The picture shows the carp lamp prepared by Niu Junqi. Photo by Zhang Taiyuan
(New Year grassroots) Shengfang Ancient Town Lantern Craftsmen: Integrating flower lanterns into life is the living inheritance
Zhongxin Network Langfang, February 10 (Song Mintao, Xing Yanan) Duck lamp, carp lamp, lotus lamp, shrimp and crab lamp... On the 10th, the tenth day of the first lunar month, in a studio in Louzhuang Village, Shengfang Town, Bazhou City, Hebei Province, Niu Junqi, the representative inheritor of the provincial project of the Shengfang Lantern Society of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage, is making a batch of flower lanterns with his son.
"You see this tail can swing up and down, left and right, so that it can move." On that day, Niu Junqi was fiddling with a carp lamp with water village characteristics, and the fish head, fish body, tail and fin were tied separately, and the most flexible shape was created with the fewest skeleton lines as possible.
The picture shows the carp lamp that Niu Junqi sorted out and made. Photo by Zhang Taiyuan
"This is the characteristic of our Shengfang flower lamp, which is based on natural materials, natural themes, outstanding craftsmanship, and transcendent charm." Speaking of flower lanterns, Niu Junqi was full of interest.
Shengfang Flower Lantern began in the middle of the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the late Qing Dynasty and early Min. Since 1984, Shengfang resumed the traditional Lantern Festival, and has been successfully held for 34 sessions. For Shengfang people, the expectation of flower lanterns is like the expectation of Chinese New Year's Eve night for the Spring Festival Gala, and it is called the New Year after visiting the flower lanterns.
Niu Junqi, who has been learning to make flower lanterns with his father since he was a child, has his own views on flower lanterns. He said that in the inheritance of flower lantern production, we must adhere to the original taste, where there is a little difference, it is not a Shengfang flower lamp. But also have to understand innovation, "inclusive talent, the flower lantern into the times and life, is the inheritance of living state."
The picture shows Niu Junqi "lighting" the lion lamp. Photo by Jia Jun
"Take a thin bamboo material, use your hands through different angles and strengths, bake and shape by a candle, do whatever you want, do not twist or fold, all by the feel, this is called craftsmanship." Nowadays, Niu Junqi's flower lantern is the finale of the lantern festival every time.
Talking about the Shengfang Lantern Festival, Niu Junqi said that with the progress of science and technology, we can now see not only small and exquisite handmade flower lanterns with strong characteristics of water towns, but also large-scale modern seat lamps that integrate sound and photoelectric technology.
"The most impressive theme lamp is called 'Shengshui Lotus', which is 9 meters high, and the lamp strip uses more than 1,000 meters, and the design takes more than three months." Niu Junqi said that the main lamp is a large red carp twisting its body to jump out of the water, the water surface is made into a spherical shape around the carp, and the ground is dotted with lotus lamps, lotus leaf lamps and lotus lamps. "Many Shengfang people in other places are very excited to see this lamp through vibrato and circle of friends."
The picture shows Niu Junqi and his family making a flower lantern skeleton. Photo by Jia Jun
Nowadays, Niu Junqi's children have also joined the flower lantern inheritance. The eldest son, Niu Hao, is engaged in education and always helps his father make flower lanterns every weekend. The second son, Niu Duo, graduated from the Communication University of China, and in the process of studying with his father, he saw a lantern maker's adherence to traditional culture and the protection of his hometown's folk culture.
Affected by the global epidemic, Shengfang has not held a lantern festival for two years, Niu Junqi changed his thinking and "went out", through participating in exhibitions, accepting customization and other ways, so that more people know about Shengfang lanterns. "Only by inheriting and developing in production and life can we achieve the ultimate inheritance of intangible cultural heritage."
As the sky darkens, Niu Junqi and his family are still busy, brewing the "New Year's flavor" that belongs to Shengfang people. (End)