National Day Event Preview② | Celebrate with the Nation, Share Moments of Warmth and Harmony

October 2: Oil-paper carvings, together we paint this place.

The oiled-paper umbrella is a traditional Han Chinese artifact with a history spanning more than a thousand years. It is the world’s earliest form of umbrella, crafted entirely by hand from natural materials, and stands as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Chinese artisans. Its frame is fashioned from hand‑carved bamboo strips, while its canopy is made of cotton paper coated with natural tung oil for waterproofing. Beyond its practical functions of shielding from sun and rain, it also carries cultural symbolism, often featured in wedding ceremonies and other festive occasions. Today, it is primarily sold as an art piece or souvenir. China boasts a long tradition of umbrella-making; legend has it that the very first umbrella was invented at the end of the Spring and Autumn period by Yun, the wife of Lu Ban. She split bamboo into thin strips, stretched animal hide over them, creating a structure resembling a pavilion—compact when folded like a staff, yet expansive when opened like a canopy. With the advent of paper, people began coating umbrella fabric with tung oil to make it water‑proof, giving rise to the oiled‑paper umbrella. Literati and refined scholars would even inscribe poems or paint on the canopy before applying the oil, using the medium to express their sentiments. During the Tang dynasty, the oiled‑paper umbrella spread to Japan and Korea; in early Japan, it was known as the “Tang umbrella.” On the morning of October 2nd, you are invited to visit the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou to experience a hands‑on workshop on painting this intangible cultural heritage item, marvel at the wisdom of our ancestors, and savor the charm of this time‑honored craft.

October 3 — Butterfly-ink autumn, fanning forth this banquet.

NATIONAL DAY

Song brocade is a traditional Chinese silk textile, one of China’s four renowned brocades. Originating in the Song Dynasty, it derives its name from its sumptuous patterns, delicate texture, and refined hues. Once an exclusive luxury fabric reserved for the imperial court, it embodies the pinnacle of Song‑era aesthetic culture. Its weaving techniques are intricate and exquisite, with motifs that are both elegant and harmonious, and color schemes that are warm, lustrous, and regal. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, it has been employed across the ages in refined objects such as garments, folding fans, and bookbindings. During this event, you can enjoy a hands‑on DIY experience creating a Song brocade pearl fan, blending the timeless elegance of Song brocade with the classic charm of a folding fan and the delicate allure of pearls. Craft your very own custom antique‑style round fan, immersing yourself in the exquisite beauty of this Song‑dynasty textile heritage and savoring the graceful, classical charm of Chinese artistry.

October 4: Tengyu rises in Lang, golden silk embroidery threads.

Mid-Autumn Festival Meets National Day

A Song of Joy in a Prosperous Age

Cloisonné enamel, also known as Jingtailan, originated in the Yuan dynasty and flourished during the Ming dynasty. It is a unique, time-honored imperial intangible cultural heritage of China, seamlessly blending metallurgy, carving, painting, and inlay techniques. With its intricate craftsmanship and enduring, vibrant colors, it stands as a quintessential symbol of traditional Chinese artistry. While traditional cloisonné involves painstakingly hand‑crafted filigree, this modern adaptation eliminates the need for wire‑inlay, preserving the enamel’s translucent brilliance and warm, lustrous texture while streamlining the production process and retaining the authentic charm of this intangible cultural treasure. During the event, you can create your own vintage‑inspired enamel bookmark, fusing age‑old craftsmanship with the elegance of literary stationery, capturing the timeless beauty of cloisonné and taking home a one‑of‑a‑kind handmade piece that combines practicality with collectible appeal.

October 5: Kiln-building in its prime, a fleeting moment of blossoming beauty.

NATIONAL DAY

The art of ceramic firing is a time-honored intangible cultural heritage of China, passed down through millennia. As the cradle of ceramic culture, Jiangxi boasts a rich tradition and profound artistic depth, with its pottery techniques stretching back thousands of years. From ancient primitive earthenware to the exquisite celadons of the Tang and Song dynasties, and on to the brilliantly painted ceramics of the Ming and Qing periods, the kilns have burned continuously for millennia, their craftsmanship handed down from generation to generation. Ceramic painting and decorative arts, in particular, stand as quintessential expressions of traditional Chinese aesthetics. This event fuses the tactile textures of ceramics with the spontaneity of hand-painted art, using vase-shaped picture frames as canvases. Through personalized hand‑drawn creations, participants will craft one‑of‑a‑kind ceramic‑inspired decorative artworks. At the venue, you can create your own ceramic vase‑frame piece, feel the warmth of age‑old kiln techniques, let your imagination run free, and experience the harmonious beauty of traditional ceramic aesthetics intertwined with contemporary handmade artistry.

October 6: Orchids and chrysanthemums on brocade, plum blossoms woven into bamboo.

NATIONAL DAY

Song brocade is renowned for its “exquisite patterns, soft and lustrous texture, and enduring durability,” representing the pinnacle of Song‑dynasty craftsmanship. It encapsulates the Song people’s refined, minimalist, and gently elegant aesthetic, often employed to craft a variety of antique‑style accessories. A petite, portable antique mirror was a common everyday adornment in ancient times, blending practicality with grace—a small yet poignant embodiment of Chinese lifestyle aesthetics. This event fuses the intangible cultural heritage of Song brocade with the timeless charm of an antique‑style pocket mirror, offering a simple, easy‑to‑follow process while exuding an old‑world elegance. At the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou, you can personally create your own custom Song‑brocade mini‑mirror, encountering the rich heritage of this woven art form and crafting a portable, exquisite accessory that reflects the delicate beauty of traditional Chinese living.

October 7: Adorned with fragrant essence, the body is refreshed and the heart is purified.

Chinese herbal sachets, as decorative accessories, draw upon the millennia‑old traditional folk culture of Chinese medicine. Since ancient times, China has cherished the custom of “wearing fragrant pouches to ward off impure air and nurture body and mind,” a practice that flourished especially during the Tang and Song dynasties—refined, time‑honored traditions through which our ancestors attuned themselves to the seasons and cultivated both body and spirit. Each natural herb carries its own delicate, earthy aroma, gently soothing and rich with enduring meaning, while embodying the auspicious symbolism of age‑old folk rituals to bring peace, prosperity, joy, and good health. This hands‑on workshop uses authentic Chinese medicinal herbs and vintage‑style charms to craft creative phone straps, blending the heritage of traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese blessing customs with contemporary jewelry design. At the Tang Xianzu Memorial Hall in Fuzhou, you can personally select herbs, weave delicate ornaments, and create your very own herbal phone strap, experiencing at your fingertips the unique charm of this intangible cultural heritage.