International students from Shanghai University recently experienced the charm of Chinese intangible cultural heritage (ICH) during a summer program.
Organized by the College of International Education of Shanghai University, a group of international and Chinese students learned about Anting Yaoban Cloth, an ICH, at the Shanghai Anting Yaoban Cloth Innovation and Inheritance Base on July 22.
Yaoban Cloth, a blue-and-white cloth, is the product of traditional Chinese dyeing. It originated in Jiading town during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
At the base, the students got the opportunity to see various Yaoban clothes and production tools. They also met with Liu Yucheng, new-generation practitioner of Anting Yaoban Cloth, who introduced the history of the ever-evolving Yaoban Cloth patterns and displayed how to make the clothes.
Under the guidance of Liu, students tried their hands at making Yaoban Cloth circular fans.
Chen Peilin, a Thai student, said that she gained a deeper understanding of Yaoban Cloth and the skills required to make it. She also said she hopes Yaoban Cloth can be integrated into everyday modern life.
In addition to the on-site visit, an online lecture on the protection of Chinese ICH and the development of ICH museums was also held during the summer program. Professor Pan Shouyong from Shanghai University gave the lecture to the students via a video link.
