Wen Cunlin, 73 years old this year, is the third generation of handmade Wen Ji Caiza lanterns from Pingliang Residents in Gansu Province, and he has insisted on making Caiza lanterns for nearly 50 years.
On the occasion of the Lantern Festival in 2022, while making traditional lanterns, he made innovative lanterns such as Tiger King Lantern, Toad Lotus Lantern, and Red Strawberry Lantern. It is understood that Master Wen has been preparing materials and innovating for the lanterns in 2022 since last year's National Day, and has produced more than 180 lanterns.
On February 12, at Master Wen's home, he introduced the process of the lotus lamp to reporters while sticking the petals of the lotus lamp.
There are many processes for making a lotus lantern by hand, there are seven processes to make a lotus lamp, five layers of petals to be glued, 72 petals to be glued to the headlight lotus lamp, 56 petals to be glued to the smaller lotus lamp, and 13 processes for the more complex monkey rolling lamp and the six-tooth watermelon lantern. From the bamboo that selects the lanterns, the kidnappers, the dyeing paper, the paste, the paintings, the stickers, the molding is completed, and then to the sale, it is all his own work.
It is reported that Master Wen can adhere to this craft, stemming from a set of lamp-making tools for pressing lotus petals--- flower shafts, and flower tubes, which is the "heirloom" for making caiza lanterns, which has been handed down from his grandfather's hands for more than 150 years, and he has adhered to this craft for nearly half a century as the third generation of Wen Jicaiza lanterns.
(Photo: Guo Huimin)
(China Daily Gansu Reporter Station)