1.4 Decline and Withering – The Dilemma of Ronghua Development
In the 1990s, under the influence of the market economic system reform and profound shifts in public lifestyles and aesthetic perceptions, Ronghua factories across the country successively closed down. As veteran artisans passed away, the craft of Ronghua once faced a dire situation where its techniques were at risk of being lost, with no successors to carry them forward.
Fortunately, in 2006, Nanjing Ronghua (a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage) successfully applied for heritage status, with Master Zhao Shuxian recognized as the sole representative inheritor of Nanjing Ronghua craftsmanship. The following year, Ronghua-making techniques were included in Jiangsu Province's first batch of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage lists. In 2009, "Beijing Velvet Birds and Ronghua" was also honored as a representative intangible cultural heritage project of Beijing Municipality, with Master Cai Zhiwei designated as the representative inheritor of this project.
Additionally, Yangzhou Ronghua, Huai'an Ronghua, Tianjin Ronghua, and others have successively become cultural treasures of their respective regions, listed as intangible cultural heritage projects.
Tianjin stands as a unique case, having successfully preserved Ronghua craftsmanship through its profound folk traditions. Tianjin Ronghua is an indispensable branch in the history of Ronghua, and Tianjin City is currently the best-preserved city in China in terms of Ronghua-wearing customs.
Whether during traditional festivals like the Spring Festival and Dragon Boat Festival or joyous occasions such as weddings, classic Ronghua styles like the "Treasure Basin" and "Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity" always adorn people's chests or hair. Tianjin Ronghua, with its affordable prices and traditional auspicious designs, is widely beloved by the public. As a representative of the Northern school of Ronghua, its colors are predominantly red, symbolizing celebration and good fortune.
