Shaiyanjiyi
01 · Historical Records
According to research, local salt-sun-drying began as early as the Tang dynasty.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The salt wells and salt fields of the Tibet Autonomous Region are located in Naxizang Township and Quzika Township, Mangkang County, Qamdo Prefecture, where salt production has a long history. Well-salt sun-drying in Naxizang and Quzika townships still follows traditional methods: salt workers carry brine up from the brine wells along the Lancang River in wooden buckets, pour it into their own brine ponds to air-dry and concentrate, then onto the salt fields to air-dry and crystallize into salt. This traditional mode of salt production relies on extremely primitive tools and techniques. Mangkang was the first stop on the 'Tea-Horse Road' entering Tibet from Sichuan, and historically made significant contributions to the transport of salt along this route. Mangkang well-salt production is a remarkable wonder in the history of human civilization; its unique and primitive salt-sun-drying craft embodies the toil and wisdom of local people. The prosperity of the salt industry promoted Mangkang's development, turning it into an important window for external political, economic, and cultural exchange in southeastern Tibet.
Carrying brine from the well
Salt makers carry brine up from the Lancang bank in wooden back-tubes, one load at a time.
Concentrating brine in the settling pond
Brine is poured into private ponds where wind carries off water and salt crystallises out.
Crystallising in the salt fields
Concentrated brine is poured into the salt fields where sun and night wind complete the crystals.
The wooden brine tube
The wooden brine tube, wide above and narrow below, is the key tool; its hoops are replaced as it wears.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The distribution center of well-salt sun-drying lies in Naxizang Township and Quzika Township, Mangkang County, Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, where the salt wells and fields are laid out on the two river terraces along both banks of the Lancang River. The brine wells by the river are among the well-salt sites in Tibet closest to the water; salt workers rely solely on the evaporation brought by the Lancang River's moisture as their driving force, producing fine, white salt grains with a faint watery brininess. This salt-sun-drying belt is completely different from the high-temperature boiling-salt method used in Sichuan and Yunnan: there they use fire, here they use wind, and the tools are reduced to just three items—wooden buckets, brine ponds, and salt fields. Mangkang was the first stop on the Tea-Horse Road from Sichuan into Tibet; salt was carried out from here, flowing in the opposite direction to the tea.
Other submitting regions for the same item: Shaiyanjiyi · Shaiyanjiyi · Shaiyanjiyi · Shaiyanjiyi · Shaiyanjiyi.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Salt-well sun-drying is the most primitive method of salt production, and at present it is unique not only in China but in the whole world. Drolma Yangzom (per the official archives of the associated inheritor): Female, Tibetan, born in September 1965, from Mangkang County, Tibet Autonomous Region. Representative inheritor of the third national-level batch of the intangible cultural heritage item 'Salt-Sun-Drying Craft (Well-Salt Sun-Drying Craft).' Well-salt sun-drying technician. She began learning salt-making at the age of 12 under the guidance of her elders; through continuous practice she gradually mastered the skill. Salt-well salt production is a very primitive method of sun-drying salt, identical to the salt-making practice of the Tang dynasty over a thousand years ago, belonging to natural air-drying. Salt workers carry brine up from the brine wells along the Lancang River in wooden water-carrying tubes, pour it into their own brine ponds to air-dry and concentrate, then onto the salt fields to air-dry and crystallize into salt. In her salt-sun-drying practice she is good at summing up experience, carrying forward past traditions and opening the way for the future, constantly improving her craft and the quality of the salt, and is enthusiastic about passing on the skill, devoting herself to teaching the craft to the next generation.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Shi Qigang 03-1422
- Zhuo Mayangzong 03-1423
- Tan Zheng 05-2854
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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