Liu Wei, Huang Qing, Shen Shicai, Yin Lun
College of Soil and Water Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650233, Yunnan, China.
Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Agricultural Transboundary Pests of Yunnan Province, Agricultural Environment and Resource Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, 650205, Yunnan, China.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2025 May 31;21(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s13002-025-00790-4.
The Tibetan wooden bowls are common utensils and feature obvious Tibetan cultural traits. However, research on Tibetan wooden bowls is limited, especially the ethnobotanical study related to wooden bowl production. This study will explore the traditional knowledge related to the use of plants in the production of Tibetan wooden bowls as well as the cultural connotations and social significance of these bowls in Benzilan Town through an ethnobotanical investigation.
In August 2024 and March 2025, we employed key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews, and participatory observations to conduct an ethnobotanical investigation of Tibetan wooden bowls in Benzilan Town. Also, we used relative frequency of citation (RFC) and informant consensus factors (ICF) to indicate the different perceptions of different vocational groups and villages in terms of plants used as raw materials. And we documented and analyzed the plants used to lacquer and dye through participatory observation.
We recorded a total of 18 plant species used in different stages of Tibetan wooden bowl production, belonging to 16 families, of which 13 plant species are used as raw materials, and 6 plant species are used for lacquering and dyeing. Among these plant species, Taxus yunnanensis (can be used as both raw material and dye material) and Torreya yunnanensis are under official protection due to their rarity. All the raw materials are collected from these plants in a reasonable manner.
The skilled craftsmen of Benzilan Town possess a wealth of traditional knowledge about Tibetan wood bowl making. This traditional knowledge not only promotes the sustainable use of resources but also contributes to the preservation and inheritance of traditional wood bowl crafting techniques. Furthermore, Tibetan wooden bowls, as important handicrafts, have not only driven the development of ethnic tourism but also stimulated the local economy. More importantly, the flourishing of the Tibetan wooden bowl industry not only helps preserve and pass down Tibetan culture but also fosters the dissemination of Tibetan culture. This case study may also encourage other similar regions to pay more attention to their local traditional handicrafts and provide a basis for subsequent studies.
藏木碗是常见的器具，具有明显的藏族文化特征。然而，对藏木碗的研究有限，尤其是与木碗制作相关的民族植物学研究。本研究将通过民族植物学调查，探索与藏木碗制作中植物使用相关的传统知识，以及这些木碗在奔子栏镇的文化内涵和社会意义。
2024年8月和2025年3月，我们采用关键 informant 访谈、半结构化访谈和参与观察的方法，对奔子栏镇的藏木碗进行民族植物学调查。此外，我们使用引用相对频率（RFC）和 informant 共识因子（ICF）来表明不同职业群体和村庄对用作原材料的植物的不同认知。并且我们通过参与观察记录和分析用于涂漆和染色的植物。
我们记录了藏木碗制作不同阶段共使用的18种植物，隶属于16科，其中13种植物用作原材料，6种植物用于涂漆和染色。在这些植物种类中，云南红豆杉（可同时用作原材料和染料材料）和云南榧树因其稀有而受到官方保护。所有原材料均以合理方式从这些植物中采集。
奔子栏镇的熟练工匠拥有丰富的关于藏木碗制作的传统知识。这种传统知识不仅促进了资源的可持续利用，也有助于传统木碗制作技艺的保护和传承。此外，藏木碗作为重要的手工艺品，不仅推动了民族旅游业的发展，还刺激了当地经济。更重要的是，藏木碗产业的繁荣不仅有助于保护和传承藏族文化，还促进了藏族文化的传播。本案例研究也可能鼓励其他类似地区更加关注当地传统手工艺品，并为后续研究提供依据。
