[Explanation] In Changdi Historical Street, Pengjiang District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province, an antique studio is covered with palace-style hexagonal palace lanterns, and various glass paintings are inlaid on the mahogany carved skeleton, implying longevity and prolonging life. Good luck and so on.
The scenery of hometowns of overseas Chinese in Jiangmen Xuding Old Street, Kaiping Diaolou and other places are also included in the painting. This is the innovative exploration of Li Yangdong, the inheritor of Jiangmen Dongyi palace lantern making skills.
In the circle of overseas Chinese, Dongyi Palace Lantern has become a must-have item for Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and other festivals. It not only has the meaning of praying and making wishes, but also entrusts the longing for hometown and relatives.
[Concurrent] American Chinese Li Yangdong
Put the home elements of many local overseas Chinese cultures into the palace lanterns, so that the overseas Chinese can remember the things in our hometown when they see the familiar (house), and can also tell the next generation about the house in our hometown and how the village in our hometown is. In this way, let them have that concept, so they all like it, because they can tell a lot of stories to them when they get the palace lantern.
[Explanation] Li Yangdong is a Chinese-American. More than ten years ago, he painted sketches and rainbow paintings for tourists in Times Square, New York, USA.
In 2005, Li Fa, a senior of Li Yangdong's family, approached him and told him that the production of Dongyi Palace Lantern was about to be discontinued, and asked him if he was interested in continuing to do so.
In 2007, Li Yangdong returned to his hometown Jiangmen and took over the "baton" of palace lantern cultural inheritance from his predecessors.
[Concurrent] American Chinese Li Yangdong
From a historical point of view, the palace lanterns in our south have a history of more than 700 years. If we continue to do this and develop, I decided that we must do a good job of it, so that all overseas Chinese who remember our Chinese festivals must have palace lanterns and ours. The festive spirit continues.
[Explanation] The production process of Dongyi Palace Lantern is complicated. Generally, a thin wooden skeleton is used to make octagonal, hexagonal or square shapes, and then silk and glass are inlaid between the skeletons, and various patterns are drawn. It is a lamp and arts and crafts. the perfect combination.
[Concurrent] American Chinese Li Yangdong
When you see the dragon head, it must be vigorous, highlighting a kind of culture and wisdom that represents our China, and it is displayed on the dragon head. Also, because the palace lantern must be light, it must be hung up, so the materials should be opened as much as possible. If it is small and not thick, it will be even more difficult.
[Explanation] Over the years, Li Yangdong has continuously improved the craftsmanship, cultivated newcomers, and incorporated many elements of the hometown of overseas Chinese into the palace lanterns.
Under the promotion of Li Yangdong, in February 2012, Jiangmen Dongyi Palace Lantern making skills were selected into the fourth batch of intangible cultural heritage list of Guangdong Province.
[Concurrent] American Chinese Li Yangdong
Because the palace lantern is not only a handicraft, a spiritual sustenance, but also a lot of cultural elements that represent our Chinese tradition. Our overseas children go to Chinese schools or go to our club to learn Chinese. We use the palace lantern There are blessings in it, communicate and understand with them, sometimes if they don’t understand enough, they will also write the local language next to it, such as English and Thai, so they will understand what we (Chinese) mean, and they will (Learning) very happy.
[Explanation] At present, the factory opened by Li Yangdong can produce more than 30,000 palace lanterns every year, and more than 70% of them are exported to Europe, America, Southeast Asia and other regions.
In order to open up the youth market, Li Yangdong is developing a series of palace lantern cultural and creative products, and has produced palace lantern calendars, cards, bookmarks, etc.
[Concurrent] American Chinese Li Yangdong
Recently, we are also trying to find a way to combine it with our palace lanterns like a local filming place. We are doing it now. Let you come to travel and watch our filming spots, and you can also buy things like them. I hope that this will not only promote our tourism in Jiangmen, but also bring our products to more places.
Reporter Wei Jiefu Sun Qiuxia Chen Jimin reports from Jiangmen, Guangdong
Responsible editor: [Tian Boqun]