(Xiaokang China) Thousand-year "Ancient Paper" is not what it used to be

　　China News Service, Zunyi, Guizhou, May 17th, title: Thousand-year "old paper" is not what it used to be

　　Author Zhou Yanling Pu Wensi

　　Since May, Guizhou Province has gradually entered the peak tourist season. In a wooden house full of paper wrappers in Huamao Village, Zunyi, Zhang Shengdi pointed his finger at a painting on the wall to introduce to tourists: “This is made with a thousand-year-old method. An embossed painting created by adding flowers and leaves..."

　　Walking out of the small courtyard, the tourists followed Zhang Shengdi to another wooden house. Inside, a 40-year-old master was making paper, and saw that the paper master lifted the bamboo curtain and swayed it twice in the sink. The sheet was as thin as a cicada's wing. The paper made of white snow was picked up.

The picture shows the paper painting created by Zhang Shengdi and his team.

Photo by Zhou Yanling

　　Then Zhang Shengdi picked up a bowl of pulp and went to the front yard. He plucked a blooming rose flower from the corner of the wall. He sat on a wooden bench and scooped the pulp into a wooden frame, carefully putting petals and fresh leaves on the pulp for painting. , And after squeezing the water with a slate, in a short while, a three-dimensional paper embossed painting is completed.

　　After watching Zhang Shengdi's performance, the tourists were surprised and prepared to experience the paper embossing painting by themselves.

"Paper made with a thousand-year-old ancient method can not only be used for painting, but also for table lamps, oiled paper umbrellas and other products." Zhang Shengdi continued to introduce tourists.

The picture shows the fan, table lamp and other cultural and creative products created by paper paper, photo by Zhou Yanling

　　More than a thousand years ago, the ancient Chinese used papermaking with high-fiber plants such as berry tree to form a complete set of hand-made paper-making skills. The Huamao Village where Zhang Shengdi is located has been following this ancient paper-making skills.

Due to the complexity of this papermaking process, which requires 72 processes and 49 days, this technique is on the verge of being lost in the local area.

　　In 2015, when Zhang Shengdi, who had worked abroad for many years, saw Huamao Village tapping the "nostalgic elements" to develop tourism, he returned to his hometown to create the "Hua Mao Renjia" hand-made paper mill, and "married" the ancient papermaking skills of millennia with rural tourism, and let the millennia The ancient paper "survived".

The picture shows the paper pulp embossed painting created by Zhang Shengdi. Photo by Zhou Yanling

　　In the exhibition hall of "Hua Maorenjia", the reporter saw a variety of embossed paper paintings hung on the walls. Each painting has its own characteristics but does not lose its mood and charm. There is also a hand-held structure by Sri Lankan tourists on the wall. Umbrella photos are made of leather paper, and notebooks, fans, bookmarks and other products made of leather paper are placed on the bookshelf.

　　"In the past, paper was mainly used for writing, packaging, etc., but now it is made into cultural and creative products that are loved by tourists." Zhang Shengdi said that a handmade paper embossed painting "Hua Mao Shanshui" has been awarded by NBA star Danilo Garry. Nali Huicun.

The picture shows tourists visiting Huamao Village, photo by Zhou Yanling

　　Returning youths, returning college students, local farmers, calligraphers and painters, etc., are members of Zhang Shengdi's current team. They are doing research and development and creation every day, trying to make a blank sheet of paper come to life, inherit and revitalize intangible heritage skills.

　　In Zhang Shengdi's view, the thousand-year-old "ancient paper" is no longer what it used to be, and it is "lighting up" the revitalization of the countryside and making a splash.

The picture shows an umbrella made of paper wrapper, photo by Zhou Yanling

　　Statistics show that Huamao Village attracts millions of tourists every year, and "Huamao Family" is a popular "check-in place" for tourists after entering the village.

A Macau tourist who bought paper gouache bookmarks said that in Huamao Village, you can not only see ancient skills with historical imprints, but also feel a deep "homesickness".

The picture shows tourists visiting Huamao's home, photo by Zhou Yanling

　　Walking into Huamao Village, you can see that the houses with blue tiles and white walls are scattered. Walking along the stone path, you can see old wooden houses, earthen courtyard walls and vegetable gardens everywhere... When the tourists gradually dispersed, Zhang Shengdi and the team used thin lines to Materials such as bark and hemp rope continued to produce a paper embossed painting in preparation for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

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