Xuzhou fragrance sachets are based from an art form dating back to the Han Dynasty. (Photo : Women of China)
Xuzhou, a city in East China's Jiangsu Province, is known for the fragrant sachet craft item that has been produced in the area for centuries.
Jing Qiuhong, a Jiangsu resident who is a local craftswoman, set up an exhibition center at the end of last year, in which she displayed examples of the sachet art form as well as corresponding information.
The fragrant sachet is a Chinese folk art that dates back to the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD), when women would create the sachets, which contained perfume in the Confucian classic work "The Book of Rites" with embroidered patterns displayed on the exterior.
In 2008, China added the fragrant sachet to its list of intangible cultural heritage items.
Prior to the exhibition center, Jing established the Caos' Sachet Co. Ltd., which has grown from a small company into a large manufacturer that produces more than 200,000 sachets on an annual basis. Caos' products are not only popular on the Chinese market, as they are also exported to meet demand in the U.S., France and the Republic of Korea.
To meet the ongoing demands of the business, Jing employs a continual flow of young Chinese apprentices. A number of apprentices have quit their other jobs to work for Caos.
Jing has won prizes for her sachet designs at craft competitions, including the Jiangsu Federation of Literary and Art Circles event, held in March 2012.
The Jiangsu Association of Folk Art and Literary Workers named the young entrepreneur an "excellent young artist" in the province.
