Tan Zhiping
01 · Lineage & Regional School
Tan Zhiping, Male, Han, from Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Yintaiqiasifalangqi Making Craftsmanship (Ⅷ-253). The tradition is documented in Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan. Within the regional tradition and school record of Yintaiqiasifalangqi Making Craftsmanship in Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan: The traditional wares of Yongsheng enamel silverware are chiefly jewellery and wine vessels. Their shapes and decorative patterns follow the tradition that every motif must carry a meaning and every meaning must be auspicious; the finished pieces are strongly three-dimensional and richly coloured, and are much loved by the local people. Since its introduction into Yongsheng it has continually absorbed cultural elements from the Bai, Naxi, Tibetan, Yi and other ethnic groups. Since the Ming dynasty, Yongsheng enamel silverware has been sold both within and beyond the province, and it enjoys a high reputation overseas, especially in the countries of Southeast Asia; it is one of Yunnan's famous local specialty products.
02 · Mastery & Signature Works
The bearer record for Tan Zhiping is anchored in the documented technical standards of Yintaiqiasifalangqi Making Craftsmanship in Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan. Within the documented technical tradition of Yintaiqiasifalangqi Making Craftsmanship in Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan: The Yongsheng enamel silverware craft is an important component of the craft of silver-bodied cloisonné enamelware. It is transmitted mainly in the Han Chinese communities of Yongbei and Sanchuan townships in Yongsheng County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, on the Hengduan Mountains and the plateau of north-western Yunnan, and radiates into the surrounding areas. Yongsheng County is rich in coal, placer gold, copper and other mineral resources, which provided the material basis for the development of the silver-bodied cloisonné craft. The craft is based chiefly on the cloisonné technique known in the Yuan dynasty as "Guiguo inlay": fine silver wire is used to inlay patterns on a silver body, and enamel glaze is filled into the pattern cells and fired. The technique was brought to Yunnan by artisans who accompanied Kublai Khan, Shizu of the Yuan dynasty, on his campaign against the Dali Kingdom. Its main process steps are melting the silver, casting the mould, pressing the mould, making the blank, shaping, soldering, drawing the wire, wire inlay (cloisons), applying enamel, firing the enamel, washing and brightening, inspection and packing, and so on. Among these, wire inlay, enamel filling and enamel firing are the core techniques and are the most difficult. In recent years the number of people working in the enamel silverware craft has grown steadily and the market has continued to expand, and it has played a positive role in promoting rural revitalisation and inclusive social development. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "Documented process steps": Its main process steps are melting the silver, casting the mould, pressing the mould, making the blank, shaping, soldering, drawing the wire, wire inlay (cloisons), applying enamel, firing the enamel, washing and brightening, inspection and packing, and so on.
Documented process steps
Its main process steps are melting the silver, casting the mould, pressing the mould, making the blank, shaping, soldering, drawing the wire, wire inlay (cloisons), applying enamel, firing the enamel, washing and brightening, inspection and packing, and so on.
Core Technique I
The Yongsheng enamel silverware craft is an important component of the craft of silver-bodied cloisonné enamelware.
Core Technique II
It is transmitted mainly in the Han Chinese communities of Yongbei and Sanchuan townships in Yongsheng County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, on the Hengduan Mountains and the plateau of north-western Yunnan, and radiates into the surrounding areas.
Core Technique III
Yongsheng County is rich in coal, placer gold, copper and other mineral resources, which provided the material basis for the development of the silver-bodied cloisonné craft.
03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status
In 2025, Tan Zhiping was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Yintaiqiasifalangqi Making Craftsmanship, with Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Yintaiqiasifalangqi Making Craftsmanship in Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2021 (batch 5), with Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan as its declared area, and Yongsheng County Cultural Center 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
Historical origin
Since its introduction into Yongsheng it has continually absorbed cultural elements from the Bai, Naxi, Tibetan, Yi and other ethnic groups. Since the Ming dynasty, Yongsheng enamel silverware has been sold both within and beyond the province, and it enjoys a high reputation overseas, especially in the countries of Southeast Asia; it is one of Yunnan's famous local specialty products.
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.
| Bearer | Declared area | Roster code | Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tan Zhiping | Lijiangshiyongsheng, Yunnan | — | This page |
06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography
This static English edition is rendered at the edge for search engines, AI crawlers and readers without JavaScript. Compiled from official national representative bearer archival records and the associated project dossier, organized by topic and translated into English. 阅读中文版。