“宁可食无肉，不可居无竹。”东坡居士的这句名言，道出了中国人对竹文化的情结。成都平原自古盛产翠竹，竹文化更是蜀风雅韵的精髓。在“竹编之乡”成都崇州道明镇，千百年来，人们依竹而居，以竹为器，“山上清泉山下流，家家户户编花篼”的民间小令流传至今。
2014年，道明竹编被列入国家级非物质文化遗产代表性项目保护名单。成都立足独特的自然人文禀赋，促进现代都市与大美乡村融合发展、历史文化与开放时尚交相辉映。3年后，一座以竹编为特色的竹艺村在道明镇应运而生，不仅吸引了中外游客，更让曾难以为继的竹编业逐渐走出了困境。
“90后”杨隆梅是最年轻的道明竹编传承人，依托竹艺村建设，她在这里成立了自己的竹编工作室，为古老的竹编注入了新生力量。
“大火烧回来的掌门人"
杨隆梅生在道明镇的竹编世家，儿时的玩具竹铃铛、竹蜻蜓，淘米的竹箩、簸箕，纳凉的竹席、竹扇……竹编环绕着她的童年，也贯穿了她的生活。但杨隆梅原本并无意从事竹编行业，“手艺人要耐得住清苦”，“90后”的她更向往繁华新潮的都市生活。
转折发生在2013年。杨隆梅从民航服务专业大学毕业，心心念念去沿海城市机场工作。就在这时，家里的竹编工厂意外发生火灾，损失惨重。闻讯赶回家的她，看着备受打击的父母和焦黑的厂房，心疼不已。
竹编厂自爷爷创办至今已有几十年，她不愿家人的心血付诸东流，更不愿看到随着一代手艺人老去，竹编技艺面临失传的境地，“像我们这种非遗行业，如果不去坚守，传承就会断层。”杨隆梅决定接过父母肩上的担子，守护这个承载了她童年美好记忆的地方。竹编的核心是手艺。从原竹到竹编，要在手艺人的手中经历几十道工序。杨隆梅向老手艺人拜师求教，还常常走访竹编厂的手艺人，了解他们各自擅长的技艺。她请教最多的是爷爷生前的好友，这位年过七旬的老手艺人将选材、破竹的技巧，划丝、编织的手法，倾囊相授，他总念叨：“不怕人学，就怕没人学。"
除了学习技艺，杨隆梅还一肩挑起了工厂的管理工作。产品研发、统筹生产、销售接洽、平台运营，集多种职能于一身，很多事情都亲力亲为，她的时间表总是排得满满当当。
最初，杨隆梅内心有过矛盾和挣扎，试着在曾经向往的都市生活与手艺人的忙碌清苦中寻找平衡点。经过一年多沉淀，她发现自己对竹编的情感“渐渐从责任变成了热爱”。到如今，她接手竹编已是第十个年头，周围的人常常调侃她是“大火烧回来的掌门人”。
杨隆梅在做竹编。
竹编新生
杨隆梅刚接手竹编厂时，道明竹编产业正处于谷底。竹编厂的业务以制作食品包装为主，但现代工业技术替代品多，竹编又因纯手工制作无法比量，竞争力越来越弱。起初，她的决定并不被看好，有人觉得她是忍受不了外面的压力，回来啃老的，也有人因为她太年轻而不信任她。“那段时间，我感觉自己仿佛站在布满迷雾的幽暗森林中，找不到出口。"
自幼与竹为伴的杨隆梅，也有着竹子的韧性。她不顾外界的非议和质疑，一心琢磨竹编的出路，渐渐找到了方向——只有创新才能让古老的竹编焕发新生。“道明竹编有着2000多年的历史，时代在进步，我们的产品必须顺应时代的发展，要适合每个时期的审美。”杨隆梅以传统竹编技法为基础，融入时尚元素、现代美学，对竹编工艺改良提升，甚至重新研发。创新的理念始终贯穿着杨隆梅的日常，她时时刻刻都在思考着，不放过任何一个灵感乍现的瞬间。有一次编织灯笼，她突发奇想，直接收口，编织出一个类似太阳神鸟的图案，在此基础上她又进行精进改良，现在广受欢迎的竹编平安扣就这样诞生了。
研发竹丝扣瓷时，许多人认为不可能实现，但杨隆梅坚信“只要想做，肯定能做成”，她专程飞了一趟景德镇，找厂家打样、开模制作，把“不可能”变成了精致的竹编新品。经过她的巧思，隔热锅圈变成了精致时尚的戒指、锁骨链，竹铃铛变成了摇曳的耳坠，平面竹编图案变成了皮包上的点缀……
竹编大熊猫。
杨隆梅不断地摸索着创新之路。成都这座城市向来注重文化传承，鼓励创新，为她这样的非遗传承人助力。围绕打造“非遗”品牌，成都市向高校借力借智，与中央美术学院等专业院校签订文化战略合作协议，建立中央美术学院驻四川成都传统工艺工作站，为非遗传承人创造学习与合作的机会，助力传统手工艺与现代设计的结合。“通过设计思维的引领，我们能够不断进步，竹编产品也一直在提档升级。”杨隆梅说。
如今，道明竹编作品被越来越多的人群接受和喜爱，杨隆梅也在不断探索竹编发展新方向，逐步拓展到装修装饰建筑、公共艺术搭建、美术陈列等新领域。她还用年轻人的思维和活力，把竹编的“展示窗口”从村里的作坊、展会的摊位，拓展到了抖音等网络平台上，“希望能够让手艺变为艺术，让艺术回归生活”。
竹编大熊猫、孔雀等。
不只是手艺人，也是“守艺人"
曾经，竹编手艺人是不起眼的“篾匠”，靠手工换取微薄的酬劳，看不到出路。近年来，成都市大力促进非物质文化遗产保护和发展，让传统手工艺人、非遗传承人在保护和传承中体现自身价值与社会责任。
“以‘三城三都’建设为牵引，推动天府文化创造性转化、创新性发展，开发更多镌刻成都印记的‘现象级IP’。”成都市第十四次党代会报告中提到。千百年来，成都既传承着灿烂辉煌的中华文明，又孕育出独具魅力的天府文化，成为城市发展进步最基本、最深沉、最持久的力量。
在这一契机下，杨隆梅多次参加国际文化交流活动，向世界展示道明竹编文化的魅力。
2019年，杨隆梅到卢森堡参加文化交流活动，在技艺展演现场，一位外国参观者一直围着她转，语言不通，就用手比划。杨隆梅见他对竹编如此感兴趣，就让他伸出手指，现场为其“定制”了一枚竹编戒指。不到一分钟，戒指编完，杨隆梅一抬头，发现他身后竟排起了一条长长的队伍，都在等待竹编戒指。“这是我们中国的竹编首饰，独一无二。”回忆起这段经历，杨隆梅笑道，“竹编不仅可以很接地气，也可以很国际范儿。"
无论是当外国人得知竹编原材料是大熊猫最爱的食物后瞪大双眼的惊讶，还是海外华侨华人见到竹编后流露出的亲切，都让杨隆梅感到，竹编的价值是金钱难以衡量的。“当我们带着竹编走出国门的时候，会很自豪。回来之后，又可以将在国外的见闻和感触融入竹编作品创作中，特别有成就感。”杨隆梅说。
近年来，成都市围绕乡村振兴战略和公园城市建设，助推竹产业和竹文化发展，道明竹艺村的建设，吸引了很多年轻人返乡就业，传承竹编文化，道明竹编迎来了新的发展机遇。杨隆梅也在这里建立了工作室，在她的带动下，合作社原有的10人竹编技师队伍扩展到50余人，其中一半都是年轻技师，同时带动周边300多户农户加入，不仅传承了传统技艺，也实现了就近居家就业。
竹编事业蒸蒸日上，但杨隆梅不会止步于此。她带着道明竹编走进校园、社区，普及竹编知识，免费提供专业培训，如今，“道明竹编非遗文化进校园”已经从道明走出，辐射到成都及周边的许多中小学校，为竹编文化的传播与传承带来了新的希望和可能。杨隆梅不只是手艺人，也是“守艺人”。她的故事也是成都用中华优秀传统文化培根铸魂、润城化人，努力打造彰显中华文明魅力、天府文化特色的世界文化名城的一个缩影。
"I'd rather have no meat for meals than have no bamboo around my residence."This famous sentence by Su Shi,a well-known poet in ancient China,shows the cultural complex of Chinese people toward bamboo.
Chengdu Plain has been abundant in bamboo since the ancient times,and the bamboo culture also serves as the soul of the charm of Sichuan.In Daoming Town,Chongzhou,Chengdu,the"hometown of bamboo weaving",for thousands of years,the people have been living a life with bamboo as containers and tools.The folk"Clear streams flow down from the mountain,and every household weaves flower baskets"has passed down tonow.
In 2014,Daoming bamboo weaving was listed as a representative protection project for national intangible cultural heritage.Chengdu,endowed with unique nature and human culture,promotes the integrated development of the modern city and the beautiful countryside,with the historic culture and openness and fashion complementing each other.3 years later,a village featuring bamboo weaving was set up in Daoming Town.It not only attracted both domestic and overseas tourists but also led the bamboo weaving industry that was once difficult to sustain to gradually get out of the trouble.
Post-90s Yang Longmei is the youngest inheritor of Daoming bamboo weaving.With the building of the village featuring bamboo handicraft,she has set up her own bamboo weaving studio here,which injects new vigor and vitality into this ancient handicraft.
"Leader Brought Back by a Fire"
Yang Longmei was born in a bamboo weaving family in Daoming Town.In her childhood,what was around her was the toys like bamboo bells and bamboo-copters,bamboo baskets for rinsing rice,bamboo dustpans,bamboo mats for enjoying the cool,and bamboo fans...,all of which were related to bamboo weaving.Yet Yang didn't originally intend to engage in the bamboo weaving industry."Craftsmen should be tolerant to a poor and tough life."As a post-90s,she preferred the prosperity and fashion of the city.
The turning point was in 2013.As Yang graduated from a vocational college in civil aviation service,what she dreamed of is working at an airport in a coastal city.Then,unexpectedly,a fire disaster hit her family's bamboo weaving factory,which led to atremendous loss.When she heard the news on her way back home,she saw her stricken parents and the coal-black factory after the fire,heartbroken and grieved.It has been decades since the bamboo weaving factory was founded by her grandfather.She didn't want to see her family's efforts go down the drain and the bamboo weaving craft would be lost as a generation of craftsmen got old."Intangible cultural heritage,like bamboo weaving,will fail to be handed down if we donot hold fast to it."Yang Longmei then decided to take the responsibility of her parents and guard this place that had carried her beautiful childhood memories.
The core of bamboo weaving is handicraft.From raw bamboo to bamboo weaving,craftsmen have to go through tens of processes.Yang Longmei often visited some senior craftsmen for learning and even some craftsmen in the bamboo weaving factories to acquire the skills they were specialized in.The one she visited most was a good friend of her grandfather.This over-70-yearold craftsman taught her everything about raw material selection,technique of cutting bamboo,and weaving.He always said:"I'm never bothered when others come to me for learning,and my only fear is no one wants to learn them."
Besides acquiring techniques,Yang Longmei also took responsibility to manage the factory.Product R&D,overall planning for production,sales contact,and platform operation...She took multiple functions and handled many tasks in person,with her schedule always full.
At first,Yang Longmei had struggles and conflicts in her mind,as she tried tofind a balance between the city life she once longed for and the busy and impoverished life of a craftsman.However,after a year of practice,she found that her feeling toward bamboo weaving had"gradually turned from a responsibility to a passion".Up to now,it has been ten years since she took over the bamboo weaving.People around her often joke that she is a"leader brought back by a fire".
New Birth of Bamboo Weaving
In the beginning when Yang Longmei took over the bamboo weaving factory,Daoming's bamboo weaving industry was at a low ebb.The business of the factory was mainly food package manufacturing.However,compared with many modern industrial technological alternatives,bamboo weaving products,which were purely handmade,could not prevail over them and were less and less competitive.At first,her decision was not respected.Some people thought she went back home to live off her parents because she couldn't stand the pressure outside her hometown.Some people simply didn't trust her because she was too young."During that time,I felt like standing in a misty dark forest,failing to find my way out."
Yang Longmei was researching and developing the weaving of bamboo filament on porcelain body.
Accompanied by bamboo ever since a child,Yang Longmei,like the bamboo,also has tenacity and perseverance.She blocked off the external reproaches and doubts and was fully committed to exploring a way out for bamboo weaving,and gradually,she found the way-only innovation could bring new life to the ancient bamboo weaving techniques."Daoming bamboo weaving has a history of over 2000 years.As the society is developing,our products have to be in response to the times and adapt to the aesthetics of this age."Yang Longmei tries to integrate the fashion designs and modern aesthetics with bamboo weaving techniques to improve and even re-develop the bamboo weaving crafts.
The concept of innovation has gone through Yang Longmei's daily life.She is always thinking,not letting slip of any flash of inspiration.Once,when she was weaving a lantern,she bound off the strap on a whim and made a pattern that resembled the Sunbird.Through her further improvement on the design,a bamboo-woven peace knot was created,which has been widely popular among people nowadays.
When Yang was studying to make bamboo-filament porcelain cover,many people thought she could not succeed,but she firmly believed that"where there is a will,there is a way".She flew all the way to Jingdezhen City,a city well-known for porcelain,to make samples and new molds with the manufacturers,turning the"impossible"into exquisite innovative bamboo-woven products.With her ingenuity,she also turned the heat-insulated pot rings into fine and fashionable rings and collar chain necklaces,and bamboo bells into eardrops,and flat bamboo patterns into ornaments of leather bags...
Yang Longmei consistently explores ways of innovation.Chengdu has always been focusing on cultural inheritance and motivates innovation,helping the intangible cultural heritage inheritors like her.Centering on building"intangible cultural heritage"brands,Chengdu borrows resources from universities and has signed strategic cultural cooperation agreement with professional academies like the Central Academy of Fine Arts and established a traditional craft workshop of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Chengdu,Sichuan,to provide intangible cultural heritage inheritors with opportunities for learning and cooperation and boost the combination of traditional handicrafts and modern designs."Led by the design based thinking,we can make continuous improvement,and bamboo-woven products are also upgrading,"said Yang Longmei.
Now,Daoming bamboo weaving products are recognized and loved by more and more people.Yang Longmei is also consistently exploring new development direction of bamboo weaving,extending the scope to and is gradually expanding the scope to decoration,architecture,public art construction and fine art exhibition,etc.With her thinking and vigor,she also expands the display of bamboo weaving from the workshops in the village and the stalls at conventions to online platforms like Tiktok."I wish we can turn handicraft into art and then make art return to our life".
Bamboo-weaving lantern.
Handicraftsman,as well as Guardian of Traditional Crafts
Before,bamboo weaving handicraftsmen were ordinary craftsmen who just sold their handiwork to get slender income and had no promising future.In recent years,Chengdu has been vigorously promoting the protection and development of intangible cultural heritage to show the value and social responsibilities of traditional craftsmen and intangible cultural heritage inheritors in the process of protection and inheritance.
Bamboo-weaving bull.
"Driven by the building of Six Cities(world-famous city of culture and innovation,tourism,sports events,gastronomy,music,and fairs and exhibitions),we will promote the innovative transformation and development of the Tianfu culture and develop more intellectual property culture that has Chengdu imprint,"said the Report of the 14th Chengdu Municipal Congress of the Communist Party of China.For thousands of years,Chengdu not only inherited significant and splendid Chinese civilization but also gave birth to uniquely charming Tianfu culture,which has been the most fundamental,deep-rooted and long-lasting power for the city development.
With this opportunity,Yang Longmei has participated in many international cultural exchange events and showed the charms of Daoming bamboo weaving culture to the whole world.
In 2019,Yang Longmei went to Luxembourg and attended a cultural exchange event.at the venue of technique and art exhibition,an foreign visitor kept around her,making gestures to communicate with her as the visitor didn't understand Chinese.Given that this visitor was so intrigued by bamboo weaving,Yang Longmei got him to put out his fingers and'customized'a bamboo-woven ring for him right away.Less than a minute later,the ring was completed.Yang Longmei raised her head and found there had been many people in a long queue behind her,all of which were waiting for the bamboowoven ring."This is China's bamboo-woven ring accessory,which is unique."Recalling this experience,Yang Longmei smiled and said:"Bamboo weaving can be local and also international."
Whether foreigners get stunned and surprised that raw material for bamboo weaving is what the panda loves to eat most or the overseas Chinese feel warm toward bamboo weaving,a traditional Chinese technique,Yang Longmei always believes that the value of bamboo weaving cannot simply be measured by money."When we bring bamboo weaving abroad,we'd be proud.When we come back,we will further integrate what we see and hear and what we feel abroad into our bamboo weaving works.This gives us a special feeling of achievement."said Yang Longmei.
For the past few years,Chengdu centered on Rural Revitalization Strategies and construction of Park City,boosting the development of the bamboo industry and bamboo culture.The construction of Daoming bamboo craft village has attracted a great number of young people to return to their hometown for employment and to inherit bamboo weaving culture.Daoming bamboo weaving is embracing the new opportunity of development.Yang Longmei has also set up a studio here.Under her leadership,the cooperative has been expanded from the original 10-person bamboo weaving technician team to ateam of more than 50 people,half of which are young technicians.Also,over 300 rural households joined the industry,which not only boosts the inheritance of traditional crafts but also enables working nearby.
Bamboo-weaving balls and jade discs for peace and safety.
The business of bamboo weaving is on the rise,but Yang Longmei will never stop here.She brings Daoming bamboo weaving to campus and community to popularize knowledge about bamboo weaving and provide free professional training.Sofar,the"Daoming Bamboo Weaving Intangible Cultural Heritage Enters Campus"event has expanded beyond just Daoming and involved all over Chengdu and many primary and secondary schools in the surrounding regions,bringing new hopes and possibilities to the transmission and inheritance of bamboo weaving culture.Yang Longmei is a handicraftsman,as well as the guardian of traditional crafts.Her story is also a model that shows that Chengdu grounds its effort in traditional
Chinese culture to seek development and nurture the people,to build itself into a worldwide-famous cultural city that highlights the charms of Chinese civilization and Tianfu cultural characteristics.
更多精彩尽在《环球人物·成都青年》特刊线上版，点击阅读↓↓↓
