Slow Handicraft-shanxi Qikou Town Artifacts In The Status Quo

The research object of this paper is the existing handicrafts in Qikou town in Shanxiprovince. This paper is the faithfully record and analysis of on-site visit and investigation. Allthe photos were taken by me. Qikou is the intersection between Yellow River and QiushuiRiver, a remote town located in Lv Liang Mountain, where transportation is not so convenient.The schooling level of local people is just the basic compulsory education, so they live a ratheroriginal mode of life and producing. Predecessors recorded and literally discussed about the folkhandicrafts in the Yellow River basin. But according to the existing publications and publisheddocumentation, there is no written record about the existing handicrafts in Qikou village. Theoriginality of this paper is to record, classify, organize and analysis the existing handcrafts inQikou village. The handicraft in Qikou is not as outstanding as the crafters are all ordinaryvillagers, but it contains the experience and stories of people live in the Loess Plateau forgenerations. A craft could show its artistic value and existence only by interpreting it with localcultural environment, geographic conditions, customs, etc.The paper included the introductions of the existing handicraft techniques in Qikou, aswell as the analysis of the handicraft techniques in accordance with the conditions of the localpeople. The paper proposed a word called “Slow Craft” to define the local handicraft techniquesaccording to the leisure life style of the citizen. Starting with the definition of “Slow Craft”, thepaper analyzes the generous shapes of the craft-makings like dolls, stone carvings andwoodcarvings. Image characteristics, color characteristics, material selection and the makingprocess as well as the local characteristics, the theme and the content of the stone carvings andwoodcarvings are also involved in this paper. Tourist industry affects local handicraft, Qikouwas awarded as one of the national historical culture ancient town in2005which aroused thetourism. It not only increased the development of Qikou economy, but also made economicbase for handicraft developing.