Li Ethnic Minority Traditional Pottery Craft

The Li people's pottery tradition in Hainan dates back to prehistoric times, documented in Song and Qing dynasty records. It is primarily preserved in Ha, Run, Sai, and Meifu dialect groups.

Tools include wooden pestles, mortars, clay beaters, bamboo knives and clam shells. The 12-step process covers clay extraction, sun-drying, pulverizing, kneading, shaping, drying, open-fire calcining, etc.

Products include pots, steamers, jars and wine fermenters. Techniques like pinching, coiling and wheel-throwing persist, with coiling (without a potter’s wheel, open-fire calcining) being the most primitive.

The technique clings to existence in Dapo, Changjiang, offering insights into prehistoric pottery. With few artisans left, urgent preservation is needed as mass-produced alternatives replace traditional wares.