Fish skin making techniques of Hezhe Nationality

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: fish skin making techniques of Hezhe Nationality

Declaration area or unit: Heilongjiang Province

Project No.: 435

Project No.: VIII - 85

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Heilongjiang Province

Type: new item

Declaration area or unit: Heilongjiang Province

Protection unit: Tongjiang Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center

Brief introduction of Hezhe fish skin making technology:

Declaration area or unit: Heilongjiang Province

Fish skin products are made from the skin of northern cold water fish. The skin of cold water fish has a certain thickness and toughness, which is more wear-resistant and easy to use in production and life. Fish skin culture is the characteristic culture in the area above 45 degrees north latitude. Although many nationalities had fish skin culture in history, only Hezhe people in Jiejinkou Township, Tongjiang City, Heilongjiang Province have inherited it since the Qing Dynasty. For a long time, Hezhe people lived by fishing and hunting. They fished, ate fish, built houses with fish skin, built boats and made clothes. In history, they were known as "fish skin tribe".

The traditional skill of fish skin includes a whole set of complex processes, including peeling, drying, softening, stitching, artistic decoration and so on. In the past, Hezhe women could master this skill skillfully. After the middle of the 20th century, fish skin products were replaced by other products, and this traditional craft was gradually lost.

Due to the needs of museum collection and the study of human culture, the older generation of Hezhe people in Hezhe Township, Jiejinkou, Tongjiang City have repeatedly copied fish skin costumes for museums at home and abroad, which has made this technique inherited in some areas. Old artists also created fish skin shaman costumes and Hezhe custom series works with traditional skills. Some young people developed and innovated, and created modern fish skin crafts and fish skin paintings with traditional fish skin cutting and pasting technology, which extended the ancient fish skin culture to tourism, art and other fields.

At present, most of the old people who have mastered the traditional skills of fish skin have passed away. Only you Cuiyu, who is still alive, is nearly 80 years old. In view of the fact that the ancient technique of making fish skin of Hezhe nationality is on the verge of extinction, it is urgent to rescue and protect it.