Mie Yezhang - Inheritor of Dai Pottery-making Craft in Lancang County, Puer 

Mi Yezhang: A Guardian of Dai Earthenware and Inheritor of Lancang’s Ceramic Heritage

Basic Background and Learning Journey

​​Mi Yezhang (咩叶章)​​, a ​​Dai ethnic woman (傣族女性)​​ born in ​​1959 (1959年)​​ in ​​Hebianzhai, Xiayun Office, Shangyun Town, Lancang County, Pu’er City, Yunnan Province (云南省普洱市澜沧县上允镇下允办事处河边寨)​​, is a ​​second batch of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor (第二批省级非物质文化遗产代表性传承人)​​ (recognized in 2002) for ​​Dai earthenware craftsmanship (傣族土陶技艺)​​. A lifelong potter, she has mastered the art of firing earthenware since age 7, when she began learning from her mother. By 12, she formally inherited the craft—a family tradition passed down through generations of Dai women. For over half a century, she has steadfastly preserved this ancient art, producing around 4,000 earthenware pieces annually. Her work, celebrated for its craftsmanship and cultural significance, has not only sustained her family but also elevated the global profile of Dai earthenware. She is affectionately known as the "Guardian of Clay."

Learning Journey: A Legacy Woven in Clay

Mi’s connection to earthenware is rooted in her family and community:

• ​​Childhood (童年时期)​​: At 7, she began apprenticing under her mother, absorbing the craft amid the clatter of pottery wheels and the scent of wet clay—an environment where "every Dai household valued earthenware as daily necessity and cultural heirloom."
• ​​Adolescence (青少年时期)​​: At 12, her mother formally entrusted her with the full suite of techniques, from clay selection to firing. This marked her formal entry into a lineage of female potters, a tradition of "mothers passing skills to daughters"in Dai culture.
• ​​Adulthood (成年时期)​​: Over decades, she honed her craft amid life’s demands, perfecting techniques while balancing household responsibilities. Her persistence transformed her into a local legend, revered for her ability to fuse tradition with practicality.

Artistic Characteristics and Representative Works

Technical Mastery: From Clay to Fire

Mi’s craft is defined by meticulous attention to detail and adherence to ancient methods:

1. ​​Material Selection​​: She sources deep gray-brown clay and fine sand from local riverbanks, mixing them in precise ratios. After pounding and blending, the clay becomes supple and moldable—ideal for shaping.
2. ​​Traditional Process​​:
   • ​​Clay Preparation​​: Sun-drying, sieving, and mixing clay with sand to enhance plasticity.
   • ​​Forming​​: Hand-coiling clay into vessel shapes on wooden molds, then refining with stone tools to create textured surfaces.
   • ​​Drying​​: Air-drying pieces in shaded, ventilated areas to prevent cracking.
   • ​​Firing​​: Open-air burning with dry rice straw and de-hulled corn cobs, stoking continuously until the clay glows crimson—a 700°C–1,000°C process preserving the earthenware’s porous, heat-retentive qualities.
3. ​​Unique Techniques​​:
   • ​​Slow-Wheel Handcrafting​​: A pre-industrial method distinguishing Dai earthenware from modern wheel-thrown pottery.
   • ​​Textured Surfaces​​: Using carved wooden paddles to imprint geometric patterns, echoing Neolithic "incised pottery" found across southern China.

Representative Works: Utility Meets Artistry

Mi’s creations blend function and cultural identity:

Cultural Contributions to Lancang and Pu’er

Safeguarding a 200-Year Legacy

As a provincial inheritor, Mi has preserved Lancang’s Dai earthenware—a craft with roots tracing back 200 years (and 4,000 years to Neolithic origins). Her studio, a living museum, hosts workshops where she demonstrates clay preparation, coiling, and firing, ensuring the craft’s survival.

Bridging Tradition and Economy

• ​​Livelihood Support​​: Her annual output of 4,000 pieces provides stable income for her family and inspires neighbors to take up the craft, boosting local employment.
• ​​Cultural Export​​: Pieces are sold across Yunnan and beyond, with tourists carrying them home as souvenirs—spreading Dai culture globally.

Educating Future Generations

Mi actively engages youth:

• ​​Community Workshops​​: During national holidays, she teaches children at Lancang County Cultural Center events, letting them mold clay and fire mini-pots.
• ​​School Collaborations​​: She partners with local schools to integrate earthenware into "intangible heritage" curricula, fostering pride in Dai traditions.

Cultural Context of Dai Earthenware in Lancang

Roots in History and Environment

Lancang’s Dai earthenware thrives on local resources and history:

• ​​Geography​​: The Hebianzhai area’s rich clay deposits provide ideal raw material.
• ​​History​​: Earthenware in this region dates to the Qing Dynasty, evolving from Neolithic techniques. It was listed as a ​​county-level cultural protection item​​ and later a ​​city-level intangible heritage​​ in Pu’er.

More Than Craft

Dai earthenware is cultural glue:

• ​​Identity​​: Its porous texture and earthy hues symbolize Dai connection to land and simplicity.
• ​​History​​: Vessels used in weddings, funerals, and daily rituals preserve communal memory.
• ​​Economy​​: Once utilitarian, it now drives tourism and creative industries.

Current Challenges and Preservation

Challenges

• ​​Aging Artisans​​: Few young people pursue the craft due to long training and low initial income.
• ​​Market Pressures​​: Machine-made ceramics undercut handmade quality.

Protective Efforts

• ​​Policy Support​​: Mi is recognized as a provincial inheritor; her work is in ​​Pu’er’s Intangible Heritage Catalog​​.
• ​​Tourism Integration​​: "Non-heritage + tourism" initiatives (e.g., festival exhibitions) boost visibility.
• ​​E-Commerce​​: Platforms like Taobao and Douyin promote direct sales, sustaining artisans.

Conclusion

Mi Yezhang is more than a potter—she is a ​​guardian of Dai soul (傣族文化的精神守护者)​​. Her hands, calloused by half a century of clay, have transformed raw earth into vessels of culture and sustenance. As a provincial inheritor, she proves tradition thrives when shared—ensuring Lancang’s earthenware legacy will endure for generations.To learn more, contact the ​​Lancang County Culture and Tourism Bureau (澜沧县文化和旅游局)​​ or visit Hebianzhai to witness Mi’s craft and the living heritage of Dai earthenware.