The beauty of art intertwined with tradition and modernity

In the vast land of China, various ethnic minorities have created a variety of traditional handicrafts in their unique ways. These ancient skills carry a long history and rich cultural heritage, and are now appearing in front of the world with a new look. Miao silver jewelry is one of them. It is not only an ornament, but also a status symbol; while the Zhuang brocade shows the colorful world under the dexterous hands of local women.

Today's designers skillfully integrate traditional cultural elements into modern aesthetic concepts, so that each work not only retains strong local characteristics, but also caters to the life taste of today's younger generation. For example, when designing the new style of Miao necklace, the simple and generous urban wind lines are added, so that the wearer can show his personality anytime and anywhere; at the same time, he does not forget to use traditional carving techniques to express the details of the pattern and convey profound cultural significance.

Craftsman's Story

Every outstanding folk artist is a well-deserved master in their respective fields. They not only inherited the precious skills left by their ancestors, but also formed their own unique creative style in the process of continuous pursuit of progress. Let us approach several outstanding craftsmen and listen to their stories.

Master Li has been making Miao silverware for more than forty years. He recalled the days of the first apprentices and said: "At that time, the conditions were difficult and the tools were rudimentary, but we had a fire in our hearts." It is with this persistent spirit that he has been supported for a long time and trained a new generation of successors. In another village, an old woman named Grandma is silently holding on to the soon-to-be-lost technique of Zhuang weaving. "Although I am old and my eyes are not working well," she told us with a smile, "I will continue to do it until I can no longer carry the shuttle." It is precisely because of the existence of such watchers that our intangible cultural heritage can be passed on from generation to generation.

The Secret Behind Cultural Symbols

When you carefully observe every pattern, pattern and color on the handicrafts of ethnic minorities, you will find that there are endless stories and profound philosophy behind them. The tiger-shaped totem, which is common in Yi embroidery, represents a brave and strong character, and at the same time implies the protection of the family; the "eight auspiciousness" in Tibetan Buddhist ornaments is the expression of people's desire to pray for a better life-wheels, snails, umbrellas, covers, flowers, cans, fish and long correspond to perfection, clear voices, blocking disasters, removing obstacles, beautiful blooming, long and eternal life, etc.

Through the understanding of these symbols, we can more fully feel the huge amount of information and beauty conveyed by each item. As one researcher said: "this is not a simple needle and thread, but the essence of thousands of years of civilization precipitation." Therefore, when buying such souvenirs, please be sure to experience the deep friendship from ancient times!

Entering the Museum: Appreciation of Rare Collections

Major museums are often one of the best places to preserve precious cultural relics, and there are many exhibits that reflect the splendid culture of various ethnic groups in our country. Many rare classics appeared in the "Chinese Minority Culture and Art Exhibition" held by the Palace Museum in Beijing. Here is a scroll painting of the Manchu Buddhist scriptures drawn during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, which is full of delicate and realistic images of Sakyamuni Buddha and other gods. There is also a golden hip flask used by Mongolian princes and nobles in the Qing Dynasty, whose surface is decorated with extremely gorgeous precious stones. In addition, the results of archaeological excavations in recent years have also brought us a series of surprises. For example, a batch of letters and letters of the Tang Dynasty unearthed in Turpan, Xinjiang, provided valuable material materials for the study of the social and economic conditions at that time.

Experts pointed out that such exhibitions can not only enhance the public's understanding of the pluralistic and integrated pattern of the Chinese nation, but also stimulate everyone's sense of responsibility and mission to protect and develop their own excellent traditional culture. I believe that with the advent of more relevant academic research results, more ordinary people will have the opportunity to witness these jewels with their own eyes in the future.

From Studio to Market

Since the reform and opening up, China's economy has developed rapidly, and the social environment has undergone earth-shaking changes. The handicrafts of ethnic minorities, once hidden in the mountains and forests, began to move out of the closed circle towards the vast world. The government has issued a series of supportive policies