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Chinese Arts and Crafts

it is common knowledge that china has a long history and glorious history in both arts and traditional crafts. these are just two of the many jewels in china's over five thousand-year culture. the arts and crafts are not only the embodiment of the people's longing for aesthetic beauty for themselves and as gifts for others, but also great treasures for china and the rest of the world. many of the master artisans have had their skills handed down via one generation to the next so that only the offspring of such an artisan could learn the necessary skills required. the result being that they are the most valuable treasures both for a family and for the nation.

of all the chinese arts and crafts, the most representative are bronze vessels, folk toys, embroidery, calligraphy, music, opera, painting, cloisonne, jade, kites, lacquer ware, paper-cuttings, porcelain, pottery, seals, and silk. they are not only a vivid reflection of chinese culture but also the embodiment of both the chinese people, and of the nation itself.

bronze vessels

invented some 5,000 years ago led the ancestors of modern china from the stone age into a new era - the bronze age. the bronzes produced being delicately decorated with a diverse range of designs and motifs and were widely used in many aspects of life, such as musical instruments, ceremonial offerings and weapons of war being of great significance in chinese history.

china silk

a silkworm produces 1000 meters (3280feet) of silk thread in its lifespan of just 28 days and is of great value. major local silk products in china are shu, yun, song brocade and brocades by ethnic minorities such as the zhuang and the dong peoples are well renowned.

china calligraphy

a highly stylized form of writing - has been developed by many eminent calligraphers of many different dynasties. referred to as the 'four treasures of study' (writing brush, ink stick, paper, and ink slab) are regarded as the indispensable tools when writing.

chinese cloisonne

is an enamel artwork with the primary color being blue. it is renowned for its use of high-quality material, complex manufacturing process and its use of bright and vivid colors.

chinese jade

has a history of four thousand years. jade symbolizes merit, grace and dignity and occupies a special position in people's consciousness. it is used both to decorate rooms, and as jewelry by people hoping for a blessing.

chinese embroidery

originated in the shang dynasty (16th - 11th century bc), and now has four major traditional styles: su, shu, xiang, and yue. it is also an accomplished skill for the chinese ethnic minority groups such as the bai, bouyei and miao.

folk toys

are items that have a long history and a combination of artistic appreciation and playful enjoyment, and endowed with numerous meanings that express the people's wish for a happy and contented life.

chinese kites

being delicately made of paper and bamboo have numerous shapes such as swallow, centipede, butterfly etc. regarded as an artistic marvel, the kite makers' skill in both painting and in the design of the kites' flexible flying movement are well renowned.

lacquer ware

first appeared some 7,000 years ago with the primary colors being black and red. it is of various types and has a wide range of uses that makes it favored by people throughout the entire world.

china music

dates back to between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago. featured with unique melodies within different chinese dynasties and accompanied with chinese traditional musical instruments.

chinese opera

is recognized as one of the three oldest dramatic art forms in the world. it is a combination of music, art and literature and is characterized by the unique facial make-up, excellent acrobatics and has many different regional variations.

chinese opera masks

the art of chinese opera mask painting is a very specialized art. each artist has their own technique..

chinese painting

paper cuttings

is diversified patterns cut into red paper with scissors. different patterns such as monkey, flowers and figures can be cut vividly and perfectly by some female artisans in rural areas. people paste paper-cuttings onto their windows and other places to express their hopes and wishes.

chinese porcelain

derived from the shang dynasty (16th - 11th century bc). it is characterized with fine texture, bright colors, and distinctive shapes and styles. Jingdezhen, located in Jiangxi province is the porcelain capital of the world and attracts countless people from near and far to appreciate, and buy the choicest porcelain around.

chinese pottery

has a history of over 8,000 years and known as the oldest artwork of human beings. chinese accomplishments in pottery works can be seen from terra cotta warriors, in xian, Shaanxi province, and the tricolor glazed pottery of the tang dynasty (618 - 907) and so on.

china seals

can be made of metal, jade, animal tooth or horn and caved with characters. it is a combination of chinese calligraphy and engraving that people cherished in the old times and likes nowadays.

shadow puppetry

is the general name for shadow play and the theatrical property used in the play. all of the vivid shadow puppets, including the figures and the scenes, are plane and made from leather. the shadows of these puppets are projected on to a white screen; meanwhile artists operate the puppets behind the screen to finish this traditional form of play. as a bright pearl of the chinese folk art, shadow puppetry has a history of more than 2,000 years. now it is still very popular. the delicate puppets are favored by tourists as souvenirs.