Keep these crafts aliveTHE average life expectancy (寿命) of a building in China is just 25 to 30 years,compared with 132 years in Britain,according to an article in China Daily earlier this month.Although I don’t know how accurate these figures

Keep these crafts aliveTHE average life expectancy (寿命) of a building in China is just 25 to 30 years,compared with 132 years in Britain,according to an article in China Daily earlier this month.Although I don’t know how accurate these figures
Keep these crafts alive
THE average life expectancy (寿命) of a building in China is just 25 to 30 years,compared with 132 years in Britain,according to an article in China Daily earlier this month.Although I don’t know how accurate these figures are,it would not surprise me if they were correct.
The last house I occupied in Britain was more than 150 years old,and it still had many original features,such as a fireplace (壁炉) in each room.The windows,doors,and ceilings were each made by a specialist craftsman (工匠).
My Beijing apartment is a different story.Built about 30 years ago,it is already showing signs of age.Some of the windows don’t open.Most of the door hinges (铰链) are broken,and the ceiling has some large cracks.
The poor quality of Chinese buildings has been criticized recently as wasteful and dangerous.But there’s another problem that both China and Britain share – traditional crafts are dying at an alarming rate.
Stucco,a method of creating beautiful decorated ceilings and walls,is now practiced by just five people in Britain.Makers of traditional barrels (桶),wheels,fishing rods and dozens of other craftworks are often well beyond normal retirement age.Without apprentices (学徒) to pass the skills onto,they will take their valuable skills with them to the grave.
The situation is the same here in China.Yao Fuying,a Beijing-born master of traditional Chinese embroidery (刺绣),says that young people are interested in his work and the fact that it is all handmade.Still,he lacks a single apprentice to pass his skills onto.
Master Yao is not alone.Of 1,865 recognized Chinese handicrafts,47 percent are endangered,according to the China Arts and Crafts Association.
Training an apprentice takes time and money.It’s a practice that in many countries is supported by the government.Japan,France and Sweden are noted for their backing of traditional crafts.For instance,Japan is protecting 200 traditional crafts by giving financial support to craftsmen.Obviously,it’s all worth it,since traditional crafts have such an appeal and their high quality means you will be able to pass them onto your children as priceless heirlooms.

Keep these crafts aliveTHE average life expectancy (寿命) of a building in China is just 25 to 30 years,compared with 132 years in Britain,according to an article in China Daily earlier this month.Although I don’t know how accurate these figures
平均预期寿命在中国建筑（寿命）仅25至30年,在英国则为132年,根据中国日报的一篇文章在本月初.虽然我不知道这些数字是如何准确的,它不会让我感到吃惊,如果他们是正确的.
最后一家我在英国占领超过150岁,它仍然有许多原始特征,如在每个房间的壁炉（壁炉）.窗户,门和天花板每个人都是天造地设由专门工匠（工匠）.
我的北京公寓是一个不同的故事.大约30年前建成的,它已经显示出衰老的痕迹.有些人的窗户无法打开.的（铰链）门铰链大多破碎,天花板有一些大的裂缝.
对中国建筑质量差而受到批评最近在浪费和危险.但还有一个问题,这两个中国and Britain分享 - 传统工艺正以惊人的速度死亡.
粉刷,创造一个美丽的装饰,天花板和墙壁的方法,现在练的短短五年在英国的人.传统的桶（桶）,车轮,钓鱼竿和其他工艺品几十个庄家往往远远超出正常退休年龄.没有学徒（学徒）来传递的技能上,他们将带着他们的宝贵技能的坟墓.
同样的情况在这里是中国.姚富盈,是传统中国刺绣出生于北京的主站（刺绣）说,青年是他的工作和事实,即它是所有手工制作兴趣.不过,他缺乏一个学徒要通过他的技能上.
硕士姚明并不孤单. 1,865承认中国的工艺品,百分之47受到威胁,据中国工艺美术协会.
学徒培训需要时间和金钱.这是一个在许多国家是由政府支持的做法.日本,法国和瑞典是指出他们的传统工艺品的支持.例如,日本在保护给予资金支持200个传统工艺的技工.显然,这一切都是值得的,因为传统工艺有这样的呼吁,并以其高品质意味着你将可以传给你的孩子为他们无价的传家宝.