World Natural Heritage World Geopark The First National Forest Park of China
“Little pack-baskets, gently shaking, unforgettable is my childhood memory in mom’s pack-basket”, this household nursery rhyme, “Little pack-baskets” is sung by Ms. Song Zuying Chinese best-known female soprano of today.
Zhangjiajie is a city renowned for its mountainousness. Tujia successive generations inhabit here thereby they have a special complex with pack-baskets.
A basket-on-back, one childhood.
Tujia babies are kept in mom’s hand-made pack-basket. The beautiful and innovative pack=baskets are exquisitely made by mom themselves. Usually, moms would wave some heartfelt wishes on pack-baskets, such as “Happy baby”, “Healthy growth”,“Happy everyday”. A little basket-on-back, a indelible childhood filled with maternal love.
A basket-on-back, one workday.
In early morning, the diligent Tujia girls carry on their pack-baskets to wash clothes at the river bank. Then work in tea yard to collect the freshest tea leaves at the most proper time. For boys, they walk out early with a firewood pack-basket and back home with a full one.
A little pack-basket however is of great use and special meaning for every Tujia people in Zhangjiajie. Even in a modern era, today you still can find some Tujia people who carry a pack=basket for a historical complex where your eyes can reach.
Soured and translated by Aileen
