Hubei Huangjia Bamboo Steamer

Hubei Huangjia Bamboo Steamer

Hubei Huangjia Bamboo Steamer is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　 Huangjia bamboo steamers are a traditional craft product passed down through generations in Huangjia Village, Hubei Township, Jiaocheng District, Ningde City, Fujian Province. They were first created in 1097 during the Northern Song Dynasty by Huang Yifu from Shuyang Village and have a history of over 900 years. The production technique of Huangjia steamers is a typical example of the hand-binding craftsmanship using cedar wood slices, standing out uniquely among folk handicrafts in China and still preserved in its original form. It can be regarded as a “living fossil” of traditional folk handicraft. In 2009, the traditional manual technique of Huangjia steamers was included in the third batch of Fujian Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is currently being nominated for inclusion in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. On April 18, 2012, the Hubei Huangjia Bamboo Steamer Association was officially established, uniting over 40 steamer enterprises to jointly promote industry development. Since then, Huangjia steamers have regained significant public attention. Huangjia steamer products are exported to more than 20 countries and regions including South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

　　 Huangjia Bamboo Steamers: An Ancient Handicraft Technique Passed Down for Millennia

　　　　Hubei Township is known as the “good western township” of Jiaocheng District in our city, located about 50 kilometers from the city center. In the past, due to its remote location from Jiaocheng District, it was relatively unknown. Even less frequented was Huangjia Village, situated about 20 kilometers west of the township government, at the junction of Jiaocheng, Gutian, and Pingnan counties. Huangjia is a large village in Hubei Township, where an ancient traditional handicraft technique—the Huangjia bamboo steamer production method—has been passed down to this day. It is a typical example of the hand-binding craftsmanship using cedar wood slices, standing out uniquely among folk handicrafts in China.

　　　　Strolling through Huangjia Village, one can see many family-run workshops scattered throughout. In many homes, the halls and rooms are stacked high with bamboo steamers that tower over people. These steamers are mostly made of cedar wood and bamboo slices, varying in size. The smaller ones are just about the size of a palm, just enough to hold a single bun; the larger ones can fit over a hundred steamed buns or meat buns. Villagers say they once produced a giant steamer custom-made for a Taiwanese client. During its production, a person could stand inside the steamer hoop without even needing to bend their head.

　　　　Aside from differences in size, the shapes and craftsmanship of the steamers also vary. Among the different orders from Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and abroad, some use bamboo or wood for the bottom tray, while others use ceramics, etc. Some steamer hoops are made with shiny aluminum sheets, giving them a more refined and fashionable look. Nowadays, with advancements in production techniques, steamers have also become a diverse range of handicraft products.

　　　　Huangjia bamboo steamers are made from special materials such as cedar wood, bamboo, and rattan. Though the production technique may seem simple, it results in steamers that are easy to heat, retain warmth, breathable yet prevent spoilage, aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, and durable. The rice steamed in these steamers has a unique fragrant aroma and stays fresh for a long time without spoiling. As a result, they have long been a favorite cooking vessel among the people of eastern Fujian. To foreigners, they are seen as excellent non-toxic steaming devices.

　　　　Over 80 production steps, with key processes still done by hand

　　　　In recent years, some of the production steps of Huangjia steamers have gradually been replaced by machinery, but many key processes still require manual work.

　　　　Huang Xiaohua is a young man in his twenties from Huangjia Village who inherited this skill from his grandfather. He skillfully fits circular bases into waist hoops, completing several in no time. He says he can usually install thirty to sixty of these in a day, but this is just one small step in the many stages of making a Huangjia steamer. In fact, the production technique of Huangjia steamers is quite complex.

　　　　“The production technique of Huangjia steamers may seem simple, but it is actually intricate and highly skilled. Producing a qualified product entirely by hand is by no means easy,” explained Huang Beili (currently the Party Secretary of Huangjia Village). Taking the production of a representative steamer with an inner diameter of 25 centimeters, known as a “rice steamer,” as an example, it generally goes through processes such as forming the waist hoop, forming the upper and lower blocks, forming the base (i.e., water seat or lower wrap), forming the steamer lid, inserting the partition, and making the bottom tray, before finally completing a whole steamer. Each of these steps includes over ten smaller processes. To make an original Huangjia steamer, from preparing the materials to installing the bottom tray, as many as 80-plus large and small processes are required. A craftsman needs to spend a full two days to make a single “rice steamer” with a capacity of two dou (15 kilograms).

　　　　“We select mature bamboo that is straight, has long internodes, and is free from insect damage. We cut it to the required length based on the size specifications,” said a villager in one of the village’s workshops, skillfully splitting a piece of bamboo with a knife. He explained that the bamboo is first split into slices and the green outer layer is removed to create bamboo slices a few centimeters wide, which are then planed smooth on a planing machine. “In the past, all of this was done manually with knives, requiring years of experience and skill. Now, with advanced production technology and machines, the process is much easier.”

　　　　After being planed by the machine, the bamboo slices become uniform in size, thin, and flexible. However, these slices cannot be used immediately and must undergo steaming, drying, and airing to remove excess moisture. This ensures the steamers are durable and do not deform over time. The process for cedar wood slices is largely similar.

　　　　Forming the waist hoop is also a delicate craft. The inner diameter of the waist hoop determines the size and capacity of the steamer. Its upper and lower edges need to align tightly with the upper and lower blocks, respectively, making a snug fit crucial. These waist hoops are bound together without using a single nail, but rather with rattan strips. First, the bamboo slices or cedar wood strips are coiled into one or two circles according to specifications, then holes are drilled at the joints, and rattan strips are threaded through to bind them. The number and arrangement of these holes are also important. Generally, there are three, five, seven, or even twelve holes, and the binding method of the rattan strips varies accordingly, creating various aesthetically pleasing patterns that are both functional and decorative.

　　　　After the waist hoops are made, the upper and lower blocks and the base (i.e., water seat or lower wrap) are also formed. The bottom trays of the steamers are mostly made of bamboo. The bamboo slices are cut into specific shapes, holes are drilled, and then bamboo sticks are threaded through or rattan strips are used to connect them, before being cut into circular trays that fit the steamer specifications. In the past, without machines, all of this was done purely by hand. Now, with machines, workers only need to place a stack of steamer trays into the machine, press a pedal, and the machine’s blade cuts out circular bottoms.

　　　　Forming the steamer lid is also a technical task. The cedar wood strips are coiled into a lid ring, and then the lid plate is pressed in to fit snugly with the protruding part of the upper block. The lid itself is woven from thin bamboo strips and then cut to shape. In traditional manual production, different weaving methods produce various patterns, each with its own unique characteristics.

　　　　The final step is to air-dry and polish the finished steamers, removing any rough edges, and some are even branded with product logos before being packaged as completed steamers.

　　　Passed down orally for over 900 years, a Song Dynasty technique shines anew

　　　　Speaking of the glorious history of Huangjia steamers, Huang Beili is filled with pride. According to him, the manual technique of Huangjia steamers has a history of over 900 years, first created in 1097 during the Northern Song Dynasty by Huang Yifu from Shiyang Village. Using primitive methods and tools, and relying on word-of-mouth and hands-on teaching—some of which are methods of inheritance that can only be understood but not explained, such as father-to-son transmission—it has endured uninterrupted and is still preserved to this day, making it a “living fossil” of traditional folk handicraft.

　　　　Historical records indicate that Shiyang is the ancient name for Huangjia Village, also known as Shuyang. The area is over 800 meters above sea level, with continuous mountain ranges, a humid and foggy climate, and moist conditions, particularly suitable for the growth of cedar and bamboo. The abundant cedar resources provided Huangjia steamers with ideal raw materials. In Huangjia Village, almost every household could make steamers. By the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, they could even produce daily utensils such as bowls, cups, plates, boxes, dishes, bottles, and teapots, including steamers. These cedar products could be shaped according to the object, displaying a variety of forms and even becoming tribute items at the time. Until the end of the last century, these daily utensils could still be commonly seen among rural households in eastern Fujian.

　　　　In the past, villagers from Huangjia carried tools and materials for making steamers on shoulder poles, traveling from street to street to produce steamers on-site, gaining some fame in various counties of eastern Fujian. However, this was not the villagers’ main industry. In the 1970s, Huang Beizhu from Huangjia Village established the village’s first steamer factory.

　　　　The true scale of the Huangjia steamer industry was formed in the 1990s. In 1992, a Taiwanese businessman saw Huangjia steamers elsewhere, was impressed by the craftsmanship, and came to place an order for a batch of bamboo steamers. That time, the entire village not only successfully fulfilled the order, but many young people, inspired by this success, started their own steamer factories. From then on, the Huangjia steamer industry continued to grow, expanding overseas and being exported to Japan, the United States, Australia, Singapore, and other places.

　　 In recent years, with the growth of the industry, more and more villagers have returned to their hometowns to engage in and develop this trade. Today, about three to four hundred households in Huangjia Village are involved in steamer production. Huangjia steamers have become the dominant industry in the village. Now, this traditional handicraft technique, “Huangjia steamers,” is progressing smoothly on the path of brand heritage. This ancient traditional skill has gained the attention of many insightful individuals, and relevant departments have proposed a “five-year protection plan” in hopes of preserving this millennia-old manual craft.

　　Hubei Huangjia Bamboo Steamer

　　Huangjia Bamboo Steamer Industry Association of Jiaocheng District, Ningde City

　　10779425

　　Bamboo Steamer