Traditional sorghum straw crafts adapt to modern life

Editor's Note:

The Yellow River runs through nine cities in East China's Shandong province and flows into the sea, bringing vitality and prosperity to the land. Along its banks, numerous intangible cultural heritage projects have been created and inherited, reflecting the colorful scenery, brilliant culture and rich diversity of Shandong. Shandong is a province with a long history and a splendid civilization. It boasts 186 national-level intangible cultural heritage projects, ranking it second in the country. Moreover, eight projects have been inscribed onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, according to the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. Join me on a journey in Meeting the Sea Along the Yellow River in Shandong, to discover the treasures of intangible cultural heritage there and appreciate the charms of this ancient and modern land.

A pot lid made by Liu Yueqing out of sorghum straw. [Photo by Wang Ying for chinadaily.com.cn]

Sorghum straw is often used as feed or fertilizer in rural areas, but for Liu Yueqing, a craftsman from Yeyuan sub-district in Linqu county – in Weifang, in East China's Shandong province – it's a valuable material for his artistic creations.

He transforms the ordinary straw into various basketry products with different shapes and sizes by cutting, polishing and weaving. He not only gives new life to the straw, but also showcases his ingenuity and originality.

The traditional handmade basketry mainly includes dumpling baskets, pot lids, jar lids and lid pads. However, Liu, who is devoted to intangible cultural heritage, knows that innovation and development are also essential in passing on the ancient craft to future generations.

He's designed and produced special basketry products for refrigerators and fruit plates. He's also made sorghum straw lanterns, cricket cages, insect cages, clocks and other items in seven categories and more than 20 varieties, according to the needs of modern life.

Liu has also found a good way to increase his income by selling his products through live streaming and exhibitions.

"I used to rely on experience to make basketry, but now I need to inject fashionable elements into the traditional craft through cultural and creative development and let the intangible cultural heritage skills enter people's new lives," he said.

"I am also willing to provide technical guidance and training for disabled people and help them to join in with basketry making and solve their employment problems," Liu added. (Edited by Fan Yuanyuan)