Cultural relic replication is an effective way to prevent cultural relics and folk crafts from being lost. And it is also an industry with marketing potential and opportunity. China has begun to develop this industry, but the pace needs to be faster.

For Yang Xianghong, manager of a culture relic replication factory affiliated to Shaanxi Zhouyuan Museum, it is the first time in the past 10-plus years to leave the province, taking replicas made by his factory with him, to attend an exhibition held in Beijing. Although being affiliated to a prestigious museum, his replication factory, established 16 years ago, received revenue of only 300,000 yuan (US$36,200) last year.

"Replicas of cultural relics are yet to be acknowledged by the public. Overall, it hasn't realized industrialization and mass production," said the factory manager, unveiling the dilemma facing the replication industry of cultural relics in China.

The four-day exhibition of replica relics and folk crafts was held in Beijing from September 7. It was sponsored by the China Association of Cultural Relics, and is the first ever held in China. Managers from related enterprises and specialists in the field discussed during the event the way to promote the business of traditional handicrafts and significance and prospects of developing cultural relic replication.

On exhibit are handicrafts from all around China, including Weifang Kite of Shandong Province; Ding Porcelain of Quyang County and Yishui Inkstone of Yixian County, both from Hebei Province; ivory carving from Beijing; Tantou Nianhua (New Year picture) of Henan Province; Shoushan Stone Carving of Fujian Province; Longquan Double-edged Sword of Zhejiang Province; Nanjing Silk Jacquard of Jiangsu Province; imitation of ancient bronze wares from Shaanxi Province; replicas of sculptures and frescoes of Maiji Grotto of Gansu Province; and Tang tricolor, Ru Porcelain from Linru County, and Jun Porcelain from Yuzhou City, all from Henan Province.

The replication industry featuring the replication of cultural relics began to develop in China only in recent years. However, due to the lack of standardized management, the industry has had disordered development with small-scaled productions prevailing, and has never experienced prosperity.

"We have crisis awareness," said Yang Xianghong, looking at the replicas of bronze ware which are made by his factory and are being exhibited on the shelves behind him, "The factory will be eliminated by market competition if it doesn't run according to the market."

Yu Yong, a master of jade carving in his sixties, said his biggest hope is to hold a personal art exhibition and hand his skills down for posterity. "I have not attended such an exhibition for over ten years. I sincerely hope Chinese folk culture could be introduced on worldwide stage."

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, September 16, 2003)