Ms. Chen Yiqi, from the Confucius Institute at the University of Macau, organized a workshop on the intangible cultural heritage of bamboo weaving and painting, as one of the RC activities of the 2nd Festival of Chinese Culture, on 14 November. Ms. Chen firstly introduced the characteristics, historical usages, cultural significance, as well as the current social status of bamboo. This introduction from ancient to contemporary gradually brought the students to the cultural atmosphere. As a symbol of national character, bamboo has been deeply loved by the public since ancient times. It has been the subject of many works by literati and artists. The bamboo waving is also widely used in daily life, such as construction and food containers. Therefore, bamboo weaving serves as an important existence carrying the cultural and practical values. The process of its use and production also reflects the harmonious unity between humans and nature, which is a typical Chinese pursuit. Through the introduction given by Ms. Chen, students gained a deeper understanding of bamboo and bamboo weaving. After introducing this background, students had the opportunity to personally experience bamboo weaving activities. As creating bamboo woven products is very complex and difficult, they tried a simplified version. Through hands-on experience, everyone gained a more intuitive understanding and appreciation for the wisdom and labor skills of the ancient craftsman. This activity provided a good opportunity to link the students and traditional culture, allowing them to enjoy this cultural experience.
Text: WANG XIAOSAI