#Chinese folk craft
Bamboo Weaving Workshop: The First Time I Realized Soft Material Can Still Have a Spine
I originally assumed the charm of bamboo weaving was mainly captured by the words “natural” and “simple.” As a foreigner from the Philippines, I am not unfamiliar with bamboo. It a
After Trying Lacquer Fans, I Realized for the First Time That Flowing Color Can Also Have Order
If I had not made a lacquer fan with my own hands, I probably would have kept thinking of it as simply a beautiful tourist craft. A fan already carries associations of elegance, li
Scented Sachet Making: The First Time I Realized Fragrance Could Be Sewn Together with Needle and Thread
As someone from France, I had always assumed that scent belonged naturally in bottles. My understanding of fragrance came from perfume, soap, scented candles, or small herb sachets
At a Sugar Painting Stall, I Realized for the First Time That Sweetness Can Be Drawn
I used to think sugar had a simple purpose: it tastes good, gives energy, and lifts the mood. As a foreigner from Turkey, I also grew up with sugar as part of street life and festi
Kite Making and Flying: My First Real Understanding of How China Sends Spring into the Sky
The first time I truly paid attention to kites in China was not at a large festival performance, but on a clear spring afternoon. A few elderly people stood by the grass in a park
Print Rubbing Experience: The First Time I Understood How Paper Can Catch Time
I used to think print rubbing was one of those quieter Chinese folk crafts, so quiet that a foreign visitor might not be excited by it at first contact. After all, it does not have
At a Dough Figurine Stall: The First Time I Saw Flour and Dough Grow a Face
If I had not seen it myself, I might have found it hard to believe that a small piece of colored dough could, within minutes, develop a human expression, an animal gesture, or even