Walking into the courtyard of the earthenware producer Abdul Rehman Maimaitimin in Qiakrikuyi Village, Yingjisha County, Kashi Prefecture, Xinjiang, the reporter seemed to be in a museum of earthenware, with simple pottery pots, beautifully designed pottery plates, and distinctive pottery ornaments
Under his influence, the number of local people learning to make earthenware is increasing. The name of "earthenware village" has spread widely, and a piece of earthenware has become the "golden card" of local culture.
Shape and pattern come from life
Yingjisha County was once the post station of the ancient Silk Road, and its unique earthenware art was gradually bred through cultural integration, which is famous for its complex shape, unique coloring and exquisite firing technology.
Qiakrikuyi Village is known as the "earthenware village" because of its long history of earthenware firing, and it is the inheritance place of the national intangible cultural heritage "Uygur molded earthenware firing skills". When entering the village, the new house made of soil and straw is calm and simple, and the walls are decorated with various unique pottery patterns, adding a strong flavor to the village.
"I have been learning to make earthenware for almost 60 years since I was 7 years old. My grandfather and father taught me this skill. The shape and pattern of earthenware come from our daily life." Abdul Heman Maimaitimin said that earthenware is very common in local people's homes as a daily tool. Yingji sand clay pottery has been polished by craftsmen of past dynasties to form a unique art system, which reflects the typical Uygur traditional characteristics. It is rich in color, beautiful in shape, and has a spirit in its simplicity. Yingji sand clay pottery is not only practical, but also has collection value. It has a wide range of types and uses.
In May 2006, the Uighur molded earthenware firing technique in the Tutao Village was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists. In 2007, Abdul Heman Maimaitimin was listed as a representative inheritor of national intangible cultural heritage.
Keep the tradition and bring forth the new
"There is no template for the production of Yingjisha earthenware, so I will create patterns and carve them." Abdul Jehoman Maimaitimin said with a pottery pot in his hand. In order to pass on the pottery craft, he taught the whole family to make earthenware. Among them, the most skilled one is his youngest son Abdul Remu Abdul Rehoman.
Abdul Remu Abdul Rehoman, who has become the eighth generation inheritor of earthenware handicrafts, witnessed how the "earthenware village" became famous. "Although the 'earthenware village' has rich experience in firing earthenware, due to its small scale and low efficiency, it has not formed a related industry, and this intangible cultural heritage village has failed to become the 'golden rice bowl' of the villagers." Abdul Remu Abdul Heman believes that the traditional earthenware products are not beautiful enough in shape, rough in workmanship, lack of hardness, and easy to be damaged during long-distance transportation.
In order to improve the quality, the village specially invited pottery makers from Jingdezhen, Shandong and Jiangxi to exchange experience with the village's clay potters, and also sent young craftsmen out to study.
"I want to keep the tradition while constantly innovating the patterns and styles of pottery." Abdul Remu Abdul Rehman studied and launched a series of earthenware products rich in cultural connotation. These products have both ornamental value and practicality, realizing the perfect combination of traditional craft and modern needs. "About 4000 tourists come here one day in the peak tourist season, and the new products launched are also very popular. In 2023, our family's income will reach more than 800000 yuan."
Have a "travel meal" together
Re Yila, the first secretary of the village team of "Tutao Village", said that in recent years, through the continuous development of cultural and tourism projects, "Tutao Village" has ushered in a development opportunity.
Yang Xiaoxue, a tourist from Shandong, was interested in making a piece of pottery with an electric pottery wheel. "This is my first visit to Yingjisha. The earthenware here is very distinctive, and there are many excellent craftsmen. The 'earthenware village' is indeed an intangible cultural heritage village. I bought two pieces of pottery and intend to take them home for collection."
Imam Aili, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage at the autonomous region level, has made earthenware for more than 20 years. He said that after eating "earthenware rice" and "tourism rice", the village is very different from before, and more and more young people are learning to inherit this skill. In recent years, Yingjisha County has made every effort to protect the intangible cultural heritage skills, and helped villagers increase their employment income by combining culture and tourism. Taking intangible cultural heritage earthenware as the "medium", "earthenware village" not only forms a cultural tourism industry integrating the production, display, sales, experience and other aspects of Yingjisha earthenware, but also drives a number of tourism projects. "earthenware village" has become a national 2A tourist attraction, a model village for rural tourism in China and a beautiful leisure village in China.
Muhaimaiti Abdulsatar, a 17-year-old student majoring in earthenware firing skills at Yingjisha County Technical School, is also an apprentice of Imam Aili. Now he can make vases independently. "earthenware is a very attractive handicraft. I hope I can master the technology and become the successor of the master in the future."
"At the beginning, we were the only one in the village doing earthenware business. Later, we gradually developed together, and everyone's income increased," Abdul Heman Maimaitimin said. Re Yila told the reporter that the production of earthenware in the village is mainly concentrated in the village collective earthenware cooperatives and the personal cooperatives of Abdul Rehman family. Only two cooperatives sell an average of 5000 pieces of earthenware products every year, with an average household value of 200000 yuan.
