Research On Silver And Copper Smithing Crafts And Craftsmen In Huangzhong, Qinghai Province

“Huangzhong silver and copper and gilding crafts” is our National Intangible Cultural Heritage. It originated in the Qinghai Tibetan Buddhist shrine near Kumbum Monastery. After hundreds of years developed since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it has become the most characteristic and most prosperity handicraft industry in Huangzhong. The traditional metal craft here including the molding process(such as silver and copper smithing, casting) and the surface treatment process(such as gilding). Silver and copper smithing is the most important part of the traditional metal craft here, which is used most, developing fastest, inheriting most widely. Based on the literature analysis and field investigation method, we further study in the silver and copper crafts smithing, which is an important part of “Huangzhong silver and copper and gilding crafts”, study in the historical development, the group of craftsmen, the product categories, the tools and techniques, the artistic style, and so on.Because the silver and copper smithing process is very complex and special, it becomes a typical representative of Huangzhong, which is famous of the multi-ethnic and multi religious culture. The rich Tibetan and Tibetan Buddhist characteristics silver and copper crafts made by craftsmen of Han nationality, it’s the main feature of silver and copper crafts smithing in Huangzhong, which is the unique culture can not be found in another place of our country.Firstly, according to the literature, we study Huangzhong silver and copper crafts smithing from the perspectives of the history, the environment, the source of technology, development in different periods. By the specific time and space environment, we can better study the relationship between the religion, the nation, the economics and the culture.The main content of this thesis is presented the field investigation results of silver and copper crafts smithing in May of 2013 in Huangzhong. As the carrier of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the silver and copper crafts of Huangzhong are deeply connected to the craftsmen’s ethnic composition, migration history, inheritance relationship, age, religion, and ability level. According to the craftsmen who were interviewed, the author try to analysis how could the group characteristics of craftsmen effect and influence the traditional metal process---- by the angle of a producer. And try to deeply understand and think of the relationship between ethnicity and religion in Huangzhong.The core part of this thesis is included by the introduction of the common and representative silver and copper crafts, the process techniques, and the tools and materials. The author compares the metal process in Huangzhong and Tibet and Yunnan, reflects the details of the current situation of the development and the historical characteristics of Huangzhong smithing process, and summarizes the craft and art characteristics of the Huangzhong smithing process. At the end of the all, the author put forward his own opinions on the silver and copper crafts smithing in Huangzhong, which will be face to the opportunities and challenges, and hope to benefit to this traditional metal crafts’ inheritance and development in modern society today.