“Genesis and Spirit - Showcase of Henan Province Intangible Cultural Heritage”

Wooden Plates with New Year Images from Zhuxian City –Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level

Considered the original wooden plates with New Year images and a “living fossil” of Chinese folk arts in China, according to the Dongjing Meng Hua Lu and other volumes, the plates’ origin dates back to the Song Dynasty of the North and flourished up to the Ming and Qing dinasties. They feature symmetry of elements, with simple and precise lines, unadorned molding, fully displaying the simplicity, character and bold and spontaneaou artistic taste of the inhabitants of China’s central plains.

 

Lanterns (Paper Lanterns from Kaifeng City) –Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level

The colourful lanterns from Kaifeng (once known as Bianjing) became popular during the Sui and Tang dynasties, flourishing up to the Song Dynasty. “Along the River During the Qing Ming Festival” takes different types of colourful lanterns to represent the prosperity of paper lanterns during the Song Dynasty of the North. The shapes and production techniques of the Bianjing lanterns originate in traditional folk moldings, featuring simple lines and cheerful colours, a unique style and auspicious messages, and are very popular.

 

Paper cutting –Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level

Paper cutting is a folk art boasting a long history, with distinct regional characteristics and strong local flavour. The pictographic paper cutting representative of Lingbao city and the municipalities of Lushi and Shan, located in western Henan, feature a particular style, are are highly sought after and widely used in weddings, blessings, prayers, as birthday gifts to the elderly, to ward off evil spirits and in prayers for rain, among other daily life rituals.

 

Clay Figurines (Clay dogs from the Huaiyang municipality) – Clay Figurines (Clay dogs from the Huaiyang municipality) – Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level 淮陽泥泥狗又稱陵狗，是淮陽

Huaiyang clay dogs, also known as mountain dogs, is a regional generic term for all clay toys. Featuring rich themes, simplicity, lack of embellishments and mysterious characteristics, they are considered to represent ancestors’ sacrifices to the gods and symbolise a worship culture and building of totems. There are over two hundred types of mouldings of birds and other animals, featuring monkey-people, monkeys holding their belly and deers, etc.

 

Bian Embroideries – Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level

Also known as “Song embroideries”, they date back their origins to the Song Dynasty of the North, developing throughout time and achieving a remarkable quality. According to the Dongjing Meng Hua Lu, Kaifeng was the capital of the Song Dynasty of the North, featuring a “weaving courtyard” in its palace, where clothing and adornments for the princess, the Emperor’s daugther, were embroidered, as well as clothing for high officials, and therefore these embroideries became known as “court embroideries” or “officials’ embroideries”.

Collages with Wheat Stems – Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level
Also known as wheat stem paintings, they once belonged to the courts crafts, and its origins date back to the Sui Dynasty. Wheat paintings present several characteristics such as a bright glow, a beautiful decorative effect anda an extraordinary artistic charm. They reallisticaly portray people, birds and flowers and other animals, emanating a natural simplicity, elegance and beauty.

 

Tang Sancai Figurines Making Techniques –Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level

Tang Sancai is the generic term for ceramic products of coloured glazing of the Tang Dynasty featuring mostly the colours yellow, green and white, thereby becoming known as “Tang of three colours” [literal translation of Tang sancai]. The most representative pieces include human figures, horses, camels and household utensils, with faultless shapes and magnificente colours, extremely well decorated, known as the “Orient’s artistic treasures”.

 

Tangxi Swords Smelting Process – Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage at national level

Tangxi swords boast a long history and are mentioned in the Record of the Grand Historian, or Shiji, and in the Wucheng Annals. The smelting technique used is unique, inheriting the ancient arts of manual hammering arts and metal transformation. Its main characteristics are “strength, resistence, firmness and flexibility”, possessing a high academic, cultural and artistic value.

 

Yellow River Carved Inkstones – Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Henan Province

The Yellow River carved inkstones are one of the four most renowned inkstones in the history of China, the others being the Duanxi, the Shezhou and the Tao River inkstones. The book Inkstones Record by Li Zhiyan, written during the Song Dynasty, refers: “The Yellow River inkstones are considered the best of the Tang period”. The stones feature four main characteristics: firmness, good ink distribution, extraordinary colours and beautiful carvings, and are a favourite among academics.

 

Qin Silk Art – Representative Item of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Henan Province

The origins of Qin silk art date back to the reign of the last Ming Dynasty emperor, Chongzhen, boasting up over 400 years of history and tradition. Its delicate and unique pieces are crafted with extraordinary skill and are worthy of admiration as well as collecting. The patterns used give particular attention to “spirit, charm, taste and elegance”, assembling and reflecting the cultural characteristics of China’s central plains regions, namely greatness of spirit, charm, strong taste and elegance.