STORY: Guardian of bird cage making skills in Hong Kong
DATELINE: July 31, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:52
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of the bird-cage store
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): CHEN LECAI, Bird cage maker
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): CHEN LECAI, Bird cage maker
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Cantonese): CHEN LECAI, Bird cage maker
5. various of the bird-cage store
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Cantonese): KWOK DYLAN, Chen Lecai's disciple
 
STORYLINE:
 
Near the Prince Edward Flower Market in Kowloon, there is a bird garden with a Chinese garden design theme. When you are in it, you are greeted with all kinds of bird cages and birds, and your ears echo with crisp birdsong.
 
An inconspicuous stall is full of bird cages of different sizes and styles, and an old master is focusing on fiddling with the bird cages in front of him.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Cantonese): CHEN LECAI, Bird cage maker
"In the old days, no one studied this trade, most people would learn carpentry, cement, electrical and so on. This business was very unpopular, and no one studied it. At that time, I had a sudden idea, what to do when the old man retired and no one to take over, so I did this job."
 
Chen Lecai, 81, followed his uncle to learn how to make bird cages when he was only 13 years old, and studied under famous cage makers. Since then, he has forged a half-life relationship with birds and experienced the rise and fall of the industry.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Cantonese): CHEN LECAI, Bird cage maker
"If it's a small bird, such as lovebirds, they prefer small cages. Some birds are bigger, so they need bigger cages and taller ones. If big birds are packed in small cages, it is not suitable."
 
The bird cage is a combination of bamboo and woodworking, from breaking bamboo, using knives, painting, every step is very challenging. An ordinary bird cage uses at least 48 bamboo strands, each of which is heated with a kerosene lamp to form a suitable arc for the cage. A regular, solid and transparent handmade bird cage often takes months or even years to complete.
 
In 2014, bird cage making skills were included in the category of "traditional handicrafts" in the list of intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong. In order to preserve the craft, Chen decided to recruit apprentices.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Cantonese): CHEN LECAI, Bird cage maker
"Making bird cages is a tedious process, many young people don't like it. Now several apprentices study very hard and want to pass it on, so I teach them."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (Cantonese): KWOK DYLAN, Apprentice
"I've studied this craft for two to three years. At first, I just learned by watching and tried to record something, then I gradually learned from teachers and tried to understand the unique culture in Hong Kong."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)