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Xiaohua Zheng, engaged in silk production in the 1980s, mastered traditional handicraft technology, and is currently the general manager of Huzhou Yunhe Silk Co., Ltd. and the factory director of Huzhou Shuanglin Silk Co., Ltd. Since November 2000, Shuanglin silk, a traditional cultural variety, has been comprehensively developed and protected, so that the original handicraft skills that are on the verge of extinction will regain their luster.
What is Shuanglin Lingjuan?
Shuanglin Lingjuan, produced in Shuanglin Town, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, is a treasure of traditional silk fabrics. Shuanglin Lingjuan is as thin as cicada wings, light as morning fog, soft in texture, and is known as "the flower of silk craft". Lingjuan refers to silk fabrics, with 'Ling' referring to the patterned variety and 'Juan' referring to the plain one.
Innovations in Shuanglin Lingjuan Products
Starting in 2000, Xiaohua Zheng advocated for the development, promotion, and innovation of traditional cultural products, specifically Shuanglin Lingjuan. With the care and emphasis from leaders and departments at the provincial, municipal, district, and town levels, the company focused on protecting, developing, and innovating traditional cultural products like Shuanglin Lingjuan. A significant amount of detailed work was conducted, including visits to traditional artisans and experienced workers to understand the operating processes and techniques of traditional handicrafts. Over three thousand kilometers were traveled to visit major museums and cultural institutions across the country to gather opinions and determine the direction for protection and development.
The company emphasized training a new generation of artisans skilled in the traditional handicraft of Shuanglin Lingjuan by establishing original craft workshops, which revitalized nearly endangered original handcraft techniques.
Over the past 20 years, the traditional industry of Shuanglin Lingjuan has maintained normal production. Under Zheng Xiaohua's leadership, YunheShuanglin Lingjuan Co., Ltd. has invested a total of 6.5 million yuan to protect, produce, and restore original handcraft techniques, as well as train a new generation of traditional handicraft artisans. Mastering traditional crafts requires patience, perseverance, and skill, yet most young people today are reluctant to invest their time in this endeavor. Therefore, while continuously recruiting new employees, Xiaohua Zheng also encourages his daughter and son-in-law to engage in this industry, learning techniques such as Lingjuan weaving and other manual skills like stone casting and fabric bed making to ensure the continuity of Shuanglin Lingjuan weaving techniques.
The Development of Shuanglin Lingjuan
Huzhou Yunhe Shuanglin Liangjuan Co., Ltd., as the heritage base for Shuanglin Lingjuan, has made significant contributions to local social development and cultural prosperity through productive protection activities related to Lingjuan craftsmanship. At the same time, it has achieved favorable social benefits. Over centuries of production and development, Shuanglin Lingjuan has integrated traditional silk weaving and dyeing techniques with modern advanced silk weaving methods, continually evolving and innovating. As a result, the performance and quality of the products have reached new heights, creating a unique artistic style characterized by "light as the morning clouds, thin as cicada wings, elegant patterns, and vibrant spring-like charm."
The Social Impact of Shuanglin Lingjuan
Shuanglin Lingjuan is primarily used for mounting calligraphy and paintings, producing silk fans, kites, brocade boxes, certificates, and is also widely used in printing newspapers (such as the Huzhou Daily's 1997 Hong Kong Return Edition), reproducing ancient paintings and calligraphy, binding historical books (such as Mao Zedong's Commentary on the Twenty-Four Histories), and producing certificates for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, as well as restoration work on paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the Palace Museum in Beijing.
After the traditional craftsmanship of Shuanglin Liangjuan was reported by the CCTV production team for the program "Traveling Through China - Huzhou Edition" in 2003, it received heightened attention from various sectors of society. With its unique regional culture, Shuanglin Liangjuan attracted extensive media coverage from across the country, including programs such as CCTV's "Traveling Through China," "Happy Travels," "A Home Far Away," "My Family Heirloom," and "China in Intangible Heritage - Season Two," as well as local media from Zhejiang Television, Shanghai Television, Huzhou Television, Tianjin Television, and newspapers such as the Hangzhou Daily, Huzhou Daily, and Zhejiang Daily. This brought about significant social benefits and impact.
With the support and concern of the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee for the 29th Olympic Games, products meeting the standards of traditional Chinese arts and crafts were developed. These products were recognized by the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee, and were used to produce award certificates for the Beijing Olympic Games. This undoubtedly plays an immeasurable role in inheriting and revitalizing traditional Chinese culture. The traditional cultural products of Huzhou were showcased at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and stepped out onto the international stage. This fully demonstrates the profound cultural heritage of Shuanglin Liangjuan as a key traditional cultural variety of Huzhou, with this ancient tribute weaving its way into the Olympic Games. In 2022, under the leadership of Zheng Xiaohua, the team again produced the certificate mounting materials for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Corporate Honors
Under the leadership of Xiaohua Zheng, Shuanglin Liangjuan has been awarded the title of "National Treasure" three times by the China Writing Instruments Association in 2001, 2010, and 2018. In December 2005, it received a silver medal at the Sixth China (Wuhu) International Tourism Products Expo. In 2007, it was recognized by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games as a supplier of materials for Olympic award certificates. In June 2007, the Shuanglin Lingjuan weaving technique was included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Directory by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province. In 2008, it was awarded a Certificate of Honor for making positive contributions to the cultural work of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics by the 29th Olympic Games Organizing Committee. In June 2008, the Shuanglin Lingjuan weaving technique was listed in the second batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage protection directories. In September 2009, the Shuanglin Lingjuan weaving technique was included in the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" at the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. In December 2009, Zheng Xiaohua was recognized as one of the first representative inheritors of Huzhou City's intangible cultural heritage for the "Shuanglin Lingjuan Weaving Technique." In 2010, the "Hangu" brand Liangjuan received the honor of "Zhejiang Province Time-Honored Brand" from the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce. In 2016, the National Shuanglin Lingjuan Inheritance Museum was established. In 2017, Huzhou Yunhe Shuanglin Lingjuan Co., Ltd. was recognized as a productive protection base for intangible cultural heritage in Zhejiang Province. In 2018, Zheng Xiaohua was designated as a representative inheritor of the fifth batch of Zhejiang Province's intangible cultural heritage for the "Shuanglin Lingjuan Weaving Technique." In 2019, the Shuanglin Lingjuan Weaving Technique Experience Center was established. In 2019, the Nanjing District Cultural and Radio, Film, Tourism, and Sports Bureau established the Nanjing District Intangible Cultural Heritage Master Studio, with Zheng Xiaohua serving as an heir to the heritage and teaching apprentices. In 2020, he was recognized as a leading talent in traditional crafts under the "Nantai Lake Special Support Plan." In 2020, he was selected for the support project for rural cultural and tourism talents by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. In 2024, he was appointed as a representative inheritor of the sixth batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage.
Personal Honors
Awards received at the prefectural level and above include:
- In 2008, awarded an individual work honor by the Beijing Olympic Games.
- In 2009, recognized as one of the first representative inheritors of Huzhou City's intangible cultural heritage for the "Shuanglin Liangjuan Weaving Technique."
- In 2018, designated as a representative inheritor of the fifth batch of Zhejiang Province's intangible cultural heritage for the "Shuanglin Liangjuan Weaving Technique."
- In 2020, recognized as a leading talent in traditional crafts under the "Nantai Lake Special Support Plan."
- In 2020, selected for the support project for rural cultural and tourism talents by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.
- In 2024, appointed as a representative inheritor of the sixth batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage.
