Jiange Walking Sticks

Jiange Walking Sticks

　　Jiange walking sticks, abbreviated as Jiange sticks, are unique in their craftsmanship and exquisitely made. They are crafted from perennial shrubs, thorny bushes, and vines sourced from the Jiange Mountain area. These sticks not only serve as practical travel aids for support and mobility but also function as artisan crafts that blend natural beauty with human artistry. There is a wide variety of styles, which can be divided into two main categories: the first being natural sticks. These are processed through cutting, burning and shaping, peeling, trimming, and polishing with clear varnish, and mostly consist of vine-based sticks. Other types of miscellaneous wood with distinctive shapes and easy to shape can also be made into natural-style sticks, featuring naturally formed nodes, simple elegance, and rustic charm. The second category is carved sticks. These are harvested from the root or dug up with roots intact, then shaped and fired into blanks, with root forks used as handles, and artistic designs applied according to the material’s characteristics.

　　 Jiange walking sticks, abbreviated as Jiange sticks and historically known as Kongming sticks, are crafted from hard miscellaneous woods and vines found in the thickets of the Jiange Mountain area. Processed by local artisans who shape them based on the natural forms of the vines and woods, these sticks are renowned for their fine texture, durability, distinctive grain patterns, naturally unique shapes, and strong regional character. By the time of the Republic of China period, they had already become a famous specialty product, giving rise to the saying, “The walking sticks of Jiange, the vinegar of Baoning (Langzhong).” After the liberation, stick production reached a significant scale. The products have been showcased in numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally, and exported to dozens of countries and regions in Southeast Asia, Europe, and America.