In the misty mountains of Guizhou, an ancient art form is hitting all the right notes – literally! Meet the singing clay whistles, a national-level intangible cultural heritage kept alive by artisans like Wang Dengshu, a master inheritor of this 1,000-year-old craft. 🏺🎵
These palm-sized whistles aren’t just toys – they’re musical time capsules. Hand-sculpted from local clay and painted with vibrant folk motifs, each piece can produce up to eight distinct tones. From dragon patterns to floral designs, no two whistles are the same – a true #ThrowbackTech to China’s pre-industrial creativity. 🖌️
Wang, 58, shared with us: "Every whistle carries our Miao ethnic group’s stories. When kids play them during festivals, it’s like hearing our ancestors sing." 🎆 His workshop now trains young apprentices using TikTok tutorials alongside traditional methods – proving cultural preservation can be both ancient and viral. 📱💫
Fun fact: The best whistles come from clay mixed with 30% honey! 🍯 Which design would you choose – the mythical phoenix or the mountain waterfall? Let us know below! ⬇️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com