In an ordinary residential building in Dongcheng District of Beijing, Cui Xin, the third-generation descendant of Beijing Silk Figurine, an intangible cultural heritage of Beijing, is busy working. Cui Xin is not able to walk long for her leg disability, but as an arts and crafts master, she has gotten awarded prizes from home and abroad. Since the revival after a long time lost for the arts, Cui Xin witnessed the long years of ups and downs of Beijing Silk Figurine. Actually, this is always her "Chinese Dream."

Beijing Silk Figurine arts has a long history for dimensional humanoid art. But in modern times, the arts lost the develop environment and skills gradually. In the 1950s, several old masters looked for historical materials and studied carefully, then the long-lost art of Beijing Silk Figurine arts revived again. This art are therefore marked with a unique imprint of Beijing. During those years, under the careful guidance of master Yang Naihui and Ge Jing'an, Cui Xin comprehensively grasped the craft techniques. After China's Reform and Opening up, the traditional arts revived again, and new works of Cui Xin and other masters won reputation at home and abroad. Cui Xin also brought innovation to the skills. However, in the market-oriented economy era, with longtime design and complicated process, Beijing Silk Figurine arts were again in trouble.

"Bulk copy under the industrialization appears to be promoting the traditional art, but in fact brings Beijing Silk Figurine a devastating blow." Says Cui Xin. Today, many masters, died or retired, few senior masters stick to skills like Cui Xin. It is urgent to explore, rescue and protect Beijing Silk Figurine skills. In 2014, Beijing Silk Figurine arts were selected to be the fourth batch Intangible Cultural Heritage of Beijing, which made Cui Xin see new hope of this ancient art. Times flies, but Cui Xin still chooses to stick to recruit apprentices and teaches them with life.

Flourishing this  art is the biggest dream of Cui Xin. As she said, "Every silk master with lifetime efforts has a soul to lighten the dream."

(China IP News)