To enrich the summer life of international students on campus and deepen their education in traditional Chinese culture, the School of International Education organized a summer cultural practice activity themed Touch the Craftsmanship of Gold Foil and Experience the Charm of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Gold Foil Art Museum on the afternoon of July 28.
Guided by professional commentators, international students explored the time-honored craftsmanship and inheritance of artisans. They first visited the exhibition area to learn about the origin and development of gold foil forging. As a traditional intangible cultural heritage of China, Jinling gold foil is famous for being as thin as a cicada’s wing, as light as a feather and as soft as silk. The students were amazed by the delicate gold foil exhibits, especially the replicas of the Forbidden City, Dunhuang murals and other historical relics decorated with gold foil, and spoke highly of the superb craftsmanship of Chinese artisans.
The activity offered an immersive experience of the rigorous refining process. In the gold foil production workshop, commentators introduced key procedures including gold cutting and repeated hammering. A single piece of tiny gold foil requires twelve working procedures and about 25,000 times of pounding to achieve its ultra-thin texture. Skilled craftsmen can further shape the soft gold foil into diverse artistic forms. Wan Shanshan, an international student from Nigeria, shared excitedly, “It is incredible that gold can be made into such delicate artwork. The patience and dedication behind this craft are truly admirable.”
Creative DIY sessions brought intangible cultural heritage to life. After the tour and study, under the guidance of intangible cultural heritage instructors, international students experienced gold foil pasting. Every step, including selecting gold foil, applying glue, pasting and smoothing, required great carefulness and patience. With gold foil as the medium, they completed creative artworks of golden gourds. Many students noted that they would present their handcrafted gold foil works to relatives and friends, so as to spread Chinese intangible cultural heritage to more people.
This summer cultural practice activity has effectively enriched international students’ vacation life. By touching gold foil in person, they gained an in-depth understanding of the craftsman spirit and profound cultural connotation behind traditional Chinese intangible heritage. The college will continue to develop diversified cultural experience programs, helping international students tell Chinese stories well and spread the unique charm of Chinese culture.
Written by: Feng Junying
Preliminary Review: Zhang Min
Final Review: Shen Yun
