Juci: Art of rebirth

Juci, the art of ceramic mending originating from Kuiwen district, Weifang, Shandong province, embodies a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics. This intangible cultural heritage reflects a profound symbolism of rebirth through Nirvana, emphasizing the beauty of preservation.

Involving the mending of shattered porcelain with metal materials, juci has now evolved into an art form that transcends practicality and embodies cultural beauty.

This delicate art demands intricate skill, reconstructing objects to display material beauty and repair work, exuding a captivating charm. Juci artisans revitalize and bring a renewed essence to fractured porcelain, seamlessly blending materials and styles in the restoration process. Contemporary juci highlights restoration and inventive designs, with repair materials doubling as adornments, uniting to reveal the allure of imperfection and the core of Chinese craftsmanship.

Juci reinterprets the beauty of imperfection in aesthetic terms. In an era where precision machines replace nimble hands, there are always those quietly upholding the cultural heritage and traditions accumulated over millennia. Herein lies the essence of Chinese craftsmanship. (Edited by Du Xiaping)

A teapot repaired with the art of juci. [Photo by Wei Wei for chinadaily.com.cn]