China News Network Dali, March 3 Topic: The revival of Chinese culture has boosted the rebirth of Phoenix Feather Inkstone in Dali, Yunnan
Written by Chen Jing
"In recent years, with the revival of Chinese culture across the country, more and more customers have contacted me to order phoenix feather inkstones, and the sales volume has increased significantly." Zhang Yuetang, a master of stone carving art in Yunnan and a representative inheritor of the production skills of Dali Intangible Cultural Heritage Phoenix Feather Inkstone, said that he plans to launch a palm-sized portable inkstone platform to let more ordinary people enter the homes of more ordinary people and let more people feel the charm of traditional culture.
The picture shows Zhang Yuetang carving a phoenix feather inkstone with the theme of Bai people's houses. Photo by Liu Ranyang
Fengyu inkstone is produced in Fengyu Town, Eryuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, its stone is delicate, inkstone black, straight, warm like "Shoushan", delicate like "Tian Huang", the use of winter does not frost, summer does not evaporate, no peculiar smell, four seasons water retention and easy to study ink. According to legend, during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, Fengyu Village paid tribute to Fengyu inkstone, which made Fengfeather inkstone famous for it.
Zhang Yuetang's father, Yang Shichang, is the seventh generation inheritor of Feng Yuyan and the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Yunnan Province. Influenced by his father, Zhang Yuetang began to learn inkstone making after graduating from high school in 1996, and in 1999, the two-party large inkstone platform "Erlong Opera Pearl" and "Dragon and Phoenix Chengxiang" completed by his father were collected by the Kunming World Horticultural Expo. In 2013, Zhang Yuetang's self-carved "cabbage inkstone" and "deep mountain hidden hidden stone" won the silver medal of the 2008th and 2014th Arts and Crafts "Gongmei Cup" Fine Arts Selection of Yunnan Province respectively; In <>, he was named the master of folk art in Dali Prefecture, and in <>, he was named the master of stone carving art in Yunnan Province, and more and more customers came to buy phoenix feather inkstone.
The picture shows the finished product of phoenix feather inkstone. Photo by Liu Ranyang
"In the past, inkstone consumers were mainly professional calligraphers and collectors, but now it is different. Since the Spring Festival in 2023, people have come to order inkstones almost every day, they come from all walks of life and love Chinese traditional culture. Zhang Yuetang said that in nearly 30 years of study and research, he has innovated in many aspects. In addition to the traditional inkstone table, he tried to make tea trays from the stone of phoenix feather inkstone, which was loved by consumers. In terms of carving themes, he broke the traditional patterns of dragons, phoenixes, auspicious clouds, etc., and applied Bai houses and geometric patterns to phoenix feather inkstones, "The traditional house patterns combined with our Bai culture are the most popular, and the recently customized inkstones are based on this theme." ”
Under the leadership of Zhang Yuetang, his wife Zhang Chongyu also became the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Eryuan County, and the two have trained more than 30 inkstone carving technicians, 12 of whom have fully mastered the entire process of phoenix feather inkstone production. The Fengyu Yantai Handicraft Factory founded by Zhang Yuetang and his father also opened training courses for the disabled, becoming the "Yunnan Province Employment Demonstration Base for the Disabled".
The picture shows Zhang Yuetang and his wife making phoenix feather inkstone. Photo by Liu Ranyang
"Now more and more people love Chinese studies, and many primary and secondary schools have opened brush classes, which is a good development opportunity for Feng Yuyan." Zhang Yuetang said that he plans to connect Fengfeather Town with the wider world through online live broadcasts and other forms, "If more people accept and love Fengyu inkstone, it can also drive rural neighbors to increase income and become rich and live a better life." ”
Now, Zhang Yuetang's son is also deeply in love with the culture of phoenix feather inkstone, and took the initiative to choose to study Chinese painting and design at Yunnan Art Institute. Zhang Yuetang expects that the next generation can make more innovations in the production of phoenix feather inkstone, and promote the traditional culture to "pass on", "go out" and "live". (End)