity of the elderly Fang Guohua will also be inherited, and the craftsmanship will be passed on from generation to generation in the outline of a needle and a thread.
Wei Taorui Zhang Linghe Cheng Chunlin Xin'an Evening News Anhui Net Dawan News Zhao Lin
Edited by Tuna