Unveils the natural beauty and customs of Jilin
In collaboration with Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, China Cultural Centre in Sydney is proud to present this online exhibition featuring the breathtaking scenery of the northland and the unique intangible cultural heritage of Jilin, such as Clay Figure Zhang of Northeast China (关东泥人张), Manchu paper-cutting (满族剪纸), Chagan Lake Fish Skin Art (查干湖鱼皮画) and Jilin Cuisine (吉菜). Those traditional skills are protected and passed down by those outstanding intangible heritage inheritors. They play an important role in raising cultural awareness and enhancing cultural confidence through their creative activities.
As one of the popular tourist destinations in Northeast China, Jilin Province is rich in tourism resources with beautiful natural scenery and splendid intangible cultural heritage.
With many ethnic groups and a blend of different cultures, a unique Jilin Culture has been established in the long history as a combination of farming culture, nomadic culture, fishing and hunting culture and forest culture, including the Manchu culture in the Changbai Mountains and the Songhua River Basin, the farming culture in the central black soil region, the Korean culture in the Tumen River and the Yalu River, and the interlaced culture of agriculture and animal husbandry in the west, which is deeply influenced by the grassland nomadic culture, and the Saharan culture that still prevails today. Fortunately, those traditional cultures have been preserved through displays of the intangible cultural heritage, literary and artistic creation.
01 Clay Figure
“Clay figure” is an ancient folk art in China. Zhang Jindong, inheritor of “Clay Figure Zhang of Northeast China” folk art – an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jilin Province – has created more than 1,000 clay figures showing the folk customs in Northeast China. There is a nostalgia in his work, but moreover, a continuation of precious memories and cultures.
02 Manchu Paper-cutting
Based on the Manchu folk cultural background and living environment, the Manchu paper-cutting mainly shows the scenery and folk customs in the Northeast. Yan Xueling is the fourth-generation inheritor of Laohuaide Manchu paper-cutting. While expressing the traditional regional culture, she has also explored and created a lot of new contents, which are popular among the young generation.
03 Chagan Lake Fish Skin
Chagan Lake fish skin art can be traced back to Liao and Jin Dynasties. The frequently used fish skin materials include the skins of fathead carp, common carp, snakehead fish and some other fish. Xu Cui is the inheritor of Chagan Lake fish skin art, and her work enables a wider spread of this ancient fishing and hunting culture.
04 Jilin Cuisine
Through simple ingredients and diverse cooking methods, Jilin cuisine plays a unique role in the Chinese culinary world. The way Xu Jisheng treats Jilin cuisine is both artistic and innovative. He unveils the natural beauty and customs of Jilin Province on the dining table in the form of food carving.
05 Jilin Natural Scenery
There is an old Chinese saying that the land nurtures one’s nature.
The prolonged history and diverse culture in Jilin has fostered the development of its intangible cultural heritage.
As one of the popular tourist destinations in Northeast China, Jilin Province is rich in tourism resources with beautiful natural scenery and splendid intangible cultural heritage.
With many ethnic groups and a blend of different cultures, a unique Jilin Culture has been established in the long history as a combination of farming culture, nomadic culture, fishing and hunting culture and forest culture, including the Manchu culture in the Changbai Mountains and the Songhua River Basin, the farming culture in the central black soil region, the Korean culture in the Tumen River and the Yalu River, and the interlaced culture of agriculture and animal husbandry in the west, which is deeply influenced by the grassland nomadic culture, and the Saharan culture that still prevails today. Fortunately, those traditional cultures have been preserved through displays of the intangible cultural heritage, literary and artistic creation.
In collaboration with Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, China Cultural Centre in Sydney is proud to present this online exhibition featuring the breathtaking scenery of the northland and the unique intangible cultural heritage of Jilin, such as Clay Figure Zhang of Northeast China (关东泥人张), Manchu paper-cutting (满族剪纸), Chagan Lake Fish Skin Art (查干湖鱼皮画) and Jilin Cuisine (吉菜). Those traditional skills are protected and passed down by those outstanding intangible heritage inheritors. They play an important role in raising cultural awareness and enhancing cultural confidence through their creative activities.
Embark on a delightful journey through the intangible cultural heritage of Jilin and uncover the stories about traditional Chinese folk arts.
01 “Clay figure”
“Clay figure” is an ancient folk art in China. Zhang Jindong, inheritor of “Clay Figure Zhang of Northeast China” folk art – an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jilin Province – has created more than 1,000 clay figures showing the folk customs in Northeast China. There is a nostalgia in his work, but moreover, a continuation of precious memories and cultures.
02 “Manchu Paper-cutting”
Based on the Manchu folk cultural background and living environment, the Manchu paper-cutting mainly shows the scenery and folk customs in the Northeast. Yan Xueling is the fourth-generation inheritor of Laohuaide Manchu paper-cutting. While expressing the traditional regional culture, she has also explored and created a lot of new contents, which are popular among the young generation.
03 “Chagan Lake Fish Skin Art ”
Based on the Manchu folk cultural background and living environment, the Manchu paper-cutting mainly shows the scenery and folk customs in the Northeast. Yan Xueling is the fourth-generation inheritor of Laohuaide Manchu paper-cutting. While expressing the traditional regional culture, she has also explored and created a lot of new contents, which are popular among the young generation.
04 “Jilin Cuisine”
Through simple ingredients and diverse cooking methods, Jilin cuisine plays a unique role in the Chinese culinary world. The way Xu Jisheng treats Jilin cuisine is both artistic and innovative. He unveils the natural beauty and customs of Jilin Province on the dining table in the form of food carving.
05 Jilin Natural Scenery
There is an old Chinese saying that the land nurtures one’s nature. The prolonged history and diverse culture in Jilin has fostered the development of its intangible cultural heritage.
