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Fengzhuang Village, Jiangsu: Celebrating cultural heritage and passion

江苏封庄村：文化里的传承与热爱

Culture is inherently linked to inheritance, and that have better heat retention, greater durability,
inheritance thrives on the involvement of young and a unique texture. Such high-quality products
practitioners. Many young people who are pas- certainly possess significant market potential.”
sionate about local intangible cultural heritage are In 2019, Jiang registered his mother’s work-
actively exploring and innovating, reviving projects shop as a brand and launched a handmade cot-
that were on the brink of disappearing and reintro- ton-padded quilt line. Within less than a year, the
ducing them to the public, allowing these traditions brand’s sales exceeded 2 million yuan. In 2020,
to be appreciated and embraced once more. the brand expanded onto e-commerce platforms,
Cotton batting is a traditional craft among transforming its offerings from products sold pri-
the Chinese people. In the past, cotton batting marily to local villagers and nearby friends and
workshops were found throughout the streets and relatives into items accessible to customers across
alleys, and nearly every household relied on cot- China. This rise in sales has also created more
ton quilts for their bedding. These thick, warm, employment opportunities for local residents.
and practical quilts were the preferred choice for In addition to promoting intangible cultural
winter comfort. However, with the rapid advance- heritage through various channels, Jiang is active-
ment of industrialization, many users gradually ly training the younger generation of inheritors.
began to favor down, silk, and wool quilts, lead- “Mastering the skill of cotton quilt making takes
ing to a decline in the prominence of cotton quilts at least two years. We pair experienced artisans
as the times changed. with newcomers, guiding them step by step until
In Fengzhuang Village, Houcheng Subdistrict, they become proficient,” he explained. Many
Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, a young young people are returning to their hometowns,
entrepreneur named Jiang Xiaodong, born after committed to local development and passionate
1985, runs the “Younuan Quilt Workshop.” He about traditional culture, making it easier to find
challenges the trends by inheriting the cotton suitable candidates for training.
batting craft through a combination of preserva- “The intangible cultural heritage rooted in
tion and innovation. In 2023, Jiang successfully rural areas has not vanished amidst the changes
applied for the recognition of the cotton batting of modern society. We should encourage more
technique as a provincial intangible cultural herit- individuals who appreciate culture, possess de-
age in Jiangsu. sign skills, and understand the market to join us
Jiang was born into a family of cotton batting in revitalizing this heritage with new vitality.” As
artisans, with his mother, Huang Cuiping, serving a young inheritor of intangible cultural heritage,
as a fifth-generation inheritor. From a young age, Jiang believes that regardless of how time pro-
he observed his mother making quilts. After start- gresses, the allure of intangible cultural heritage
ing his own family and having children, he began persists, and it requires a modern perspective to
to appreciate the value of the quilts she created, uncover new ways to express it.
which kept his child warm through
many nights. “The vibrating strings
open the cotton fibers, resulting in quilts