Shaanxi Elements Favored by All Countries

Live show and interaction

Shaanxi features preferred by both Chinese and foreign delegates

On July 5th, the global presentation of Shaanxi themed “An Open China: Shaanxi Engaging the World” was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People’s Republic of China in Beijing. 219 diplomatists from 134 countries and representatives of international organizations attended the event. Shaanxi demonstrated its unique features of world-class monuments, history and humanity as well as scientific and technological development by means of live shows and interactions.

At exhibition of nonphysical culture heritages, diplomatic envoys are so fond of Shaanxi opera, Fengxiang clay sculpture, Fufeng ladle-shaped facial masks, Ansai paper cut, Tongchuan Yaozhou porcelain and rubbing of inscriptions on stone tablets that they even put on headwear when photographed.

At exhibition of nonphysical culture heritages, diplomatic envoys are fond of Shaanxi opera, Fengxiang clay sculpture, Fufeng ladle-shaped facial masks, Ansai paper cut, Tongchuan Yaozhou porcelain and rubbing of inscriptions on stone tablets.

On the morning of July 5th in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a global presentation themed “An Open China: Shaanxi Engaging the World” was in progress. Hui Minli, a provincial-level nonphysical culture heritage successor of Shaanxi Opera from Xi’an Yisushe (Shaanxi Opera theater), said, “What is Shaanxi is also international. Shaanxi’s nonphysical cultural heritages are historic and profound and should be available to the world.”

At the exhibition area of Shaanxi’s nonphysical cultural heritages during presentation, the reporter noted that diplomatic envoys were attracted by Shaanxi opera, Fengxiang clay sculpture, Fufeng ladle-shaped facial masks, Ansai paper cut, Tongchuan Yaozhou porcelain and rubbing of inscriptions on stone tablets, some of whom put on headwear while photographing with performers or inquiring about the production process or even drawing lines on the ladle-shape masks. Faced with foreigners’ enthusiasm, the nonphysical cultural heritage successors explained in details and demonstrated with much patience so that foreign envoys could be deeply impressed by Chinese traditional culture.

Hui Minli, successor of nonphysical cultural heritage - Shaanxi Opera

Hui Minlin, 45 years old, a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Shaanxi Opera from Xi’an Yisushe, had performed Shaanxi Opera for 34 years, playing the part of a female character versed in shadowboxing or swordplay; with beautiful appearance and bright garment, she became an actress most asked to be photographed at the site.

Hui Minlin told Shaanxi News journalist that she brought the headwear and musical instrument for performance at the site. A pair of peacock feathers on the headwear measuring 80 cm in length gained popularity among foreign ambassadors, many of whom wanted to put on the headwear.

According to Hui Minli, she has to make herself up two hours prior to performance. After three hours’ performance, she has to remove the makeup in an hour. So totally it takes her six hours to give a performance.

Hui Minli, successor of nonphysical cultural heritage - Shaanxi Opera

My wish: Hope to present traditional culture. Shaanxi is an integral part of the world. Hope to show its beautiful, elegant and popular artistic form to foreign friends and make more people know Shaanxi Opera.

Ma Yafeng, a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Ladle-shaped Facial Masks

Ma Yafeng, 35 years old, successor of the nonphysical cultural heritage – Fufeng Ladle-shaped Facial Mask, is quite younger than other artists, but his young age does not suggest his young craftsmanship. Two decades ago, he started painting ladle-shaped facial masks at his teenage.

Ma Yafeng told reporters from CN west and Shaanxi News, among all ladle-shaped facial masks in this presentation, the ladle-shaped facial mask with flower is highly recommended. It is 1.4m in width, 1.42 in height and 35cm in thickness. Although the craft is complex, it is extremely beautiful. Ma said, " I can make one to two ladles one day in spite of a small one."

Ma Yafeng, a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Ladle-shaped Facial Masks

My wish: Present Shaanxi's cultural artifacts and handicrafts to the best of my ability. Let Shaanxi's folk art march towards the world.

Yu Zeling, 51 years old, is a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Ansai Paper Cut

Yu Zeling, 51 years old, is a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Ansai Paper Cut. It is roughly estimated that she has been engaged in paper cut for nearly 40 years. She told the reporter that two paper cut works she brought here were quite distinctive. The first work – Xin Tian You (a kind of local Shaanxi melody) Lingering on the Loess Land - measures 2.4m long and 0.9m wide, on which she spent about two months. The other work – Joint Development of the Silk Road & the Belt and Road – is 1.8m long and 1.8m wide, which she had worked overtime every night in 20 days.

Yu Zeling, 51 years old, is a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Ansai Paper Cut

My wish: hope the skill of paper-cutting more excellent and more popular. Hope foreign friends will like our paper cut.

Liang Yaping, a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Yaozhou Porcelain

Liang Yaping, born in 1973 and good at engraving porcelain, has engaged in this handicraft for 26 years. As successor of the nonphysical cultural heritage – Yaozhou Porcelain, she demonstrated the mud embryo of a porcelain plate and carved flower patterns on it with a small nicking tool.

According to Liang Yaping, she brought here several household utensils made of Yaozhou porcelain, among which backflow kettle was a great work. The largest backflow kettle measures 48x48cm, created in a long period. She told the reporter that the fabrication process of Yaozhou porcelain was very complicated, and that, the small plate in her hand, for example, would be engraved in a week.

Liang Yaping, a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Yaozhou Porcelain

My wish: I had participated in the exhibition in 2006. Most of participants didn't know Yaozhou Porcelain. I hope it could be known to people around the whole nation at that time. Now, I hope it can be known to people around the whole world.

Hu Xinming, successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Fengxiang Clay Sculpture

Hu Xinming, 51 years old and a successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Fengxiang Clay Sculpture, has engaged in sculpture and painting for 40 years. He told the reporter that his masterpieces here were hanging tigers and sitting tigers handed down for a thousand years.

He said that he was honored and excited to demonstrate this handicraft to people all over the world. Fengxiang Clay Sculpture contains profound history factors and distinctive local features and folk style, and that it takes seven days to create a 50x50cm sitting tiger.

Hu Xinming, successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Fengxiang Clay Sculpture

Greatest wish: wish more foreign friends to know Fengxiang Clay Sculpture and make the unique skill left by the ancestor towards elegance through the platform built by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Li Hongtao, successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Rubbings of Inscriptions on Stone Tablets.

In the exhibition area of nonphysical cultural heritages, 50-year-old Li Hongtao was quite busy rubbing inscriptions on a bronze ware, for extraordinary significance of the inscription in his hand. Ambassadors watched and listened with great interest.

Li Hongtao said he had worked on make rubbings from inscriptions on a bronze ware for 20 years. A set of "Chinese" inscription by He Zun requires half an hour, for the master rubbing, it is the embodiment of skills how to ensure even ink color and make superior rubbings from inscriptions of black bronze.

Li Hongtao, successor of nonphysical cultural heritage – Rubbings of Inscriptions on Stone Tablets.

Greatest wish: since evolution of China oldest printing from making rubbings, thousands years of skills are inherited one after generation, wishing the wolrd to know Chinese oldest painting.