11 legacies from Nanhai newly listed as ICH
Foshan China 2022-03-28 09:55

Foshan, with a thousand-year history, is home to rich cultural deposits. Most recently, 11 intangible cultural heritages of Nanhai District have been revealed, which are definitely worth your in-depth exploration. 

 

Calligraphy (Kang Youweis style) 

 

 

Kang Youwei, born in Nanhai in 19th century, is a scholar and best known as a contributor to the attempted Hundred Days Reforms of 1898. He produced an enormous amount of calligraphic works and created a personal and characteristic style.  

 

Baidou in Sucun Village   

 

 

In Sucun Village, Danzao Town, Baidou (拜斗) - a custom of wishing for good luck - has been passed down for hundreds of years. Every year on the twenty-ninth day of the first lunar month, thousands of citizens living nearby will join the campaign. They walk around the square in front of Tianhou Temple with lettuce and pinwheel held in hands, as a way to wish for a lucky new year. 

 

The crafting skill of tools for wooden artwork  

 

 

To make a tool for wooden artwork needs over 50 steps, from material selection and cutting, processing parts, hand-making, shaping to assembly. 

 

Commemoration of Hui-neng in Cuntou Village, Xiqiao Town  

 

 

Hui-neng (638-713) is the sixth great patriarch of Zen (Ch’an in Chinese) Buddhism and founder of the Southern school, which became the dominant school of Zen.  Originated in 714 AD, the commemorative event has been well-preserved in Cuntou Village, Xiqiao Town. 

 

Jiujiang fishing-sieve knitting skill  

 

 

The history of making fishing-sieve can be tracked back to over 200 years ago in Jiujiang Town. It starts with choosing those tough, over-3-year-old bamboos, following which are 8 steps - drying, cutting, pulling, weaving, framing and so on. 

 

Naihai cowhide drum making skill  

 

 

In the early 20th century, people in Qishan Village, Shishan Town began to make cowhide drum for a living in their slack farming season. As the making skill got promoted, cowhide drums have become more and more sought-after and are even exported to overseas.   

 

Rice water caltrop  

 

 

Rice water caltrop is a Cantonese snack. Made of Rice and shaped as water caltrop, it is cooked with shredded ginger, Zhacai (pickled vegetable) and broth. This dish is popular among the local for breakfast. 

 

Cantonese Siu lap (roasted and cured meat) cooking skill  

 

 

Siu lap refers to Cantonese-style Barbecue. Various types of meat, like duck, chicken and pork, are roasted in a rotisserie oven or in spits over an open fire, creating a mouth-watering savory aroma. Then the shiny, honey-crusted layer of red skin closes perfectly decadent, juicy meat. Siu lap is a common dish on the local dinner table. 

 

Nanhai paper-cutting 

 

 

As early as in Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), paper-cutting workshops opened in Shishan Town. Designing, cutting and framing are three indispensable steps for a papercutting artwork. Nanhai’s craftmen are expert in making paper-cutting with multiple skills, cutting, chiseling, carving and lining. Scissors, knife, chisel, bamboo stick and wooden hammer are the tool they use a lot. 

 

Choy Li Fut  

 

 

Hong-sheng Choy Li Fut is a Chinese martial art found in 19th century. It is considered as one of the most effective systems for fighting more than one person. With devotion by generations of Kungfu lovers in Foshan, Choy Li Fut now is every popular in Nanhai. 

 

Eagle Claw Kung Fu 

 

Eagle Claw is one of the most famous Kungfu styles. Its unique skill set can be found in the Eagle Claw hands. Huang Baixiang from Jiujiang Town practiced and taught students for over 60 years. Many of his students have become Kungfu masters. 

 

Author | Ivy  

Revisor | Jersey, Eleanor 

Photo | 南海区非遗保护中心