Yanwen Hanzai – Representative Inheritor of Dai Fireworks-making Craft Project in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna 

Yan Wenhanzai (岩温罕在), born in 1951 in Manxiao Village (曼校村), Manda Village Committee (曼达村委会), Gasa Town (嘎洒镇), Jinghong City (景洪市), Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture (西双版纳傣族自治州), is the provincial-level representative inheritor of Dai traditional rocket (高升) making techniques.

Technical Mastery

The Rocket Maker’s Journey

Apprenticed in 1980 under master Yan Xianghe (岩香贺) from Gasa Manda Village (嘎洒曼达村), Yan Wenhan mastered:

• Precise gunpowder formulation
• Secure powder packing techniques
• Traditional bamboo binding methods
• Ornamental decoration skills

Innovations in Tradition

Modernizing an Ancient Craft

Yan’s groundbreaking improvements include:

Material revolution – Replacing bamboo powder chambers with lightweight paper tubes

Safety enhancements – Refined construction for stable launches

Pyrotechnic optimization – Customized gunpowder mixtures for:

• Stronger thrust
• Stable trajectories
• Future multicolor effects

Aesthetic upgrades – Vibrant decorations complementing the rockets’ thunderous ascent

Cultural Impact

Rockets That Unite Communities

During Water Splashing Festival (泼水节):

• Yan’s rockets sell out immediately
• Buyers travel from distant villages
• Six apprentices continue his legacy since 1990

His creations are celebrated for:

• Brilliant chromatic displays
• Powerful vertical ascent
• Resonant sonic booms

Preservation Legacy

Passing the Flame

Yan Wenhanzai’s dual mission:

Technical innovation to advance the craft

Intergenerational transmission through:

• Hands-on apprenticeships
• Community demonstrations
• Cultural promotion

Through these efforts, this provincial intangible cultural heritage inheritor ensures Dai rocketry remains both a living tradition and evolving art form.

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