In the southern regions of China, encompassed by the serene currents of the Yangtze River, bamboo has been an integral part of people’s lives for generations. Before Wuzhen, a village in Zhejiang Province in East China, gained global recognition as a tourist hotspot and the host of the World Internet Conference, it was a bustling center of craftsmanship. This small village boasted a centuries-old tradition of bamboo weaving, a craft that had become inseparable from its identity.
Since the era of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Wuzhen’s bamboo weaving had carved out its unique place in history. Several artisans from the village were even invited to serve at the imperial court, a testament to their exemplary skill. As the years rolled by, the trade flourished in Wuzhen, with a burgeoning number of practitioners and bamboo workshops. Consequently, bamboo weaving became a defining element of Wuzhen’s identity.
However, this industry faced a significant challenge during the late 1990s, as plastic products swept across the nation. The ubiquity of plastic led to the closure of bamboo factories, and the historical prominence of bamboo products was rapidly usurped.
Despite this adversity, one man, Qian Jihuai, an inheritor of the bamboo weaving craft, recounted how the trade was declining during his time yet found a way to preserve it. Between 1985 and 1993, Wuzhen’s bamboo weaving industry experienced its last significant boom. At least 400 households in the village were dedicated to bamboo weaving, crafting a range of daily necessities sold throughout the country.
Now, only about 20 families are still engaged in the craft, as demand for bamboo-made daily necessities has continued to dwindle. However, Qian’s story is not a traditional narrative of a “Renaissance.” It doesn’t conclude with the historic legacy triumphantly overthrowing modern industrial production. Instead, it’s a story of survival, adaptability, and ingenuity.
In 2007, at 27, Qian left his corporate job to join his father, Qian Xinming, in bamboo weaving. During the decline of the craft in Wuzhen, his father sought ways to keep their craft alive and make a living. A revolutionary idea came to him—connecting bamboo weaving with Wuzhen’s burgeoning tourism industry. He opened a store at a tourist attraction, where he sold bamboo-weaved Chinese characters as unique souvenirs, which were greatly admired by the tourists.
Thus began their journey to rejuvenate bamboo weaving by developing related products. The Qians traveled across China, researching bamboo weaving traditions, and exploring how this craft had evolved in other countries. They discovered a broad spectrum of opportunities to elevate bamboo weaving as an art form.
During this transformative journey, they faced several challenges. One of the major hurdles was finding craftsmen who could blend artistic elements into bamboo weaving. Additionally, systematic knowledge about this ancient craft was scarce, and there were hardly any scholars to turn to for guidance.
Despite these challenges, Qian was more determined than ever to preserve and promote the Wuzhen bamboo weaving techniques and historical heritage. The turning point came in 2010 when Wuzhen bamboo weaving was declared an intangible cultural heritage of the city. Qian’s innovative approach to bamboo weaving attracted the attention of various exhibitions and even the global media during the 2nd Wuzhen Internet Conference in December 2015.
As bamboo weaving began to gain recognition as an art form, Qian set up his own studio. He introduced bamboo weaving classes to schools, showcased his skills via online livestreams, and had about 15,000 visitors annually participate in bamboo weaving learning experiences.
However, Qian remains realistic about the future of bamboo weaving. He knows that the traditional craft has lost its place in mass production and will likely only support a small number of people. But that, he believes, is enough.
He told the Global Times, “Even though there may be fewer real bamboo weaving practitioners, and even people who pay attention to bamboo weaving because of momentary media exposure may leave, this historical legacy of bamboo weaving will not die out.”
Through Qian’s eyes, we see the resiliency of a craft born from the intrinsic relationship between the Chinese people and bamboo. The survival of Wuzhen’s bamboo weaving is a testament to the power of adaptation and innovation in preserving cultural heritage.
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