In ancient times, copper coins meant wealth. Joining the copper coins together one by one had the good meaning of collecting wealth. As a traditional skill in China, copper coin knitting (铜钱编织) was listed as an intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in 2018.
Every day at 9 a. m. , Zhang Canjin, 58, comes to the Drum Tower Street in Ningbo and walks into a small house. Sitting at his desk, the inheritor (继承人) of copper coin knitting starts his day. " Knitting the coins into different shapes doesn' t sound difficult, but the key is to be creative and think big, " Zhang said.
So, since he started his own copper coin knitting store in 2014, he has tried very hard to think big. Zhang added, " As I keep on making different works, I have more creative ideas in my mind" Zhang said.
To try something difficult, Zhang spent two months making armor (盔甲) with more than 8, 000 coins in 2017. It got great public attention and even got Zhang a national patent for design (设计专利).
Now, he tries to continue getting more creative ideas and hopes the art form will reach more people. " I think we Chinese people should pass on our own treasure and tradition, " Zhang said. The house of Zhang stands there in the middle of the crowded Drum Tower Street, and inside Zhang is knitting his love for heritage into a beautiful dream.
a. Zhang got a national patent for design.
b. Zhang made the armor with lots of copper coins.
c. Zhang started his own copper coin knitting store.
