It is unremarkable in the countryside, even one per family, but it is popular abroad and in short supply. It is not fine porcelain, jewelry, embroidery, but an ordinary dustpan. Foreigners take it as a gift, and they have more face.
Buy one at a high price of 2,000 yuan, just to hang it at home. Why is the dustpan so popular with foreigners, and what is its charm?
High artwork: dustpan
When the dustpan first arrived in the United States, it instantly attracted the attention of a large group of Americans with its unique shape and production process. However, in China, the dustpan, which is only used as a farm tool, actually appeared on the official website of a home furnishing brand in the United States.
Not only that, but it was also sold for a high price of $239. But China's dustpan is far from reaching its peak, and later there is a brand whose unit price is even more than 2,000 yuan.
But the sky-high price did not deter the Americans, but on the contrary, the scarcity is expensive, and the supply of dustpans in China exceeds demand. A large number of people are lining up to buy one to take home, just to decorate their home and make it look more Chinese. And this decoration method has also become a trend among foreigners and is quite popular.
This phenomenon is not only seen in the United States, but also in Japan, where the sales and prices of dustpans are also staggering. In the eyes of foreigners, the dustpan is not an ordinary ornament, but a high-grade bamboo artwork.
They are keen to give dustpans as gifts when visiting relatives and friends, which also fully illustrates the status of dustpans in the hearts of foreigners.
The reason why the dustpan is so popular
A seemingly simple dustpan is not easy to make. In today's world where artificial intelligence and machines have replaced a lot of manual labor, it is not easy to still insist on pure handmade production. And a bamboo craftsman takes a lot of time and effort to make a dustpan.
When intangible cultural heritage meets ink painting, it shows a different kind of beauty. Even if it is not as good as embroidery and porcelain, the dustpan is extremely exquisite. In foreign countries, handmade products can compete with their local luxury brands.
Not only because handmade products are environmentally friendly and pollution-free, in line with their aesthetics, but more importantly, handmade products often contain special intentions and meanings, which are more precious. Foreigners recognize handmade products, and naturally they are willing to pay a high price for dustpans.
Compared with the traditional use of calligraphy and painting to decorate the home, the dustpan is difficult to take off people's eyes because of its unique shape and texture. At the same time, its own oriental mystery also makes guests start to imagine the splendor of Chinese culture, bringing people a sense of visual freshness.
The explosion of dustpans is also related to the careful thinking of merchants, who claim that dustpans are a handmade product that is very difficult to make and complex in process when marketing.
Nowadays, foreigners are often shocked by Chinese culture, and the dustpan has become an exotic cultural product from China after packaging. Good-looking and practical, it naturally becomes a guest of honor for foreigners, which not only conforms to their aesthetics but also satisfies their curiosity.
The process of making a dustpan
Speaking of dustpans, it is inseparable from Qingyang, where ancestors have inherited this craft for generations. Different from bamboo weaving, they generally use wicker to weave dustpans, the earliest people have to go to the mountains to find wild wicker, and later for convenience, so they planted wicker in front of the door and behind the door.
And wicker is also exquisite, divided into bud strips, autumn strips, and steamed strips. The wicker in March, which is easy to peel, is called the bud strip, the one in June and July is called the autumn strip, and the one that can be peeled after steaming is called the steamed strip.
Generally, steamed noodles are preferentially selected as the material for weaving dustpans, which are not only durable, but also beautiful in color and good in sales. The dustpan also has high requirements for the environment, it should be damp and not ventilated, and for convenience, each family has a special cellar.
Weaving a dustpan, just like building blocks, you must first arrange the slender strips on the tool, and this step should be controlled well, not too loose or too tight.
The material is then bent into a specific shape and then woven into an angular shape. After that, a series of meticulous tasks such as trimming, finishing and fixing the edges are carried out.
This process is both technical and time-consuming. Whether a dustpan is both beautiful and durable, the key lies in whether these processes are done in place.
In order to ensure that the finished product is strong, the craftsman usually has to complete the entire process in one go, with no pauses in between. Weaving a dustpan is like completing a beautiful craft, it requires great skill and patience on the part of the craftsman, and every step is crucial.
The exit of the dustpan
The dustpan has been around for thousands of years and has long become an indispensable tool for farmers. Whether it's drying, threshing, or even eating, a dustpan can help.
With a gentle shake and a shake, you can use a dustpan to separate the crumbs from wheat and corn kernels. There is also a doorway in this, for inexperienced people, not only is it very inefficient, but it will also affect the progress of self-bagging. When I was a child, when I saw adults shaking the dustpan, I always rushed forward and wanted to play for a while.
In many places, people like to use a dustpan to dry some vegetables and clothes commonly used at home. Because most of the dustpans are hand-woven with bamboo, the bamboo strips will be staggered horizontally and vertically when weaving, forming many small holes. These small holes allow air to circulate, so drying things dry quickly and are especially easy to use.
As the living conditions in rural areas are getting better and better, some machines have gradually replaced manual labor and improved efficiency, such as hair dryers and hoisting machines, which have replaced traditional dustpans. In order to make a living, the craftsmen who make dustpans have to start turning dustpans from agricultural tools into works of art.
But the process of making a dustpan is complex and experience-dependent, which makes it difficult to pass on the craft. Most of the people who know how to weave dustpans are older people, and young people are reluctant to learn this craft, and the craft of making dustpans is also at risk of being lost.
Dustpan feast
The dustpan banquet is a unique national custom and culture, which originated from the ethnic minorities in the south: Li and Miao, Zhuang and so on. The dustpan feast of each ethnic group is slightly different, and the special thing about this banquet is that it is not only a meal, but also a cultural and emotional exchange.
Fresh plantain leaves are used at the bottom and the food is neatly arranged in a dustpan. The Lisu dustpan feast involves mixing corn and fragrant rice and cooking them first, and then placing the rice in the center of the dustpan.
Around the rice, dishes such as ham, mushrooms, and roasted chicken are placed one by one. And their ingredients are all from the mountains, green and fresh, and delicious.
The way to eat the dustpan banquet is also a heroic one, everyone usually wears disposable gloves, gets started directly, does not have too much etiquette, and gulps down wine and eats meat. At this time, the host will also sing a special toast song on the side, and toast the guests one by one until they have eaten and drunk to their heart's content.
The purpose of the dustpan feast is to bring everyone together, have fun, and forget about their troubles. It uses a dustpan as a round container to symbolize everyone's reunion and sharing this happiness. It's a very warm, very human custom.
A variety of bamboo products
The symbolism of bamboo has many meanings, and ancient noble gentlemen often used bamboo to describe their qualities. In addition, bamboo also has the meaning of ascending, strong, safe and auspicious. The use of bamboo products not only gives people a simple impression, but also makes people look tasteful.
Hats, chairs, pen holders, etc., bamboo products are everywhere, from building materials to handicrafts. During the Qing Dynasty, the bamboo silk palace fans and fine mats in Quxian County were famous all over the world, so that the emperor personally ordered them to be promoted to tribute.
In 1980, the "jacquard weaving method" appeared, which made the bamboo weaving process develop rapidly. And now the bamboo weaving artwork requires super high technology.
When weaving, we should not only consider how to make it strong and beautiful, but also consider the effect of light and shadow to make the work more exquisite. The rise of bamboo weaving painting has pushed bamboo weaving to a new level.
In Guangxi Tianzhi County, bamboo resources are abundant, and young people who have lived here since childhood are familiar with bamboo weaving technology. They developed their online business from selling bamboo products and further expanded their sales.
Bamboo weaving art has become a cultural symbol of our country, not only valued in China, but also abroad, loved and recognized by people all over the world.
Legacy for a new generation
Nowadays, more and more young Chinese are beginning to pay attention to traditional culture, and at the 2023 graduation ceremony of Xijing University, Deng Yufang, a graduate wearing a traditional horse-faced skirt, took the rostrum with her proud attitude.
On this day, she specially chose a Ming Dynasty-style horse-faced skirt, and she hoped that through her dress, she could inspire her classmates to recognize and appreciate the beauty of traditional culture.
Not only her, but during the graduation season, many graduates have tried to skillfully combine Hanfu elements with bachelor's uniforms, forming a new fashion trend.
Intangible cultural heritage is a precious asset of the country, and people are gradually beginning to pay attention to traditional crafts. In life, Chinese poetry, opera, calligraphy and painting are all sought after by people.
Ceramics and Hanfu are also very popular among young people, and modern young people are experiencing the charm of excellent traditional Chinese culture through these cultural elements.
In Shenzhen, compared with before, the main force in the theater is no longer nostalgic old people, but new faces full of youthful vitality.
Young people who wear horse-faced skirts to take graduation photos and prefer new Chinese desserts have been exposed to lion dance and drama dolls since childhood, and traditional culture is becoming more and more popular among young people.
Bloggers who cook Chinese food abroad and wear special clothes on the street have grabbed a lot of them, and China's traditional culture has stepped onto the international stage.
epilogue
The explosion of the dustpan is both accidental and inevitable, reflecting the international influence of Chinese culture and the value of traditional handicrafts. The international popularity of dustpans also reminds us to value and protect those precious traditional handicrafts, and at the same time stimulates thinking about cultural inheritance and innovation, encouraging us to give new life to traditional culture from a modern perspective, so that the world can witness the enduring charm of Chinese culture.