General Secretary Xi Jinping has underscored that “talent revitalization is fundamental to rural revitalization.” He emphasized the need to inspire various talents to utilize their skills in rural areas, creating a robust team to promote rural revitalization.

Rural craftsmen play a crucial role in supporting the development and construction of rural communities. Earlier this year, seven departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, jointly recognized the first batch of 273 rural craftsmen masters across 14 categories of skills and crafts. Whether they create exquisite items, innovate traditional techniques, pass down embroidery crafts, weave beautiful lives, or cook distinctive dishes, these rural craftsmen are deeply rooted in their communities, preserving culture, raising the income of villagers, and contributing to comprehensive rural revitalization.

Starting today, the People’s Daily is launching a series titled “Master Skills: Rural Craftsmen,” which will spotlight master craftsmen in various sectors such as pottery, embroidery, and food production, documenting their stories of inheriting intangible cultural heritage and promoting rural specialty industries.

**Interview with Pang Yonghui, Inheritor of Hebei Quyang’s Ding Porcelain Craft:**

— *“Crafting with Heart: Shaping Clay with Intention”*

As dawn breaks, 51-year-old Pang Yonghui is busy in his innovative workshop for Ding porcelain in Quyang County, Hebei Province, skillfully turning wet clay into an elegantly shaped vase in less than ten minutes. “The hands move with the heart, and the clay shapes with my intention,” he remarks.

Pang is a representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage project of Ding porcelain craftsmanship, with over 30 years of experience in this art. “Ding porcelain is a type of pure white porcelain, and its initial shaping is particularly critical,” he explains. The process involves multiple steps, including selecting raw materials, shaping the clay, and decorating, with shaping being the most crucial step.

“Shaping the clay is a slow craft,” Pang shares. “Only by focusing on diligent practice can one produce a piece with graceful lines and fullness.” His years of daily practice have led to continuous improvement in his techniques. By applying his extensive experience, he developed a set of standards that significantly increased the success rate of shaping.

Pang has also innovated by incorporating contemporary aesthetics into traditional Ding porcelain, creating dual-layer and hollow shaping techniques. His patented “Pomegranate Blossom” vase, fired once at 1,300 degrees Celsius, is a prime example of this innovation.

In addition to shaping, Pang has another unique skill—“jump knife” carving. After ensuring the clay’s moisture and hardness, he adeptly uses a specialized tool to carve fine patterns with a rhythm dictated by the spinning shaping machine.

Over the years, Pang has dedicated himself to passing on his craft and advancing the Ding porcelain industry. In 2017, he established a vocational training school, regularly training artisans in Ding porcelain techniques. By the end of 2023, the non-heritage workshop he founded had conducted 16 rounds of public skill training, helping over 500 individuals secure employment.

**Interview with Song Weidong, Inheritor of Jiangsu Ming-Style Furniture Craft:**

— *“Traditional Joinery: Simple Yet Elegant”*

In a workshop in Suzhou’s Guangfu Town, Song Weidong crafts Ming-style furniture using traditional joinery techniques, melding pieces without glue or nails. After almost 40 years in the field, he has mastered the intricacies of joinery that underlie the strength of Ming-style furniture.

“Joinery is critical,” he narrates, explaining that different joints can bear varying weights. Song emphasizes that he does not merely replicate ancient works; he innovates. He has explored mixing colors for a modern aesthetic and made ergonomic adjustments to better suit contemporary lifestyles.

In his workshop, many skilled artisans, having trained under him for years, contribute to local employment and income generation. In 2017, he was recognized as one of Jiangsu Province’s leading local talents, and in 2023, his workshop received an award for excellence in training skilled workers.

**Interview with Zhang Xiaolian, Inheritor of Hubei Lacquer Craft:**

— *“Unique Craftsmanship: A Symphony of Color”*

At dawn in Shibanhe Village, Zhang Changquan works diligently to gather lacquer from trees, utilizing traditional techniques enhanced under the guidance of Zhang Xiaolian, the fourth-generation inheritor of lacquer craft in Hubei. Under her leadership, the community has improved lacquer harvesting efficiency and increased incomes.

“I realized the potential of natural lacquer as a superior and more eco-friendly alternative to chemical paints,” she shares. After returning home from Shenzhen in 2008, Xiaolian has driven significant innovation in harvesting and processing lacquer, establishing cooperative projects and a lacquer workshop for custom furniture.

Reflecting on the future, Zhang aims to expand the lacquer industry’s reach by integrating it with tourism and creative training projects, allowing local farmers to increase their livelihoods.

**Commentary: Enabling Comprehensive Rural Revitalization Through Craftsmen**

Currently, over 130,000 rural craftsmen in China are actively contributing to community development, directly training over 230,000 individuals and positively impacting the incomes of over 4.6 million farmers. The mission to pass down essential local culture and craftsmanship not only enriches community life but also strengthens the agricultural economy.

Through talent cultivation and establishing supportive mechanisms, local craftsmen are essential to drive rural employment and lifelong skills development. Investments in support programs for rural artisans will further aid the targeted revitalization of rural industries, delivering significant economic benefits and fostering overall community growth.