Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship
01 · Historical Records
The origins of Miao silver ornaments in Jianhe can be inferred from differences among the regions: Gedong produces chain-twisted floral collars, Nanzhai produces the ring-plate style, and Jiuyang produces the horizontal head-plate style — each of the three places specializing in one line, which shows that after foreign forms entered the locality they were reassigned once among local craftsmen. Silversmiths take most of their designs from women's embroidery patterns; moving motifs from fabric onto metal was a key step that enabled Miao silver ornaments to establish a school of their own. Tai Yingyan's generation held that a person should be judged by his work, treating craft and personal conduct as one and the same; this was the inner discipline that allowed the technique — though transmitted orally within families — never to lose its accuracy.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Silver ornament forging is a distinctive handicraft of the Miao people; the styles and structures of the ornaments are carefully designed by master craftsmen, and the workmanship is of a high level. Miao silver ornaments circulating within Jianhe generally take dragons, tigers, insects, flowers and birds as their basic motifs, coordinated with chain-twisted floral work, chasing, repoussé and braided floral patterns — exquisite yet full of life. Miao silver ornament making in Jianhe comprises more than thirty process steps, forming a complete handcraft process of smelting, casting, hammering, flower-making, braided joining and welding, and washing. A set of silver ornaments often requires several hundred silver flowers welded together, yet no weld marks may show. According to different needs, the silver can be hammered into square bars, round bars, sheets and the like, which can then be used for repoussé, cut-out work and wire drawing. Then, through the steps of braiding, chasing, engraving and brightening, more than a hundred kinds of silver flowers are produced and combined by welding into richly patterned silver ornaments such as hats, collars, chest locks and bracelets. The Miao silver ornament craft has been passed down from generation to generation, carrying the culture and traditions of the Miao people. Miao silver ornaments are processed by hand in family workshops. Silversmiths are not only experts in hammering and chasing but also adept at design; they skillfully draw creative inspiration from women's embroidery patterns and, in keeping with traditional customs and aesthetic tastes, innovate in the rendering of details and parts, so that every silver ornament has its own character.
Archival Record of Process Steps
Miao silver ornament making in Jianhe comprises more than thirty process steps, forming a complete handcraft process of smelting, casting, hammering, flower-making, braided joining and welding, and washing.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Miao silver ornaments of Jianhe fall into three regional groups by form: in the Gedong area the collars are of the chain-twisted floral style; in the Nanzhai area they are of the ring-plate style; and the Jiuyang area is known for the horizontal head-plate style.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Miao Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship · Miao Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship · Yinshi Making Craftsmanship · Yinshi Making Craftsmanship · Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship · Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship · Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship · Yinshi Forging Craftsmanship.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Tai Yingyan (record of the associated inheritor's official archive): Male, Miao ethnicity, born December 1963; native of Jianhe County, Guizhou Province. Representative inheritor of the silver ornament forging technique (Miao silver ornament forging technique), a national-level intangible cultural heritage item of the fifth national-level batch. Miao silverware forging technician. From childhood he regarded silver ornaments as sacred objects, believing that a work represents its maker's character; he resolved to master the forging technique and create fine works that would win people's recognition and be treasured. After completing his apprenticeship he put his whole heart into every piece; being honest and trustworthy, he won deep trust among the people, and the silver ornaments he forged were in short supply locally. Through the transmission and development of the silver ornament forging technique, he has led more than fifty silversmith artisans onto the road to prosperity.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Yang Guangbin 01-0160
- Long Migu 03-1316
- Ma Maoting 03-1317
- Lin Shiyuan 04-1842
- Leigushari 04-1843
- Wu Shuigen 04-1844
- Lin Lingxiang 05-2748
- Yang Zhenggui 05-2749
- Tai Yinyan 05-2750
- Mubinglin 05-2751
- Cunfabiao 05-2752
- Li Zhengyun
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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