Telling Stories through Contemporary Bai Jewelry: A Case Study of Xinhua Village in Yunnan Province

Abstract

Xinhua Village, a renowned Bai ethnic craftsmen village in Yunnan Province, China, has a unique development approach shaped by its special environment and cultural factors. Not only does the village boast a rich history in crafting Bai silver jewelry and silverware, but it has also achieved earlt-stage marketization and high degree of ethnic integration. Each ethnic group typically possesses its own traditional jewelry, which either iteratively develops or fades away over time in response to historical progress. These artifacts, to varying extents, serve as reflections of the ethnic group’s historical period, environments, and cultural phenomena. However, traditional Bai jewelry has not developed with the times, leading to a decline in the vitality of this ancient art form. This research article would like to use jewelry as a medium for storytelling, with a focus on the cultural activities of Xinhua Village as the background story then proceed to curate a selection of stories and traditional symbols of the Bai Tribe in this village. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, the research will explore the concepts and merits of storytelling, specifically honing in on the potential for creative new silver jewelry incorporating contemporary design methods and inspiration drawn from the Bai ethnic group in Xinhua Village. The research method involves experimenting with the design and creation of works, informed by the insights gathered from this investigation to introduce a fresh perspective in the development of jewelry in this locality. The research will also present recommendations for further exploration of research topics in the future.