Chen Dizhen

01 · Lineage & Regional School

Chen Dizhen, Male, Han, from Foshan, Guangdong, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Lantern Art (Ⅶ-50). The tradition is documented in Foshan, Guangdong. Within the regional tradition and school record of Lantern Art in Foshan, Guangdong: Foshan colored lanterns are one of the main schools of traditional Chinese lantern art and a representative work of Lingnan folk art. Foshan colored lantern displays are among the folk cultural activities most familiar to and beloved by the local people, and also an effective means of building a harmonious society. Foshan colored lanterns, commonly known as “dengse” (lantern colors), are a product of the combination of Foshan folk art with local customs; because local folk activities are lively, dengse lanterns have long been made for the Lantern Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Qiuse (autumn colors) fairs.

02 · Mastery & Signature Works

The bearer record for Chen Dizhen is anchored in the documented technical standards of Lantern Art in Foshan, Guangdong. Within the documented technical tradition of Lantern Art in Foshan, Guangdong: Foshan lies in the hinterland of the Pearl River Delta in southeastern Guangdong. The climate here is warm, the produce abundant, folk activities exceptionally lively, and folk crafts rich and colorful. Foshan colored lanterns, commonly known as “dengse” (lantern colors), are a handicraft formed by the combination of Foshan folk art with local customs. They come in a rich variety of categories with a wide range of themes, mainly depicting joyous harvests, auspicious blessings of good fortune, and stories of theatrical figures. They include grand leading lanterns, grouped lanterns of figure stories, colored dragon lanterns, Lantern Festival flower lanterns, Mid-Autumn lanterns, special craft lanterns for the Qiuse festival, and colored lanterns of every shape and size. The making of Foshan colored lanterns comprises four major process steps: design, frame tying, lining mounting, and assembly. The lanterns are made with select materials and exquisite craftsmanship; their forms are vivid, their colors brilliant, their scenes cheerful and lively, and their shapes endlessly varied. Finished lanterns are decorated with Foshan’s unique copper-backed paper-cuttings, giving an impression of resplendent magnificence. Foshan is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese. In promoting cultural exchange between China and foreign countries and in strengthening the bonds of fellowship among Chinese at home and abroad and across the Taiwan Strait, Foshan colored lanterns have played an important bridging role. At present, under the influence of the market economy, the production and sale of Foshan colored lanterns, which require high input costs and long working hours, are highly unstable. Only one master craftsman with comprehensive technical skills remains, and he is already over eighty years old. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Archival Record of Working Procedures": The making of Foshan colored lanterns comprises four major process steps: design, frame tying, lining mounting, and assembly. The lanterns are made with select materials and exquisite craftsmanship; their forms are vivid, their colors brilliant, their scenes cheerful and lively, and their shapes endlessly varied. Finished lanterns are decorated with Foshan’s unique copper-backed paper-cuttings, giving an impression of resplendent magnificence. "Head-board lanterns and coloured dragon lanterns": The types include head-board lanterns, figure-story groups, coloured dragon lanterns and festival lanterns for the Lantern and Mid-Autumn festivals. "Copper-lined paper-cut decoration": Made in four stages and trimmed with Foshan's distinctive copper-lined paper-cuts, the lanterns have a sumptuous gilded look.

03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status

In 2025, Chen Dizhen was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Lantern Art, with Foshan, Guangdong as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Lantern Art in Foshan, Guangdong: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2008 (batch 2), with Foshan, Guangdong as its declared area, and Foshan Minjian Art Research Society Co., Ltd. as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.

04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier

05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage

National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.

06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography

1. Chendizhen (Foshan, Guangdong) · China ICH Official Project Archive
2. Chendizhen · China ICH Official Archive