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Legacy of Fuli pottery in E. China
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CNTV, January 10, 2012
Fuli village in east China's Shandong Province is famous for clay pottery - revered worldwide for its beauty and its history. Let's take a look at what makes the craft so special.
Potters have been working in Fuli for more than 5,600 years. Today nearly 40 kinds of clay pottery have been discovered around the village and in tombs from the Han, Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties.
The art of clay pottery uses design cues from nature, creating bold and primitive shapes.
A 60-year-old craftsman named Gan Zhiyou is the only surviving practitioner of the Fuli pottery techniques. Since 1978 his life has been dedicated preserving the art.
Gan Zhiyou said, "At the age of 60, I have no idea how much time I have left. All I want is to build a clay pottery museum to let more people know about the abundance of its history and culture."
In 1995, Gan was honoured with the title "National Folk Arts & Crafts Artist" by UNESCO. Now he is the director of the Fuli Clay Pottery Art Research Institute - an institution he founded to oversee the excavation, research and inheritance of Fuli clay pottery.
Mr. Gan believes that only art with unique national characteristics will be recognized by the rest of the world. He hopes to have this legacy carried forward by the younger generation.
