Fish Skin Clothing Tradition at Risk of Dying Out
2020-01-30
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1The Hezhen are one of China's smallest ethnic minority groups.
2Early Hezhen people developed methods for making clothes, bedding and thread out of fish skin.
3For that reason, they became known in China as the "Fish Skin Tribe."
4But today, the tradition is dying.
5You Wenfeng is one of the few people in her community carrying on the tradition.
6She was not yet born when her people were sent to labor camps during Japan's occupation of Manchuria in the 1930s and 1940s.
7You, who is 68, told Reuters reporters that many Hezhen died in the camps.
8But her mother survived, and she taught her daughter about fish skin.
9The Hezhen are native to Siberia.
10Traditionally, they were hunters and fishers, making their living along rivers.
11After World War II, the Hezhen population grew from 300 to 5,000 along the Amur River, also known as the Black Dragon River.
12But that population growth did not stop the loss of Hezhen culture, including making clothing from the skin of fish like carp, pike and salmon.
13Few young Hezhen wanted to learn the skill.
14Fish-skin clothing is also not what Hezhen people wear today.
15Knowing this, You started to share her knowledge with local Han Chinese women in Tongjiang, where she lives.
16The quiet city sits near China's northeastern border with Russia.
17You's followers also learn the Yimakan, a kind of storytelling that uses both speech and song in the Hezhen language.
18The lessons are not easy.
19You's followers memorize songs of fishing, hunting and ancient tribal victories in a language they do not speak.
20During a visit by Reuters reporters, You began to sing in her small apartment.
21She sang of a woman's wish to have a son for her hunter-husband.
22Hezhen hunters rode on narrow boats made from birch wood. You described the boats as "swift horses."
23The Hezhen were so skillful on water that their ancient stories say they came from mermaids.
24"When the forests flooded to the treetops, there would be fish everywhere," You said.
25These days, fish are bought from the marketplace.
26And instead of tiger bone and the tissue of deer, a special sewing tool and cotton thread are used.
27A piece of clothing for a woman requires 50 fish.
28For a man, it requires 56, You said.
29The first step is to remove the fish's skin and dry it.
30The skin is then repeatedly passed through wooden "teeth" to soften it.
31The process takes a month. Sewing then requires about 20 more days.
32Fish leather has inspired some high-end clothing design houses, including Dior and Prada, to use it in their clothes.
33But the material is still not common.
34You says fish skins are "stronger than most skins."
35In 2006, Hezhen fish skin clothing was listed by China as intangible cultural heritage, which means a special effort is made to preserve the tradition.
36I'm Alice Bryant.
1The Hezhen are one of China's smallest ethnic minority groups. Early Hezhen people developed methods for making clothes, bedding and thread out of fish skin. For that reason, they became known in China as the "Fish Skin Tribe." 2But today, the tradition is dying. 3You Wenfeng is one of the few people in her community carrying on the tradition. 4She was not yet born when her people were sent to labor camps during Japan's occupation of Manchuria in the 1930s and 1940s. 5You, who is 68, told Reuters reporters that many Hezhen died in the camps. But her mother survived, and she taught her daughter about fish skin. 6The Hezhen are native to Siberia. Traditionally, they were hunters and fishers, making their living along rivers. 7After World War II, the Hezhen population grew from 300 to 5,000 along the Amur River, also known as the Black Dragon River. 8But that population growth did not stop the loss of Hezhen culture, including making clothing from the skin of fish like carp, pike and salmon. 9Few young Hezhen wanted to learn the skill. Fish-skin clothing is also not what Hezhen people wear today. 10Knowing this, You started to share her knowledge with local Han Chinese women in Tongjiang, where she lives. The quiet city sits near China's northeastern border with Russia. 11You's followers also learn the Yimakan, a kind of storytelling that uses both speech and song in the Hezhen language. 12The lessons are not easy. You's followers memorize songs of fishing, hunting and ancient tribal victories in a language they do not speak. 13During a visit by Reuters reporters, You began to sing in her small apartment. She sang of a woman's wish to have a son for her hunter-husband. 14Hezhen hunters rode on narrow boats made from birch wood. You described the boats as "swift horses." The Hezhen were so skillful on water that their ancient stories say they came from mermaids. 15"When the forests flooded to the treetops, there would be fish everywhere," You said. 16These days, fish are bought from the marketplace. And instead of tiger bone and the tissue of deer, a special sewing tool and cotton thread are used. 17A piece of clothing for a woman requires 50 fish. For a man, it requires 56, You said. 18The first step is to remove the fish's skin and dry it. The skin is then repeatedly passed through wooden "teeth" to soften it. The process takes a month. Sewing then requires about 20 more days. 19Fish leather has inspired some high-end clothing design houses, including Dior and Prada, to use it in their clothes. But the material is still not common. 20You says fish skins are "stronger than most skins." 21In 2006, Hezhen fish skin clothing was listed by China as intangible cultural heritage, which means a special effort is made to preserve the tradition. 22I'm Alice Bryant. 23Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English with additional information. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 24_______________________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26swift - adj. moving or able to move very fast 27mermaid - n. an imaginary sea creature that has a woman's head and body and a fish's tail instead of legs 28sewing - gerund. the making or repair of something by using a needle and thread 29leather - n. animal skin that is chemically treated to preserve it and that is used in making clothes, shoes, or furniture 30intangible - adj. not made of physical substance