Tianjin Lists Straw Work In Intangible Cultural Heritage List

July 24, 2019

Tianjin Lists Straw Work In Intangible Cultural Heritage List Rich in imagination, ingenious design, and exquisite craftsmanship, the ordinary glutinous rice leaves, straw, and cattail grass are transformed into exquisite craftsmanship under his skillful handwork. He is the 75-year-old "comeding master" in Changchun City - Dong Conren. In June last year, his draft work was included in the province's list of intangible cultural heritage protection.

From a young age, there was a straw dream at 9 o'clock on the 7th. The reporter walked into the studio of Dong Cong Ren, as if he had entered a kingdom of Cao. Grass people's textile lines, firewood collection, mushroom collection and other scenes are vividly demonstrated. Shaman shamans, dancers and four masters, and Jiang Taigong fishing and other hand-made figures are also vivid. A piece of straw artwork is wonderfully designed and beautifully designed.

Dong Congren said that because he likes straw, his friends who are familiar with him all call him “Dong Cao Ren” or “Cao Ren Dong”.

According to Dong Conren, when he was a child, his family lived in rural areas and watched his mother make baskets, banquets, and sandals. She also learned various techniques for willow weaving and straw weaving. "When I was seven or eight years old, I could compose a hand with Ma Lin." Dong Congren said that people in the village saw him dexterously. "Since then my straw dream has sprouted."

Foreign tourists to China to buy sandals failed. According to Dong Conren, in 1964, he graduated from the Jilin Art Institute and entered a printing factory. However, until retirement, he did not compile Cao Cao again, nor did he expect that the straw weaving technique will be developed.

Dong Congren said that after retiring for a chance, he saw a foreign tourist in a shop selling tourist souvenirs trying to buy grass laces. But he did not see the tourist leaving with regrets. The opportunity was found to create hand-made grass products again.

To do so, after returning home, Dong Cong Ren deliberately collected some grasses from rural villages. After returning, he studied and studied according to his childhood memories. The first pair of grass sandals was finally completed in his hands. “Although it was very rough at the time, I was very happy because it was a good start.”

3 years to study how to wear strong, however, the sandals made by Dong Congren are not very strong, wear a few days, the sandals around the sandals will be worn off, the flexibility of sandals is not strong, but also affected the quality of sandals.

“So I asked some elderly people in rural areas because they worked on riversides and fields for many years and they knew more about the characteristics of the typha.” After three years of running between urban and rural areas and asking for advice from multiple parties, Dong Conren summed up the collection of rushes. Seasonal time. "The collection of long-term underwater weeds before the frost falls is of the highest quality and flexibility, and the better the water quality is, the better the palisade will be."

"The soles of the sandals are bad on the road for one hour, and they cannot go to the wetlands," said Dong Congren. Later, he changed the traditional method of preparation. He used the current rubber soles as the soles, and the shoes and beams continued to use straw. With this improvement, he found that the sandals had a lot of strength and the problem of the soles was solved.

Folk, sports and emotional three series In 2006, Dong Congren's sandals won the second prize of the province's tourism product design contest, which further stimulated his desire to create.

"Can we compile it?" Dong Congren remembered the childhood Scarecrow in his childhood and he developed the idea of ​​compiling figures. "My works include three series: 'Kanto folklore', 'Sports athletics' and 'Emotion'."

Dong Congren's production of spinning lines, firewood collection, water fetching, grinding, large girl smoking bags, and child cockfighting represent the rural life style in the northeast and are rich in the northeast style.

After continuous renovations and explorations, Dong Congren also used iron wire to make the grass and people's bones, making the grass people have plasticity. "I have compiled a series of sports skating with a 'double skating' and the two athletes can change 50 kinds of postures." Dong Congren said that this work was initially influenced by figure skating stars Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo. After the work came out, he wanted to give it to Shen Xue. And Zhao Hongbo has never had a chance.

“My preparations for 'over the moon' and 'proposal for marriage' are modern emotional subjects. 'Gang Taigong Fishing', 'Journey to the West' theme series, and 'Three visits to Mausoleum' are all related to traditional culture.” Dong Congren said that he recently wanted to The typical stories in China's four famous novels are expressed in straw.

In order to prepare performance costumes for the Shaman Association in recent years, Dong Conren Ren's straw work appeared in major exhibitions and cultural exchange activities such as the Northeast Asia Investment and Trade Expo, the Agricultural Fair, and was popular with the public. Last year, Dong Congren also accepted an invitation from the Shaman Association of Changchun City to perform shaman costumes for dance models.

"These ideas are not what others have. I have spent a full year developing shamanistic costumes." Dong Congren said that he spent a lot of time and effort to complete these shaman costumes, from head to toe, hats, headdresses, and clothes. The shoes are made of straw and are very environmentally friendly.

It is understood that Dong Congren's draft has now entered the provincial intangible cultural heritage list and is currently applying for national intangible cultural heritage.

The daughter continued to pass on the straw culture in Dong Conren's work room. The reporter also saw his daughter Dong Hui. She is helping her father make straw figures. "I am more than 70 years old and I hope that the younger generation can carry forward the art of straw weaving." Dong Congren said that he has already started *** and has more than 40 apprentices. Today, his daughter has become his successor.

"I didn't understand that my father did these straws and made the house full of rubbish." Dong Hui said that what the father usually made was not very concerned. She only took the handle when her father was too busy. .

In the process of production, Dong Hui gradually discovered that as long as these things are intentionally done, the characters compiled will have spirituality and people will be immersed in the scene. "I finally understand my father now and I have feelings for straw crafting." Dong Hui said that she will follow her father's method of learning to develop and inherit the straw and weaving culture, and continue to improve the weaving techniques so that more people can understand this kind of straw weave. Technology, enhance environmental awareness.