Old Beijing crafts

Author: Yu Runqi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The traditional crafts of old Beijing have not yet been completely lost, thanks to those who took the initiative to preserve them. The book collects various rare crafts, such as Chen Zhiyun's paper-cutting, Liu Yinzhu's miniature face-puppets, Han Baocai's horse-and-warrior figures, etc. Each is a treasure, carrying beautiful memories of old Beijing and worth cherishing. The book encompasses thirty-four traditional crafts of old Beijing, illustrated with photographs and accompanied by several hundred words of explanation, introducing their origins, development, popularity, and the (ways of playing and the joy they bring). The traditional crafts include: pulling lottery tickets, playing with foreign picture cards, playing with "gu dou dou," kite flying, making "pi qian," rabbit figurines, making face-puppets, horse-and-warrior figures, kneading clay cakes, sugar-coating, "pu pu ding er," playing with monkeys, acrobatic monkeys, hair monkeys, playing with mice, lanterns, setting off firecrackers, spinning tops, high-kicking, playing cuju, spinning top-knots, juggling, ice beds and ice carriages, fighting grasshoppers, raising grasshoppers, raising birds, raising pigeons, selling goldfish, silk flowers and silk figurines, grass weaving, horse-and-warrior figures, clay face-puppets, etc.
The traditional crafts of old Beijing are now scarce, and this traditional culture is fading from the lives of Beijing residents. This book can fill the cultural void left by this gradual loss, awakening the nostalgic affection of old Beijingers for their cherished heritage and satisfying the curiosity of younger generations about these traditional crafts. The book is rich in regional folk culture and includes both Chinese and English translations, making it likely to interest foreign tourists as well.