Perseverance at fingertips: Old craftsmen tell stories of time with woven baskets

Walking into Master Zhou's workshop, the air is filled with the natural fragrance of rattan. Freshly procured green rattan is neatly stacked in the corners. These rattans undergo a series of processes, including screening, drying, soaking, and peeling. "Only rattan that has been exposed to the sun for seven days and then soaked in warm water for three hours is both tough and resistant to breakage," Master Zhou explains, picking up a cane and expertly bending it into an arc with his fingertips, his movements flowing like flowing water. The woven baskets in his hands lack complex patterns, yet they possess the most exquisite details—every inch of the basket is tightly and evenly woven, the handles are specially reinforced with three rattan loops, and the bottom is padded with non-slip bamboo strips. "In the past, rural people used baskets to store food and sundries, so they needed to be sturdy and durable. Now, city dwellers use them as decorations and for picnics, so they also need to be durable."

Master Zhou's woven baskets hold many childhood memories. Some customers come specifically to him to order a "handle basket" similar to the one his grandmother used when he was a child, saying that seeing one reminds them of the days when they went to the market with her. Others, like young people, come in to order small, woven rattan fruit baskets to store fruit at home, creating an eco-friendly and homely experience.

These days, the market is flooded with machine-made plastic and fabric baskets, but Master Zhou's handwoven baskets still retain many repeat customers. He says, "Machines weave quickly, but they lack the warmth of hands. A medium-sized rattan basket takes me two full days to weave. It's a bit slow, but the direction of each wicker and the tightness of each knot are all filled with care." In his spare time, Master Zhou teaches the young people in the alley basic weaving techniques. "I don't want this craft to end in my hands. Every time someone learns, there's more hope."

Sunlight filters through the workshop windows, illuminating Master Zhou's busy fingers and the half-finished baskets. The intertwined wicker strips seem to tell a story of time. This perseverance, measured in fingertips, is not only a testament to the legacy of traditional craftsmanship but also a love and protection of the true nature of life.