Summary of the Core Content
This news story highlights a striking contrast: prisons offer a more diverse range of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) courses than extracurricular classes outside, including jade carving, Gu embroidery, and cloisonné. Inmates must go through a rigorous selection process to enroll in these programs, complete daily assignments, and receive professional guidance. Their works have even won national awards and been displayed at the Shenzhen Cultural Expo. These courses not only help inmates develop patience and skills but also enable them to reconnect with their families. Upon release, they can use their crafts to find employment. Additionally, the closed environment of prisons addresses the challenges of ICH preservation, such as a lack of practitioners and time, creating a mutually beneficial situation where both inmates and the ICH traditions are enhanced.
Detailed Analysis
1. Prisons’ ICH Courses Are More Popular Than Extracurricular Classes?
While extracurricular classes outside are highly competitive (for example, 1.17 million people in Shanghai vied for spots in a guqin class, which was filled in 3 seconds), prisons offer unique opportunities. For instance, the Shanghai prison has introduced 54 ICH programs, with Qingpu focusing on jade carving, Songjiang on Gu embroidery, and Zhoupu creating a replica of "Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival" using 50 different types of grain (completed by 12 people over 1,200 hours). The ceramic carving program in Wujiawa has received 18 million views on YouTube. Other prisons across the country are also making efforts to promote ICH, such as Hubei teaching silk weaving, Chongqing teaching knot-tying techniques, and Shenzhen developing unique programs for each prison district.
These courses are not just for fun; they are highly effective. For instance, the Qingpu jade carving program has won the Jade Dragon Award 11 times, and the cloisonné piece "Five Oxen" from a Shenzhen prison won a silver award at the Cultural Expo, competing with works by professional craftsmen. Netizens comment, "It must be so peaceful to study without distractions from phones—these prisons are no worse than universities!" (However, note that enrollment requires a criminal record and a commitment to reform.)
2. Three Levels of Selection for ICH Courses
Not all inmates can participate; the selection process is rigorous:
- First Level: Qualification Screening – Based on behavior during rehabilitation (pledge of repentance), sentence length (younger inmates with longer sentences are preferred for more in-depth learning), personality (outgoing personalities are suitable for performance-based courses), and physical condition. For example, only 10 out of 49 applicants were selected for the public welfare knitting program at the Shanghai Women’s Prison.
- Second Level: Skill Assessment – Applicants must pass a drawing test before entering the workshop. After starting, they begin with basic skills training and only get access to machinery after six months.
- Third Level: Daily Management – Tools are numbered, and assignments are checked daily to prevent mistakes (similar to the scenario in "The Shawshank Redemption"). Inmates practice during the morning, receive feedback in the afternoon, and draw sketches at night. Police officers, often with backgrounds in art, supervise this process.
3. How Do ICH Courses Help Rehabilitate Inmates?
ICH courses teach patience and discipline, which are essential for overcoming impulsive behaviors associated with crime. For example, jade carving involves 9 steps, and even a single mistake can ruin the entire piece. Inmates learn to wait patiently and follow instructions carefully. Liu Qiang, who initially struggled with violence, became more composed after learning jade carving; Ah Jie, once eager for quick profits, developed patience through paper-cutting. These skills help them develop a sense of responsibility.
4. ICH Works Connect Inmates with Their Families and Society
The works created in prisons serve as a bridge between inmates and the outside world:
- reconnecting with Families – Inmate Lu Xin received a dragon drawn by his son, which he turned into a sculpture that won an award. A mother from a Zhejiang women’s prison knitted a wedding dress for her daughter, who cried during the video, saying, "I didn’t want to cry."
- reconnecting with Society – Inmates at the Shanghai Women’s Prison donate handmade items to children in need, transforming them from recipients of help to providers. After release, some inmates, like Wang Zhu (a Gu embroidery student) and Xu (a former violent offender), become ICH instructors or start their own businesses. Statistics show that 80% of the 300 jade carving graduates continue to work in related fields, with three becoming ICH practitioners. However, society’s prejudices remain a challenge; some employers are hesitant to hire them. Awards can demonstrate their skills, but they still need to earn acceptance.
5. A Mutual Beneficial Relationship Between Prisons and ICH Preservation
ICH preservation faces challenges outside prisons, such as a lack of time and interest from the general public. Prisons provide the necessary environment for long-term training and assessment, helping preserve these traditions. For example, only five out of Shen Lili’s 20 Gu embroidery students continued their craft after graduation, and fewer than a dozen people in Songjiang can still perform this tradition.
Conclusion
Prison ICH courses are not just about using art to save lives; they provide inmates with a path to self-improvement and skill development. While the works created in prisons help them reconnect with society, their true reintegration depends on their own efforts to follow the law and lead positive lives.