The Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance and Activation: Chishui Intangible Cultural Heritage Bamboo Weaving Project

During the first semester of the 2023-2024 academic year, under the collaboration between the School of Future Design at Beijing Normal University and the Zhuhai Design Center, the "Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance and Activation" project was undertaken. Teachers Wang Yunfei and Lu Di led a team of six master's students to Chishui, known as the "Bamboo Capital of China", to investigate the ecological, industrial, and cultural aspects of bamboo, focusing on the intangible cultural heritage of bamboo weaving. The team proposed a series of bamboo product designs, aiming to facilitate the inheritance and activation of intangible cultural heritage and explore new paths for rural revitalization through design.

Project Background

In 2023, the Zhuhai Design Center initiated the "Design Residency Program," which was implemented in Meitan County, Zunyi City, and Chishui City, Guizhou Province. This program invited university faculty, students, and industry experts to the project sites to conduct design work. The "Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance and Activation" project was led by faculty and students from the School of Future Design at Beijing Normal University. The Chishui Intangible Cultural Heritage Bamboo Weaving Project aimed to innovate culturally distinctive products using Chishui bamboo weaving as raw material, combined with the solid cultural heritage from the Zunyi region. This project not only contributes to the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage but also greatly promotes local economic development and enhances the influence of Zunyi culture globally. 

Project Implementation

The project team started their research on Chishui bamboo weaving through methods such as desk research, field surveys, and in-depth interviews, resulting in the "Field Research Report on Chishui Intangible Cultural Heritage Bamboo Weaving in Zunyi City, Guizhou Province." 

In Chishui, the team investigated the local bamboo industry, visited bamboo product processing factories, learned about bamboo weaving and carving processes, and engaged in-depth exchange with bamboo weaving intangible cultural heritage inheritors, bamboo carving artists, and industry managers, gaining a deeper understanding of bamboo weaving. 

The bamboo industry and bamboo weaving techniques in Chishui present a dual situation of modern rapid development and traditional inheritance difficulties. While the area of bamboo forests in Chishui has grown by 1.5 times in 20 years, exquisite bamboo weaving techniques have been included in the intangible cultural heritage list of Guizhou Province. However, most local bamboo products still undergo low value-added processing, with few young people showing interest in bamboo weaving. Through this apparent contradiction, the project team identified the current dilemma of the bamboo industry: how to innovate while maintaining traditional craftsmanship to meet the needs and aesthetics of modern consumers. 

During discussions with local stakeholders in the bamboo industry, besides highlighting the inheritance difficulties faced by bamboo weaving techniques, they also expressed expectations for innovative designs and market expansion. This inspired the project team to focus on revitalizing and invigorating bamboo weaving culture through innovative design, quality improvement, and market diversification, thereby enhancing its added value. 

After a month of conceptualization and creation, the project team submitted the "Chishui Bamboo Weaving Design Proposal," which included six categories and 18 sets of designs. Many product design concepts were innovative, such as vernacular/sound pun trend fans, magic tape bamboo weaving fans, bamboo weaving belt bags, as well as bamboo weaving jewelry, puzzles, cultural and creative gift boxes, aroma diffusers, and rotating wall lamps. 

Throughout the design process, the project team adhered to the principle of "form follows function," collecting data on young people's lifestyles, aesthetic preferences, and consumption habits through surveys, social media analysis, and interviews with target groups. Additionally, they sought feedback and guidance from bamboo weaving artists and design experts, integrating professional knowledge and industry experience to provide guidance for designs that are both professional and practical. 

Project Prospects

In the future, the project team will further engage in protecting and revitalizing local intangible cultural heritage in fields such as intangible cultural heritage inheritance and innovative design, rural tourism experience design, environmental planning and design, education, and training projects. Additionally, the School of Future Design at Beijing Normal University will utilize its expertise in agricultural product design, the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design, rural tourism development and planning, etc. Leveraging the experience and resource network of the Zhuhai Design Center in rural revitalization, the school will provide new design and planning strategies for rural tourism projects in the Zunyi region, fostering the development of unique rural tourism brands.