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For countless years, Dongyang in east China's Zhejiang Province has been dubbed the "home of a hundred crafts". Not least among these is the exquisite handicraft of bamboo weaving, an intangible cultural heritage of the country.
Pursuing unique paths and tailoring approaches according to the changing times, inheritors of Dongyang Bamboo Weaving have succeeded in passing on a priceless techniques for future generations to enjoy.
He Kaishu, the eldest grandson of national-level bamboo weaving master He Fuli who has been weaving bamboo for over 60 years, joined with the bamboo weaving workshop owned by the family after returning from his studies in Germany in 2015.
He's brought a breath of fresh air to the bamboo weaving factory, by integrating youthful and fashionable elements into the creation of woven bamboo works, all the while being sure to retain the essence of traditional bamboo weaving.
"Tradition is something we are determined to uphold, and it will remain a significant aspect of what we do, but it doesn't stop us from exploring new things. People of my father's generation, or even the one before, would prefer traditional items, especially redwood furniture. They believed wooden furniture was more comfortable. But for people of my generation, like many of my friends and other young people, it feels too hard. We'd rather buy a cheaper fabric or leather sofa than sit on solid wood furniture. That's just how we feel," said He Kaishu.
Having been learning bamboo weaving since young and now being the mainstay of the bamboo weaving workshop, He Hongliang, elder son of He Fuli, was concerned about the market prospect of He Kaishu.
"He wants to popularize bamboo weaving, but once these products hit the market, others will quickly imitate them. If I sell something for 400 to 500 yuan (56 to 70 U.S. dollars) apiece, they might sell it for 200 to 300 yuan (28 to 42 U.S. dollars), undercutting our prices," said He Hongliang.
Should the bamboo weaving factory continue with high-end custom orders or cater to younger tastes with mass-market products?
Faced with this dilemma, the father and son decided to let the market decide.
On the other hand, the innovative approach of He Kaishu enables more and more people to see this traditional art form with new eyes.
"Sometimes, an idea would pop up in my mind about something I want to make. I made this bag. The most time-consuming part to produce was the frame. I considered using plastic or metal rings to secure it, but I believe that high-quality items should be crafted with precision and attention to detail. When I made my first piece, it took nearly a month. After completing this piece, I felt very happy," said He Kaishu.
Thanks to a combination of painstaking workmanship, unremitting ingenuity, and enthusiasm for constant innovation, woven bamboo artworks from Dongyang are famed worldwide for the intricacy of the techniques deployed in their creation and their distinctive designs.