Day 3 (31 Aug 2008) - Cultural Discovery at the Tu Jia Zu Wen Hua Cun

Today is the second day of our day in Yichang. After the learning journey of the famous project glimpse at the China 3 Gorges Dam yesterday, we will be taking a look at another aspect of China today – the rich cultural history in this area and how it’s reflected through the people’s way of life.

We took the coach to 车溪 (Che Xi) and visited 巴楚故土园、三峡民俗村、水车博物馆、天龙石窟. This place featured the traditional & rustic lifestyle of the villagers years ago and one of the 56 ethnic groups in China -- “Tu Jia Zu”.


The Art of Paper Making
Students had the opportunity to see the entire process of the traditional art of paper making (造纸). Students showed interest as they could remember they were introduced to the “4 ancient art of China” (the art of making paper, invention of )during the training sessions. Chia De Han of 2E4 even had a chance to try his hand at scooping the pulp and spreading it evenly on the wooden frame where it will eventually dry and form paper. Valuable


The Art of Pottery
Besides paper-making, there was also the art of ceramics making. Students were able to give it a try at making their very own art piece. Dolbie & Yi Lin left the ceramic section happily J please browse the pictures to see their proud creations. Budding talents I would say.

Wine Making
Students are able to see how the wine is produced from the very first stage. However, our students are not very eager to try the finished product… it was a whooping 62% alcohol drink… Too over-powering…. Seshan just took a small sip… and he had to down half a bottle of mineral water to wash it down. Remember kids… excessive drinking is bad… :p

Iron- making
As the famous Chinese saying goes… “打铁趁热”。And of course, there is also its English counterpart “Strike while the iron is hot”… Why are these two phrases mentioned here?

This is manifested fully at this blacksmith corner. Students are able to see for themselves the traditional art of iron-making where the fire has to be kept going by burning firewood, and the flames has be maintained by constantly introducing oxygen through a manual gadget called “风箱”（feng xiang）Lee Soon Huat of 2E4 demonstrates the correct way to work this. Seshan plays the role of the blacksmith here… he tried to hammer the red hot iron in rhythm with the real McCoy (the gentleman in blue in the video)




Understanding the TU JIA ZU culture – marriage traditions
We were ushered into a rustic building and we waited eagerly for the show to begin. We are entertained by a “shadow puppet show”, depicting a fight between a crane and a turtle.

Following that is a song segment where the performers are clad in the traditional Tu Jia Zu Costumes and they sang melodious and catchy folk songs which tell stories about their simple way of life.

The most interesting portion is the preparations for the wedding, where it is the custom for the bride to cry before she leaves for her husband’s place. It was refreshing to know that every girl from that ethnic group starts to prepare for her own wedding from the tender age of 12. She would start to embroider her wedding apparel. Wow... interesting...

As the saying goes... A picture speaks a thousand words.... here goes...




Everyone had a GOOD walk today... Heh... Definitely burnt quite a few calories.... :D

Here is the cultural performance depicting the traditional way of life for the Tu Jia Zu people...
Hmm... you should really hear Toh Yu Xiang (2E3) sing in chorus from the audience with the pretty girls on the stage... "huo ji.... huo ji..... (it means "lover" in the native Tu Jia Zu language)"

(from left: Dehan, Shangsheng, Angus, Seshan,Jian Kuo & Soon Huat)

Farm food!! Look at the spread... home grown vegetables ... handmade tofu ... hand fed chicken soup with peanuts...& tea made from hand picked tea leaves!! Talk about HOME COOKED FOOD... MUHAHAHAHA

Look at the "kampong style" lounge chairs! ha... look at Yu Xiang from 2E3! (psss... please remember his face now... for he will be mentioned again later in this posting...

Doesn't this remind you of swordfighting movies set in ancient times? The pastures...the mountains... the winding roads... hehe...

Here is the place where the homemade soybean is prepared... And I heard that Aloysius (2E3) bought many cups of it...

Patricia Ng Hui Yi trying her luck at this... Supposedly... if you can produce a loud sound by rubbing your hands on the handle... riches will come your way.... Patricia... told you not to spend all your money shopping... see what you have gotten yourself into??!!

At the blacksmith shop... look at the tools hanging on the wall... don't you find them famliar? We often see them in the swordfighting movies... this was where Seshan(1E1) & Lee Soon Huat (2E4) tried their hands at role-playing the blacksmith... request the video from us! :p MUHAHAHA

Tan Jian Kuo (2E2) trying his hand at the grindmill... yet another tool which we often see in sword fighting movies... used for grinding of soybeans...Fresh soya bean drink anyone?? Tau Huay Chwee!!!

EHH.... another one? Why are the WUSHU members so obsessed with this "gadget"?

What now? Tau Huay?

MORE???? Dou Fu Xi Shi???? Now..... in movies ..... all ladies selling beancurd are all very pretty with silken tofu complexion....now?

Look at that!!! Pugilistic exponents!! Making their way across the swift flowing stream...

SOC-MIC (Standard Obstacle Course - Made in China)

Remember i mentioned that drinking is bad just now???? 62% alcohol!!!! Seshan's parents...please dun scold him... i assure you.... he took only 1 teeny sip...

These are the finished masterpieces by Tan Dolbie (2E3) and Ong Yi Lin (2E4)... IMPRESSIVE... for first-timers.. *wink*

(unchained melody playing in the background "ooooohhhhh my loooovvvee, my daaarlling....i hungered for your...... c,")

Dolbie trying the ceramic making...

Chia De Han (2E4 ) trying his hand at the paper making corner... Huge round of applause please everyone....