Journey at Your Fingertips - A Travel to Explore the Handicrafts of China's Ethnic Minorities

Author: He Yihong / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This book originated from a deep journey I took two years ago in southern Xinjiang. It was an ordinary alley in the Hotan region, with a small bread-making stall at the entrance. Long ago, almost every household here made paper, but now only the Aipingzi family in the depths of the alley still handcrafts mulberry bark paper. As I watched those weathered hands holding a small knife to polish the rough bark of the mulberry tree, I felt I saw the exquisite wisdom of coexisting with nature. Handicraft is not a symbol of primitiveness and roughness; it represents a life of dignity. After that, I explored more handicrafts, and this theme added a touch of cultural reflection to every subsequent journey I took. Travel is increasingly becoming a channel for people to connect their inner world with the external world, linking the corners of the vast earth and integrating isolated humans and nature. Backpackers roam the earth with simplicity, depth, and independence. They focus more on details and value exchanges with the locals, experiencing their lives more than sightseeing tourists. Handicraft is a carrier of memories, deeply influenced by region and environment. In this book, the handicrafts we focus on in ethnic minority areas are mostly found in remote rural areas, on the edges of rivers and deserts, or deep in grasslands and mountains—places that are also destinations for those who endure hardship and long journeys. Meanwhile, exploring handicrafts has become the main content of travel, creating opportunities for human communication and exchange, deep empathy for indigenous cultures, and further understanding and reflection on culture. This is the concept of "deep-themetravel" I want to convey beyond this book. Japanese folk artist Hayano Yumehiro said, "When handcraft disappears, we realize that the items made through the harmony and communication between people are so perfectly suited to our bodies. This warmth makes the users feel warm."—Yes, these handicrafts, however simple or rough, can be considered works of art. Because each piece carries the warmth of the human body, is full of life, and has a natural soul. We are surrounded by too many cold industrial products, and as they cool, so does our inner self. We are not only losing and discarding many long-standing and profound handicraft traditions but are also gradually moving away from the "philosophy of handicraft," which we are unaware of. Some of us also cherish not just the craft itself but the mindset behind it. In the hustle and bustle, we have no time to look up at the tranquil starry sky, let alone think about the disappearing craft. "A Journey on the Fingertips" will be a warm journey, bringing your heart back to the warm corner of your origins. This book is a continuation of the "A Journey on the Fingertips" feature published in Issue 9 of September 2005. We have added the personal experiences and insights of many travelers who are sensitive to "craft" and continue to explore it, covering more than forty ethnic minority handicrafts. After closing the pages of this book, we hope that what we pursue and seek will also become your reason for packing your bags for your next journey.