Longquan celadon works by Ge Mingrui
Lishui, China, October 30 (Fan Yubin Ge Mingrui) "The protection of the traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon has bid farewell to the previous disorderly state, and since the launch of the 'No Kiln Fire' activity, the one-year '18 kilns' have become a stage for Longquan craftsmen to inherit the thousand-year-old porcelain-making culture. Zhang Xi, president of the Longquan Celadon Traditional Dragon Kiln Firing Technique Research Association and a master of art in China's industrial and art industry, said.
On October 30th, during the 4th World Celadon Congress and the 12th Longquan Celadon Longquan Sword Cultural Tourism Festival, the "No Kiln Fire" activity was staged in Xitou Village, Baoxi Township, Longquan City, Zhejiang Province.
With the opening of the local Longquan kiln "Wugu Kiln", more than 300 pieces of Longquan Celadon made by 113 celadon craftsmen have been released from the cassette bowl after nearly 30 hours of firing to meet the world.
Open kiln Photo by Ge Mingrui
Longquan kiln is the main carrier of the traditional firing technique of Longquan celadon, the only "human intangible heritage" in the world's ceramics. In Longquan, local craftsmen called the Longquan kiln that was built before the founding of New China and can still be used as the "old kiln". At present, there are still 13 "old kilns" in Longquan, of which 7 are maintained in Xitou Village.
Longquan celadon began in the Three Kingdoms and Two Jin Dynasties, flourished in the Southern Song Dynasty, and flourished in the contemporary era. Entering a new era of development, Longquan kiln has been blessed by modern science and technology, the "gas kiln" that burns natural gas and integrates equipment such as barometers has become the mainstream, and the "wood kiln" that uses traditional firing techniques is gradually declining.
"The temperature in the 'gas kiln' kiln is stable, and the color of the porcelain produced is controllable and relatively bright; the 'wood kiln' needs to observe the fire temperature and kiln temperature with the naked eye, and the wind during the firing period, the timing of adding firewood and other factors will have an impact on the color of the porcelain produced, and the kiln master can hardly rest during the firing period." Chen Xianming, a master of arts and crafts in Zhejiang Province, said.
The stable production of "gas kilns" has impacted the living space of traditional "wood kilns", and also made the "human intangible cultural heritage" of Longquan celadon traditional firing technology face the crisis of loss. In order to reverse the "disorderly" situation of intangible cultural heritage protection, in 2017, the Longquan Celadon Traditional Dragon Kiln Firing Technique Research Association was established. In the same year, the Longquan Municipal Government began to hold the "Unquenchable Kiln Fire" - Longquan Celadon Traditional Dragon Kiln Firing Technique Activity.
Old kiln Photo by Ge Mingrui
The kiln is opened 18 times a year, and celadon craftsmen are regularly organized to learn traditional skills on the spot and integrate firing activities into the cultural tourism industry..." People's interest in the traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon is increasing, and a group of celadon craftsmen of the Middle and Young Dynasties have mastered the basic traditional firing techniques. Zhang Xi said.
Hu Shaofen, a "post-80s" arts and crafts artist, has now mastered the basic longquan celadon traditional skills, and she believes that compared with the "gas kiln" that "thinks is what you get", it takes a longer time to cultivate and master the firing technique of "wood kiln".
"The best way to attract more young people to become celadon craftsmen is to turn technology into hobbies, such as turning technical training into 'science class' education, and regularly holding pottery skills competitions for teenagers." Lu Jingping, a master of Chinese art in the art industry, a master of Chinese ceramic art, and a representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage Guangxi Qinzhou Xiaoxing pottery firing technique, said.
In this regard, Longquan has also taken action: in June 2020, on the basis of Longquan Secondary Vocational School, Longquan Celadon Sword Technician College was officially established, aiming to cultivate more young celadon craftsmen and inherit the "spirit of craftsmanship". (End)
Source: China News Network