Manufacturing

Basic Introduction to Hui InkHui Ink is a precious gem in traditional Chinese ink-making skills and one of the renowned "Four Treasures of the Study." The production of Hui Ink can be traced back to the late Tang Dynasty, reaching its zenith through the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The techniques for making Hui Ink are complex, such as unique methods for refining tung oil, sesame oil, and raw lacquer, as well as specific procedures for producing smoke, cooling, collecting, and storing. There are also secrets involved in building pine smoke kilns, managing fires, adding pine branches, collecting smoke, selecting glue, boiling glue, mixing ingredients, and more. As of the end of 2016, Huangshan City had nearly 16,000 people engaged in the Hui Ink industry, including 107 provincial-level and above intangible cultural heritage bearers and 13 heritage learning bases. There were nearly 20 Hui Ink manufacturing enterprises and workshops, with 18 patented products based on traditional intellectual property rights. They produced 278 million tons of Hui Ink annually, ranking first in the country, and exported it to over ten countries and regions, including Japan and South Korea.Huangshan City and Xuancheng City are located in the northern subtropical zone and…

Basic Introduction to Ningling White Wax Rod The Ningling White Wax Rod is entirely white like jade, firm but not hard, flexible and unbreakable, capable of bending to 180 degrees without splitting. It has strong flexibility, a dense fiber density, and considerable natural tensile strength. It does not split in dry places or deform in humid ones. Its elasticity and toughness are unparalleled by other woods, making it an ideal natural raw material for processing martial arts equipment and various tools. It is highly favored by martial arts enthusiasts both domestically and internationally. Manufacturing Method (1) Seed Sowing and Seedling Cultivation Spring sowing should be done early, typically from late February to early March. Trench row sowing is used, with a seed requirement of 3-4 kg per 667 square meters, at a depth of 4 cm. The depth should be uniform, and the process involves simultaneous trench opening, sowing, and covering of the soil, with a cover thickness of 2-3 cm. To ensure good soil-seed contact, the soil is pressed down after covering. (2) Cuttings Propagation This is carried out from late March to early April. Carefully prepare the land and apply sufficient base fertilizer to ensure loose soil and…

Basic Introduction to Xingjing Sand Pottery Xingjing Sand Pottery is a Han Chinese pottery craft from Gucheng Village, Liuhe Town, Xingjing County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. Xingjing is the main production area for sand pottery, and the making process includes several procedures: material collection, crushing, mixing, molding, drying, firing, glazing, removal from the kiln, and storage. Product Features Xingjing Sand Pottery has evolved from primarily being a household utensil known as the Xingjing Sand Pot to becoming a carrier of craft products with rich cultural connotations. Its artistic value now far exceeds its original utilitarian value as a household item. The products have become increasingly crafted and artistic, and due to their unique rustic charm, they have deservedly become a splendid rarity in the garden of folk crafts. Historical Folklore According to the Xingjing County Annals: Gucheng Village in Liuhe Town, Xingjing County, is rich in clay, and sand pottery production here has a long history. Archaeologists, in 1982, confirmed through excavated Qin and Han dynasty artifacts that sand pottery production dates back over 2,000 years. During the Qing Dynasty, in the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods, there were Wang family members who made sand pottery, and Dai Kunshan and Zeng…

Basic Introduction to Italian Glass ArtifactsAs early as the 15th century, with the invention of glass-blowing techniques and the development of processes such as manufacturing milk glass, Italy's glass industry was already thriving. The glass products made here are characterized by exquisite shapes and finely detailed craftsmanship, which makes them highly favored by consumers. Copper oxide added to the glass produces green; cobalt, blue; and gold, red glass – a specialty of Italy. Common glass-forming methods include blowing, pressing, drawing, casting, and rolling. Product CharacteristicsArt glass is an item that uses colored art glass as its medium and combines various fine arts techniques to recreate reality, emotion, and ideals, bringing together imagination to achieve the mutual objectification of the aesthetic subject and the aesthetic object. To be more specific, colored art glass is a reflection of people's spiritual world in their daily lives and is also the organic product of artists' perceptions, emotions, ideals, and intentions. Historical FolkloreThe history of Venetian glass in Italy can be traced back to after the fall of the Western Roman Empire when glassmaking techniques from the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East were brought to Venice by refugees. By 982 AD, the glass industry…

Basic Introduction to Lianghe HulusiHulusi is a free reed aerophone. The Dai, De'ang, and Achang ethnic groups residing in Lianghe have had a profound cultural heritage for over a century, particularly the distinctively featured Hulusi (also known as Hulushao, called "Biliangdao" in Dai language), which has a long history in the predominantly Dai ethnic towns of Mangdong and Mengyang. Its origins can be traced back to ancient legends. Historically, the Hulusi art adopted advanced Han Chinese production tools and techniques relatively late, with slower development in productivity, entering the landlord economy stage later. On this foundation, the policies of "Reform through Replacement" were gradually implemented during the Ming and Qing dynasties, thereby integrating the social economy of the Dai people with seven other indigenous ethnic groups: Han, Achang, Wa, De'ang, Jingpo, Lisu. Product FeaturesHulusi is a free reed aerophone that retains the characteristics of ancient instruments, played using natural breathing or circular breathing techniques. With circular breathing, it can continuously produce tones in a fifth interval, with a beautiful and vivid sound. Hulusi consists of an intact miniature gourd, three purple bamboo tubes, and a metal reed. A 30-40 cm long bamboo tube serves as the main pipe, with seven…

Basic Introduction to Nine-Level Mountain TeaNine-Level Mountain Tea is a specialty product of Liuzhi Special District, Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province. It grows at an altitude of 1,200 to 1,400 meters on Nine-Level Mountain, located in Langdai Town, Liuzhi Special District, which is known for its rich selenium content. The natural advantages in the production area are prominent, with high forest coverage and climatic characteristics such as altitude, temperature, and rainfall that are particularly suitable for tea cultivation. Nine-Level Mountain Tea is flat and emerald green, with a bright light-green broth, fresh and refreshing taste, and a lasting delicate aroma. The tea plantation is situated at an altitude of 1,600 meters, covering more than 5,000 acres, adjacent to the Nine-Level Mountain National Forest Park. The climate throughout the year is mild, with abundant rainfall and low radiation levels. Below the tea plantation flows the Zangke River, and under the influence of this river valley climate, Nine-Level Mountain is often shrouded in mist. The soil is rich in trace elements such as selenium that are essential for human health. The unique geographical climate and soil conditions have given rise to the selenium-rich "Nine-Level Mountain" tea.LiuZhi Special District is located in western Guizhou…

Yellow Tea VarietiesYellow tea shares similarities with green tea in its production, differing only in the additional process of "wet piling." This wet piling process is the main characteristic of yellow tea's manufacturing method and its fundamental distinction from green tea. Green tea is unfermented, whereas yellow tea belongs to the category of lightly fermented teas. Yellow teas are classified into three categories based on the tenderness and size of the fresh leaves: yellow bud tea, small-leaf yellow tea, and large-leaf yellow tea. Each category has specific requirements for the new shoots and leaves. The distinctions are as follows: 【Yellow Bud Tea】 Made from very tender leaves, usually single buds or one bud with one leaf. Notable examples include "Junshan Silver Needle" from Junshan Island in Dongting Lake, Hunan Province; "Mengding Yellow Bud" from Mingshan County, Ya'an, Sichuan Province; and "Heshan Yellow Bud" from Huoshan, Anhui Province. 【Small-Leaf Yellow Tea】 Made from fine and tender young leaves. Examples include "Beigang Maojian" from Yueyang, Hunan Province; "Weishan White-tipped Yellow Tea" from Ningxiang, Hunan Province; "Yuanan Deer Yard Yellow Tea" from Yuanan, Hubei Province; and "Pingyang Yellow Infusion" from Pingyang, Zhejiang Province. 【Large-Leaf Yellow Tea】 Made from more mature leaves, such as…

Basic Introduction to Nanchong Silk Nanchong silk is one of the traditional Han Chinese silk crafts, named after its production in Nanchong City, Sichuan Province. Nanchong is located in the northeast of the Sichuan Basin and the middle reaches of the Jialing River. Its terrain is mainly hilly, with a temperate climate and abundant rainfall, making it suitable for mulberry cultivation and sericulture. It has a history of silkworm breeding and mulberry planting that spans over 3,000 years and is renowned as "a place of outstanding people and a famous silk city during the Qin and Han dynasties." In April 2005, it was awarded the title of "China's Silk Capital" by the China National Silk Association. On March 13, 2012, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine approved geographical indication product protection for Nanchong silk. Product Characteristics (1) Colored Silk: Few slubs, good consistency in luster; the surface of the fabric is clean with minimal scattering, the color is even, the hand is soft, and elasticity is good. Plain weave fabrics do not wrinkle easily. ① Twilled: Plain weave, warp and weft are un-twisted or weakly twisted, using raw silk or half-colored weaving techniques. The weave is tight,…

Ice Island Nannuo ancient tree tea is a special type of tea, hailed as a "precious rarity in the tea world." It is harvested and processed from ancient tea trees in the Nannuo region of Ice Island, hence its name. This article will detail the origin, characteristics, manufacturing process, and brewing method of this tea: Origin: The Nannuo region of Ice Island is located in Yunnan Province, China, and is known as the "jewel of the tea world." Its unique climate and soil conditions have nurtured abundant tea tree resources, with a particular fame for ancient tree teas. Here, the average age of tea trees is over 300 years, with very few reaching an age of over 500 years. Characteristics: With an average age of over 300 years, these tea trees grow in a stable and superior environment, resulting in thick and full leaves with high water content in the buds. The tea processed from these carefully picked leaves has a distinctive flavor and mouthfeel. Manufacturing Process: Harvesting, withering, fixation, rolling, and drying. Brewing Method: Prepare clean tea utensils, such as a lidded bowl or a fairness cup. Place an appropriate amount of tea into the vessel and rinse it…

A model presents a creation at the VERA WANG VIP show during the Puyuan fashion week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 24, 2024. Puyuan is a major knitwear center in China with strong manufacturing capability. The fashion week is held here on Wednesday, hoping to put local knitwear on the global fashion podium. ( tasteallchina /Xu Yu) Models present creations at THE ATELIER show during the Puyuan fashion week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 24, 2024. Puyuan is a major knitwear center in China with strong manufacturing capability. The fashion week is held here on Wednesday, hoping to put local knitwear on the global fashion podium. ( tasteallchina /Xu Yu) A model presents a creation at the VERA WANG VIP show during the Puyuan fashion week at the Puyuan Fashion Resort in Puyuan Town of Tongxiang City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 24, 2024. Puyuan is a major knitwear center in China with strong manufacturing capability. The fashion week is held here on Wednesday, hoping to put local knitwear on the global fashion podium. ( tasteallchina /Xu Yu)…

Actors perform during the dance drama "The Exploitation of Nature's Works" ("Tian Gong Kai Wu") in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 1, 2024. (Jiangxi Cultural Performance Group/Handout via tasteallchina ) NANCHANG, July 14 ( tasteallchina ) -- Sounds of labor, such as farming, sericulture, smelting and pulling bellows, blended with the rhythm as dancers joyously depicted the contentment and comfort that ancient people derived from these activities. The dance drama adaptation of the Chinese science classic "The Exploitation of Nature's Works" ("Tian Gong Kai Wu"), commenced its nationwide tour Friday in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, bringing to life a nearly 400-year-old masterpiece. The book, compiled by Song Yingxing, a scientist in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was first published in 1637 during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen. It offers a summary of ancient China's manufacturing and farming techniques, earning recognition as an encyclopedia of science and technology from that time. Known as the world's first comprehensive treatise on agriculture and handicraft production, the pioneering work has since been translated into multiple languages including English, Japanese, French, German and Russian. The eponymous drama, co-produced by Jiangxi Cultural Performance Group and Beijing Dance Academy, is helmed by Chinese filmmaker Lu…

Ceramics symbolizes the beginning of the Neolithic Age. The Chinese pottery of the Neolithic Age, the firing of ceramic objects was the other great success of mankind after the discovery of fire. With the help of fire, clay objects and figures could be fired, a process that led to the production of porcelain, which, with different methods, gradually became the domain of almost all the peoples of the world. Since human beings began sedentary life and started to cultivate crops and raise livestock, they began to need ceramic utensils for cooking and serving food, as well as porcelain items for the storage of various contents. Chinese ceramics have about 8,000 years of history. Each period of antiquity left its own legacy of manufacturing techniques, thanks to which many excellent works were created. Chinese ceramics and porcelain are a symbol of a materialized culture, which combines arts with science and technology, while linking material and spiritual civilization. The history of Chinese porcelain developed gradually, starting from the gray period, through black and white, to the stage of filigree and colorful, then moving from simple to complex patterns, from rough to refined texture, from prosaic to exquisite. Terracotta Warriors One of the…