Experience the vivid and approachable cultural heritage in Shanghai, "row" the golden dragon boat and "open" the old houses

June 8 is the 2024 Cultural and Natural Heritage Day. At the Old House Art Center, No. 393 Wukang Road, Xuhui District, a unique "Opening the Old House" renovation craft experience and "Opening the Old House - Modern Architectural Heritage Repair Crafts” new book reading activity attracted participants of all sizes. In Baoshan District, the "Golden" series of original intangible cultural heritage skill inheritance picture books "Golden Dragon Boat" created around the national intangible cultural heritage "Luodian Dragon Boat Rowing Technique" also met with young readers before the Dragon Boat Festival.

"Open the old house" renovation craft experience activity

In Shanghai, the material heritage accumulated over the years has become the city’s C check-in point after years of careful restoration. Doors are opened and eaves are outlined, becoming windows for people from all over the world to read about Shanghai. "Opening the Old House" is a pop-up book, but unlike other architectural pop-up books on the market, the protagonist of this book is not the house, but the traditional craftsmanship of repairing old houses and the craftsmen who master these crafts. “The book uses real repair materials as much as possible, such as cement, pigment powder, stone particles, etc. Many interactive elements, including rotatable gears, pullable paper strips, etc., are action techniques that demonstrate different repair skills. There are also some interactive little Easter eggs, such as opening up part of the wooden window to see the mortise and tenon structure inside, hoping to make complex technology easier to understand and remember," said Zhang Mo, author of "Opening the Old House."

The book "Opening Old Houses" uses real restoration materials

Zhang Mo once worked in the Internet and media industries. Later, because he studied carpentry and had a professional background in construction, he became a practitioner in the architectural heritage restoration industry at the age of 30. "When I first entered this industry, I often heard old masters say how about waiting for the building to be 'opened'. What the masters meant was that only after the roof, floor, additional paint layers, etc. were dismantled can the building be seen more intuitively. Structural information and historical information below the surface, so as to make a more accurate judgment on the overall condition of the building. "Zhang Mo said that when readers "open" the book with their own hands, they will find that there will be a lot of "" on almost every page of the book. "Hands" are not only the "hands" in the picture, but also the readers' "hands" are required to participate in it, mixing cement, pulling blinds, chopping stones, hoping to highlight a concept - the inheritance of architectural heritage and craftsmanship. Finally, it must be implemented in the hands of craftsmen, and we pay tribute to those craftsmen who silently stick to their posts.

Citizens and tourists participate in the "Open Old House" repair craft experience activity

"This book not only records the repair process of old houses in detail, but also conveys the transformation from 'architecture can be read' to 'architecture can be experienced', providing a new perspective for the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage." "Opening the Old House" Editor-in-chief Chen Yi said.

In order to allow participants to more intuitively experience the repair skills of old houses, a water-washed stone craft experience activity was carried out at the event site. Water-brushed stone is called "Tai Shi Zi" in Shanghai dialect and Shanghai Plaster in Southeast Asia, which shows its origin relationship with Shanghai. The effect of imitating stone is achieved through semi-exposed stones, which is one of the representative techniques of modern architecture in Shanghai. Under the guidance of professional craftsmen, citizens and tourists experienced how to use repair techniques to make the "100th Anniversary Special Edition of the Washed Stone Wukang Building".

Sun Yunlong, deputy director of the Department of Tourism at Fudan University, said with emotion, "Cultural heritage represents the spirit of a place. Under the guidance of their parents, there were so many children on site who felt the beauty of the architectural heritage and devoted themselves to learning the craft process. It was really a touching moment. ”

"In this way, we can truly enter and open the old house, especially let the children experience it with their own hands, have close contact with the craftsmanship of the old house, and have a deeper understanding of the cultural heritage." Fang Yunfang, director of the Xuhui District Library, laughed. He said, "The most fulfilling part is the last step. The water-brushed stone craftsmanship is finally presented, which is very shocking."

The final completed "Water-washed Stone Wukang Building 100th Anniversary Special Edition"

"Repeated trials and explorations are also a vivid education for children. It is not easy to make a model, and it is even more difficult for craftsmen to repair old houses. In the future, everyone will have to take responsibility for protecting old houses when they see them." participants expressed.

"For creators, intangible cultural heritage is an inexhaustible treasure house, which can give creators endless inspiration and passion." The original intangible cultural heritage picture book "Golden Dragon Boat" is on the banks of Lake Meilan in Dayin The bookstore launched the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Picture Book Creation and Promotion·Everyone's Talk" activity. Liang Chuan, an ink painter and one of the authors of the text and illustrations of "The Golden Dragon Boat", said that the golden dragon boat in the book is nicknamed "Big Belly" and it is similar to the Luodian dragon boat rowing skills. It has been glorious, abject, silent, and even disappeared for a time, but in the end, it came back with a majestic appearance. "Big Belly" has a tenacious quality and a tolerant structure. Only by being willing to help others, hard-working and positive can we get out of difficulties and achieve ourselves.

Meilan Lake Dayin Bookstore held "Intangible Cultural Heritage Picture Book Creation and Promotion·Everyone's Talk"

"The Golden Dragon Boat" is the second Baoshan intangible cultural heritage skill inheritance picture book in the "Gold" series after "The Golden Embroidered Lady". It is a project jointly established by the Baoshan District Library, Baoshan District Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, and Baoshan District Writers Association, aiming to Let intangible cultural heritage skills be better passed on in a more child-friendly way. The "intangible cultural heritage" content in the picture book is carefully decomposed and the text is easy to understand, adapting to the reading characteristics of children that combine exploration and knowledge. "More importantly, the creation of picture books incorporates emotions, making readers fall in love with the life around them and the stories of Shanghai. Such practice is commendable." Children's literature writer Zhang Hong commented.

Readers flip through the original intangible cultural heritage picture book "The Golden Dragon Boat"

Since the birth of the "Golden" series of intangible cultural heritage picture books in 2022, nearly a hundred reading promotion activities have been carried out in various forms. The picture book "Golden Embroidered Lady" has been reprinted twice. It has also gone to international book fairs such as Bologna and Paris to promote interaction and further spread the word. Carry forward Chinese traditional culture. Picture book editor-in-chief Wu Binrong said, "The 'Golden' series of intangible cultural heritage picture books are full of deep affection for traditional culture and intangible inheritance, and a sincere heart for the land and people. I hope that with the help of picture books, this kind of story-telling and vivid pictures A communication carrier to send out gentle, firm and beautiful voices.”

Parents and children read together the original intangible cultural heritage picture book "The Golden Dragon Boat"

After Luojing cross-stitching and "Golden Embroidered Lady", Luodian dragon boat rowing skills and "Golden Dragon Boat", the "Gold" series of intangible cultural heritage picture books will continue, with the third original book featuring the Tang-style wooden structure construction skills of Baoshan Temple. The intangible cultural heritage picture book is currently being created.