Surrounded by warm sunlight in the early winter, Tangdui Village captivates visitors with its golden leaves shimmering under the radiant sun, while wisps of smoke rise from the mud stoves where black pottery is fired. Situated in Tangman Village, Nixi Township, Shangri-La City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, Tangdui Village boasts its own distinctive charm, largely owed to Nixi black pottery.

With a history spanning over a millennium, Nixi black pottery was officially listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in June 2008. Thanks to the efforts of countless generations, this ancient craft has been well inherited in Tangdui Village.

Gerong Wangdui is an experienced black pottery craftsman who turned 66 this year. He began learning the art of pottery-making at the age of 12 and left Tangdui Village when he was 18  years old. After a tumultuous journey, he returned to Tangdui Village at 52, reigniting his passion for black pottery. Since then, he had dedicated each day to pottery-making, technical improvements, and teaching his apprentices. Gerong Wangdui explained that the process of creating Nixi black pottery involves several steps, such as soil collection, sun-drying, clay preparation, porcelain application, firing, and smoking firing. Over the years, he has wholeheartedly passed down the techniques of each step to his eleven apprentices.

Larong Pichu, Gerong Wangdui's son, is both an inheritor and promoter of Nixi black pottery. He is also a trailblazer for prosperity in the village. Like his father, Larong Pichu began learning the craft of black pottery at a young age and later embarked on a journey away from home, only to return with the mission of revitalizing his hometown. He also brought back money and the concept of promoting Nixi black pottery.

After returning to the village, Larong Pichu noticed that although many households were engaged in black pottery production, the sales were not ideal. In response, he took Nixi black pottery to Guangdong, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and other places. Additionally, he utilized platforms like Douyin to showcase and promote Nixi black pottery. Now, his personal account has over 300,000 followers. Not only did Larong Pichu contribute to his hometown by promoting black pottery, but he also played a role in road construction, leading the establishment of Minsu(Chinese-style bed-and-breakfast establishments), and serving as the Chairman of the Black Pottery Development Co., Ltd. in Nixi Township of Shangri-La City. In his perspective, making money is secondary, while to succeed in meaningful endeavors is his primary focus.

"I grew up listening to the sound of black pottery-making," says Larong Xiaoba, the eighth-generation inheritor of Nixi black pottery in his family. His father, Dangzhen Pichu, is recognized as the representative inheritor of the national-level intangible cultural heritage project-ceramic firing techniques (Tibetan black pottery). After graduating from Yunnan Minzu University in 2016, Larong Xiaoba decided to return to his hometown. Larong Xiaoba attributed his decision to his profound belief and unwavering faith in Nixi black pottery, when asked about the reasons behind his decision.

Compared to the works of previous generations, Larong Xiaoba started innovating Nixi black pottery in terms of the types and shapes of vessels. "While people outside the Tibetan region have great interest in Nixi black pottery, they are limited by the traditional uses of utensils, resulting in a lack of purchasing motivation," says Larong Xiaoba. He introduced a series of new pieces, such as coffee cups, ornaments, and vases that incorporate Tibetan cultural elements, which have gained popularity in the market.

Like Larong Xiaoba's fusion of Nixi black pottery traditional techniques and modern elements, these creative combinations enrich the essence of intangible cultural heritage and bring new charm to contemporary culture. It is an homage to tradition and an exploration of innovation, allowing intangible cultural heritage to unleash brilliance in today's society.

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(Editors: Ines, Amy)