SHANTOU, March 5th (AMSP/CGTN) – – With China’s private enterprises facing a rapidly changing economic landscape, many have turned to innovative solutions not only to prosper but also to preserve the nation’s rich cultural heritage. Reporter Zhu Zhu earlier visited a traditional technique workshop in Shantou, Guangdong Province and find out their secret to stay competitive in the market.
“Filigree Inlaying is one of China’s eight traditional core techniques. Work on this fine 0.2-millimeter gold wire requires 18 steps to complete. If you’re not careful, it will snap,” CHJ Filigree Workshop Artisan Huang Ming said.
This intangible heritage has a history of nearly 3,000 years. Mastering it is not easy. “It may take two to three months just to learn the basics. To master it and make it beautiful takes three to five years,” Huang Ming revealed.
Fewer and fewer young people are learning this craft, posing a risk to its preservation. The private jewelry company CHJ Jewelry realized this threat, and founded a filigree inlaying studio to train young artisans. “The studio employs about 50 people, with around 60% of them being young people,” Huang said.
They have integrated ancient filigree inlaying techniques into modern jewelry designs. In order to better preserve this intangible heritage, the company also established the Zhen Museum, opening up to tourists for free. This is the largest filigree artwork in the world.
“It took three years, around 50 master artisans, 350 kilograms of silver, 4 kilograms of gold, and more than 30,000 gemstones to complete this masterpiece,” Cai Zhonghua, Vice President of CHJ Jewelry Group disclosed.
To further incorporate traditional techniques into modern jewelry, they have also invited designers from around the world to contribute innovative ideas.
“They are very interested in Chinese traditional craftsmanship. For example, Japan’s famous designer Oki Sato was inspired by our filigree bridge. He then designed a clever filigree candy-shaped bracelet,” Cai Zhonghua said.
With the rise of the China Chic trend, Gen-Z accounted for more than half of gold buyers on e-commerce platform Tmall last year.
“Young people are very open to China Chic, and we constantly innovate products to reflect that. Private enterprises like ours are more flexible, energetic, and brave to take on challenges. We hope that through innovative products, we can pass on China’s intangible heritage and craftsmanship spirit,” the Vice President of CHJ Jewelry Group said.
According to Liu Xiangdong, Chief Macro Analyst of Dagong Global Credit Rating, innovative products from private companies can boost consumption and drive China’s economic transformation, recalling that a recent symposium on private enterprises highlighted that the government will promote more supportive policies like tax breaks and financing assistance.
Private companies play a key role in China’s economic growth. They contribute more than half of the country’s tax revenue and over 60% of its GDP. Only through continuous innovation can these companies stay competitive in an ever-changing market
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