The gourd, in Chinese, is a homophone for "blessing and wealth" ("Fu Lu"), and its round shape symbolizes completeness and is considered a mascot in traditional culture. Cao Guangyao, the inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, gourd pyrography, in Horgos City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, passes on this traditional craft with his skilled hands.

Photo shows gourd pyrography works. (Photo by Yong Chengfan)

On December 23, 2024, walking into Cao Guangyao's studio, one is immersed in a world of gourds. From tables to sills, and from floor to walls, nearly a thousand gourds are neatly displayed, with the largest being over half a meter tall and the smallest no bigger than a peanut. The gourds are adorned with designs of figures, flowers, birds, landscapes, and animals, which are all vividly and lifelike. Under his masterful skill, gourds are transformed into exquisite works of art, showcasing the charm of intangible cultural heritage.

Cao Guangyao said, "When I first started learning, I was just carving simple patterns of flowers and birds. Over time, as my technique became more skilled, I could carve more kinds of patterns, such as figures and some of their life scenes."

Photo shows Cao Guangyao makes gourd pyrography. (Photo by Yong Chengfan)

After years of making gourd pyrography, the magnificent landscapes of Xinjiang, graceful ethnic dances, flowers and fresh fruits, old buildings, and daily life are all sources of inspiration for Cao Guangyao. He began to make gourd pyrography in 2013 and has since created over 800 pieces.

He said that a perfect gourd pyrography requires a series of processes to be completed, including selecting the gourd, designing, drawing outline, initial pyrography, repeated rendering, cleaning and decorating.

Initially, Cao Guangyao couldn't find the appropriate way, resulting in rough works with uneven coloring. After prolonged practice, he gradually mastered the technique and innovated in brushwork, coloring, and blending by integrating Chinese and Western painting techniques. This approach maintains the style of traditional painting while also embodying modern art. In recent years, Cao Guangyao has launched a variety of gourd pyrography cultural and creative products, including decorative hangings, ornaments, and containers, and has expanded into online sales channels, making gourd art a preferred choice for more people.

Photo shows Cao Guangyao makes gourd pyrography. (Photo by Yong Chengfan)

While continuing his own creations, Cao Guangyao is also committed to teaching people to make gourd pyrography. He teaches the development history and basic techniques of gourd pyrography to more people through two methods, offline teaching in schools and communities, and online through livestreaming. With the efforts of Cao Guangyao, gourd pyrography, as an intangible cultural heritage, is attracting more and more enthusiasts with its unique artistic charm and rich cultural connotations.

Cao Guangyao said: "Currently, I have a student in our township who has been learning for about a year and a half. A month ago, several people from Xinyuan County and Wusu City contacted me. Due to the distance, we created a WeChat group, and I could teach them aperiodically through live operations and recorded videos."

Photo shows gourds being dried. (Photo by Yong Chengfan)

In recent years, Yichegashan Xibe Township in Horgos City has encouraged local people to utilize their talents and actively build platforms for in-depth work in the protection, inheritance, and innovation of intangible cultural heritage, activating the vitality of rural cultural tourism.

Ayhen Yerken, a member of the Party Committee of Yichegashan Xibe Township in Horgos City, said: "At present, our township has intangible cultural heritage projects such as gourd pyrography, Xibe embroidery, and paper-cutting. This year, we have applied for the inclusion of items, such as traditional Belem dance and Xibe ethnic bow-and-arrow making into the intangible cultural heritage list. We encourage inheritors of intangible cultural heritage to carry out teaching and exhibition activities to expand the influence of intangible cultural heritage. At the same time, we will integrate intangible cultural heritage elements into the construction of surroundings, such as setting up cultural walls and theme sculptures related to intangible cultural heritage, to create a rich cultural atmosphere. Furthermore, we will use the internet and social media platforms to display the beautiful scenery, unique culture, and folk customs of the countryside through short videos and livestreaming."

(The Media Convergence Center of Horgos City, Reporter: Yong Chengfan)