Materials
traditional architecture
ICH Materials 262
Photos
(26)-
Traditional craftsmanship of Ger and its rituals
The Ger is a traditional dwelling of the nomadic mongols. Ger is not only housing but is also model of the Universe and a symbol of national identity. Generally, it consists of a wooden framework, a felt cover and ropes. Ger is portable, light, compact and ecological home. It comprises all types of traditional arts.
Mongolia -
Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)
Yurt production includes knowledge and skills in creating a portable dwelling traditionally used by Kazakh and Kyrgyz people. Yurt has a dismountable wooden circular frame covered with felt and braided with ropes. Yurts can be easily set up and dismantled within a short period of time. Yurts are basically characterized as easily transportable, compact, ecological and practical dwellings.\nBearers of yurt-making traditional knowledge are craftspeople (men and women), producing yurts and yurts’ interior decorations.\nMen and their apprentices make yurts’ wooden frames, traditionally by hand using special devices and instruments. Men also make wooden, leather, bone and metal details for yurts and household items. Women make yurt coverings and interior decorations. As a rule, they work in community-based groups supervised by experienced skilled women-artisans. Women-artisans use weaving, spinning, braiding, felting, embroidering, sewing, winding and other traditional handicraft technologies. Women’s work- process is usually accompanied by their singing, joking, telling stories about famous masters of the past and treating traditional meals.
Kazakhstan -
Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kazakh Yurts
The yurt is a nomadic dwelling used among the Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples. It has a wooden circular frame covered with felt and braided with ropes, and can be easily assembled and dismantled within a short period of time. The bearers of yurt-making knowledge are craftspeople, both men and women, who produce yurts and their interior decorations. Yurts are made from natural and renewable raw materials. Men and their apprentices make the wooden frames by hand, along with wooden, leather, bone and metal details. Women make the interior decorations and exterior coverings, ornamented with traditional zoomorphic, vegetative or geometric patterns.
Kazakhstan -
Traditional craftsmanship of Mongol ger
Craftsmanship of the Mongol Ger is a traditional enterprise involving the labour of a household or group, with men carving the wood and both women and men engaged in painting, sewing and stitching, and felt-making. Wooden frames comprise the crown, roof poles, wall lattices, door, two pillars and furniture produced by separate carpenters specialized for each. Traditional craftsmanship of Mongol ger is indeed reflects the nomadic culture, national identity which stands for the name card of Mongols to the world. Traditional craftsmanship is taught to the younger generations, principally through mentoring by a senior craftsperson. Dismantling and reassembling the Ger are always family operations, with children learning by watching their elders. Cutting and preparing sheep’s wool, making felt, stitching canvas and preparing woodwork are usually communal endeavours. As a traditional dwelling, the Mongol Ger plays an important social and cultural role for nomadic families and its makers are highly respected.
Mongolia -
Traditional craftsmanship of Mongol ger
Craftsmanship of the Mongol Ger is a traditional enterprise involving the labour of a household or group, with men carving the wood and both women and men engaged in painting, sewing and stitching, and felt-making. Wooden frames comprise the crown, roof poles, wall lattices, door, two pillars and furniture produced by separate carpenters specialized for each. Traditional craftsmanship of Mongol ger is indeed reflects the nomadic culture, national identity which stands for the name card of Mongols to the world. Traditional craftsmanship is taught to the younger generations, principally through mentoring by a senior craftsperson. Dismantling and reassembling the Ger are always family operations, with children learning by watching their elders. Cutting and preparing sheep’s wool, making felt, stitching canvas and preparing woodwork are usually communal endeavours. As a traditional dwelling, the Mongol Ger plays an important social and cultural role for nomadic families and its makers are highly respected.
Mongolia -
Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)
Yurt production includes knowledge and skills in creating a portable dwelling traditionally used by Kazakh and Kyrgyz people. Yurt has a dismountable wooden circular frame covered with felt and braided with ropes. Yurts can be easily set up and dismantled within a short period of time. Yurts are basically characterized as easily transportable, compact, ecological and practical dwellings.\nBearers of yurt-making traditional knowledge are craftspeople (men and women), producing yurts and yurts’ interior decorations.\nMen and their apprentices make yurts’ wooden frames, traditionally by hand using special devices and instruments. Men also make wooden, leather, bone and metal details for yurts and household items.
Kazakhstan -
Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)
Yurt production includes knowledge and skills in creating a portable dwelling traditionally used by Kazakh and Kyrgyz people. Yurt has a dismountable wooden circular frame covered with felt and braided with ropes. Yurts can be easily set up and dismantled within a short period of time. Yurts are basically characterized as easily transportable, compact, ecological and practical dwellings.\nBearers of yurt-making traditional knowledge are craftspeople (men and women), producing yurts and yurts’ interior decorations.\nMen and their apprentices make yurts’ wooden frames, traditionally by hand using special devices and instruments. Men also make wooden, leather, bone and metal details for yurts and household items.
Kazakhstan -
Nature and The UniverseThe Fijian Traditional Bure_2
The bure is made of natural materials-reeds, hardwood posts, stones, bamboo, sinnet, and ferns. It is said that such was the ingenuity its construction that in hot and humid weather, the interior of a bure remained cool. But as Fiji entered into colonialism, the moorings of traditional knowledge and inheritance began to wane to such an extent that it is so rare to find these wonderful works of architecture around the country.
Fiji -
Nature and The UniverseThe Fijian Traditional Bure_1
The bure is made of natural materials-reeds, hardwood posts, stones, bamboo, sinnet, and ferns. It is said that such was the ingenuity its construction that in hot and humid weather, the interior of a bure remained cool. But as Fiji entered into colonialism, the moorings of traditional knowledge and inheritance began to wane to such an extent that it is so rare to find these wonderful works of architecture around the country.
Fiji -
Nature and The UniverseThe Fijian Traditional Bure_3
The bure is made of natural materials-reeds, hardwood posts, stones, bamboo, sinnet, and ferns. It is said that such was the ingenuity its construction that in hot and humid weather, the interior of a bure remained cool. But as Fiji entered into colonialism, the moorings of traditional knowledge and inheritance began to wane to such an extent that it is so rare to find these wonderful works of architecture around the country.
Fiji -
Youth Meets Paper-cut
It's not just a story of a young man, but a story of mine and a group of friends about paper-cut.\n\nMy first memory about paper-cut in childhood is the paper-cut for window decoration and Fu (lucky) character paper-cut. I was born in an artistic family, where grandma and grandpa are the inheritors of a national intangible cultural heritage. Thus, from childhood I yearned for art and beauty very much. When five years old, I began to follow my grandma, held a pair of scissors and hollowed out a picture on a piece of red paper. In the end, a lovely rabbit stood vividly as revealed on the paper. Even though my action was clumsy and the work was not exquisite, my grandmother was very pleased with my love for traditional art. After years of exercise, I gradually learned to cut cornflower, shoe flower, regiment flower, and other complex patterns of works. Every Chinese New Year, my family sits together, singing operas, writing calligraphy, and creating many festive paper-cuts as New Year gifts to relatives and friends. When my paper-cut is praised and loved by them, it deepens my love for the traditional art of paper-cut and stimulates my enthusiasm in learning it.\n\nWith gradual growth, I realized that paper-cut as intangible cultural heritage was facing the risk of loss. Fortunately, the country and even the whole world have paid more attention to the traditional culture and gave great help to the inheritors. However, as a teenager who loves traditional art, I should do something for saving it. Then I called my friends to learn making paper-cut together. Taking the principle of disseminating and inheriting paper-cut culture into consideration, my grandma set up a paper-cut class which was free of charge and available to everyone. From the scale of only a few people to dozens of people, more and more man who love paper-cut, including young people, kids and their parents, participate in this activity. We created, exercised and participated paper-cut competitions and exhibitions together. Gradually, more people came into contact with paper-cut and passed on this art.\n\nNow I have entered the university and have more free time and ways to learn and disseminate the art of paper-cut. In the summer social practice activities in 2018, I led more than ten students back to my hometown, Binzhou, Shandong Province, to conduct a systematic survey of paper-cut art. After interviewing four paper-cutting inheritors including my grandmother, the students also learned the paper-cut skills from them and created a series of paper-cut which was our school—— Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s architecture. At the same time, we also went into a kindergarten to help the pupils learn paper-cut. When I saw the eagerness for learning paper-cut in their eyes, I seemed to return to the first time I got scissors and felt excited beyond my words and was proud of my contribution to help my grandmother disseminate the art of paper-cut continuously. In order to better protect and promote the works, our practice members also made postcards of the paper-cut for the school, as creative cultural products loved by students and teachers. What’s more, this series of postcards become gifts as a microcosm of the school and even Chinese culture to exchange with universities in China and other countries.\n\nAs young people in the new era, bred in the precious cultural heritage left by the wise ancients, facing the impact of fashion culture and the risk of heritage loss, we should think about the inheritance and innovation of these cultures. My grandma once picked up a lot of fallen leaves when she was walking on the roadside, and carefully figured out their shapes and drew them as paper-cut patterns. In her eyes, there is no absolute consistency among all things in the world. Even the expression of leaf patterns on paper-cut has thousands of ways. People need to observe and think about the world carefully and then try to make these ideas become works of art. The changes between them may be the cultural power given to human beings. \n\nOut of love for ICH, in the previous summer vacation, I participated in a research project on ICH in southwest China organized by the school, whose purpose is to produce some creative products to help local people get rid of poverty. The destination is Guizhou, a gathering place of minority nationalities. I am very gratified to see that Miao children are still learning embroidery and silver ornaments with national characteristics. When interviewing the administrator of thousands of Miao stockade tourist attractions, I asked her how she viewed the inheritance of local non-heritage culture. She said that there are two ways: one is education, which means to let ICH into schools and children have more contact with such culture; the other is commercialization, on the basis of non-legacy culture to create cultural products adapting to the times. In the end, people can’t only get benefits but also better spread ethnic culture. The same is true for paper-cut. While retaining the essence of paper-cut, innovation to adapt to the times is the best inheritance, like Mr. Geng, one of the inheritors of Binzhou paper-cut, who applied the paper-cut elements to blue printed cloth which could make clothes and then sold them everywhere. Commercial operation not only brings him considerable income, but also promotes the culture of paper-cut.\n\nAs an undergraduate student, my strength is still very weak, but I hope that through my continuous learning of art, communication, and other professional knowledge, I can make great efforts to promote and innovate the ICH in my hometown. On this way, I can also meet more like-minded young partners, gathering and struggling together, continuing to carry forward this valuable traditional culture.
China -
Youth Meets Paper-cut
It's not just a story of a young man, but a story of mine and a group of friends about paper-cut.\n\nMy first memory about paper-cut in childhood is the paper-cut for window decoration and Fu (lucky) character paper-cut. I was born in an artistic family, where grandma and grandpa are the inheritors of a national intangible cultural heritage. Thus, from childhood I yearned for art and beauty very much. When five years old, I began to follow my grandma, held a pair of scissors and hollowed out a picture on a piece of red paper. In the end, a lovely rabbit stood vividly as revealed on the paper. Even though my action was clumsy and the work was not exquisite, my grandmother was very pleased with my love for traditional art. After years of exercise, I gradually learned to cut cornflower, shoe flower, regiment flower, and other complex patterns of works. Every Chinese New Year, my family sits together, singing operas, writing calligraphy, and creating many festive paper-cuts as New Year gifts to relatives and friends. When my paper-cut is praised and loved by them, it deepens my love for the traditional art of paper-cut and stimulates my enthusiasm in learning it.\n\nWith gradual growth, I realized that paper-cut as intangible cultural heritage was facing the risk of loss. Fortunately, the country and even the whole world have paid more attention to the traditional culture and gave great help to the inheritors. However, as a teenager who loves traditional art, I should do something for saving it. Then I called my friends to learn making paper-cut together. Taking the principle of disseminating and inheriting paper-cut culture into consideration, my grandma set up a paper-cut class which was free of charge and available to everyone. From the scale of only a few people to dozens of people, more and more man who love paper-cut, including young people, kids and their parents, participate in this activity. We created, exercised and participated paper-cut competitions and exhibitions together. Gradually, more people came into contact with paper-cut and passed on this art.\n\nNow I have entered the university and have more free time and ways to learn and disseminate the art of paper-cut. In the summer social practice activities in 2018, I led more than ten students back to my hometown, Binzhou, Shandong Province, to conduct a systematic survey of paper-cut art. After interviewing four paper-cutting inheritors including my grandmother, the students also learned the paper-cut skills from them and created a series of paper-cut which was our school—— Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s architecture. At the same time, we also went into a kindergarten to help the pupils learn paper-cut. When I saw the eagerness for learning paper-cut in their eyes, I seemed to return to the first time I got scissors and felt excited beyond my words and was proud of my contribution to help my grandmother disseminate the art of paper-cut continuously. In order to better protect and promote the works, our practice members also made postcards of the paper-cut for the school, as creative cultural products loved by students and teachers. What’s more, this series of postcards become gifts as a microcosm of the school and even Chinese culture to exchange with universities in China and other countries.\n\nAs young people in the new era, bred in the precious cultural heritage left by the wise ancients, facing the impact of fashion culture and the risk of heritage loss, we should think about the inheritance and innovation of these cultures. My grandma once picked up a lot of fallen leaves when she was walking on the roadside, and carefully figured out their shapes and drew them as paper-cut patterns. In her eyes, there is no absolute consistency among all things in the world. Even the expression of leaf patterns on paper-cut has thousands of ways. People need to observe and think about the world carefully and then try to make these ideas become works of art. The changes between them may be the cultural power given to human beings. \n\nOut of love for ICH, in the previous summer vacation, I participated in a research project on ICH in southwest China organized by the school, whose purpose is to produce some creative products to help local people get rid of poverty. The destination is Guizhou, a gathering place of minority nationalities. I am very gratified to see that Miao children are still learning embroidery and silver ornaments with national characteristics. When interviewing the administrator of thousands of Miao stockade tourist attractions, I asked her how she viewed the inheritance of local non-heritage culture. She said that there are two ways: one is education, which means to let ICH into schools and children have more contact with such culture; the other is commercialization, on the basis of non-legacy culture to create cultural products adapting to the times. In the end, people can’t only get benefits but also better spread ethnic culture. The same is true for paper-cut. While retaining the essence of paper-cut, innovation to adapt to the times is the best inheritance, like Mr. Geng, one of the inheritors of Binzhou paper-cut, who applied the paper-cut elements to blue printed cloth which could make clothes and then sold them everywhere. Commercial operation not only brings him considerable income, but also promotes the culture of paper-cut.\n\nAs an undergraduate student, my strength is still very weak, but I hope that through my continuous learning of art, communication, and other professional knowledge, I can make great efforts to promote and innovate the ICH in my hometown. On this way, I can also meet more like-minded young partners, gathering and struggling together, continuing to carry forward this valuable traditional culture.
China