SFL Students pay a visit to Arts and Crafts District in Putian
Demonstrating both the ancient and the modern times features, Fujian's Putian, a dazzling pearl on the southeast coast, shows the charm of Chinese traditional craftsmanship through its unique carving arts, narrating its millennia development stories. On July 10th, the CSTH (Culture, Sci-Tech, and Hygienic health) team of SFL, excitedly paid a visit to Putian’s Arts and Crafts District. The students conducted a comprehensive and detailed survey of Putian wood and stone carving. They engaged in a dialogue with the craftsmen involving the topic of art and history, experienced the wood's timeless charm and listened to the legendary stories behind each stroke.
Putian Wood Carving: the Timeless Charm of Wood, the Story of Each Stroke
Putian wood carving originated in the Tang Dynasty. Thanks to its abundant wood resources and the local people's passion for art, wood carving gradually became popular. As a brilliant pearl in the traditional Chinese carving, Putian wood carving is renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and diverse shapes. Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage and a traditional folk carving of Fujian Province, Putian wood carving is known for its meticulous carving skills and lifelike shapes, honored as "Oriental Art Treasure." Walking into the studio of a master, one can see wood shavings flying as each wood gradually takes shape.
Putian Stone Carving: A Miracle of Stone, an Eternal History of Each Stroke
Putian stone carving boasts a long history, known for its exquisite and delicate style. Students followed the guide to explore the "eternal" beauty of stone carving. Among the various stone carvings, "Kui Xing Points to the Dipper" and "Dominating the Aoyu" left a deep impression on them.
"According to legend, Kui Xing had an ugly appearance with face covered in pockmarks, and he was also lame. His skinny and ugly image was evident in this stone carving. In today's society putting focus on appearance, he might have easily given up on himself. However, Kui Xing had extraordinary ambition and studied diligently, eventually excelling in the imperial examination. The emperor, during the final examination, was somewhat biased by appearance and did not favor this candidate, thus trying to make some challenges for him. When asked why his face was full of pockmarks , he replied, 'The pockmarked face is like a starry sky.' When asked why he was lame, he answered, 'The one-legged man can jump over the dragon gate.' The emperor, pleased with these clever replies, ranked him first among all the candidates. Later, many people respected him as the God of Examination.” Said the guide.
In front of these lifelike stone carvings, the students not only appreciated the exquisite craftsmanship of Putian stone carving but also took lessons from the story of Kui Xing.
Conversations with Craftsman: The Life Journey of a Craftsman
During the survey, students learned many inheritance stories of wood carving craftsmen. Mr. Chen didn’t inherit his family's traditional wood carving crafts; rather, he started the wood carving due to his interest in painting and by learning from other masters. He had his own profound and unique insights into wood carving. He believed that every wood carving reflected the background of its era. As an inheritor of wood carving- intangible cultural heritage, Mr. Chen simply explained the basic techniques of Putian wood carving to us, such as round carving, relief carving, openwork carving, and line carving. Different techniques may be learned at different stages. He currently preferred using round carving. This carving technique was suitable for carving people and animals, requiring the craftsman to have a great ability of modeling.
Inheriting Intangible Cultural Heritage: Innovating While Inheriting
"Inheritance is not simply copying; rather, it is about innovating — injecting vitality to traditional crafts." When discussing the attraction of the wood and stone carving to the younger generation, Mr. Chen believed that economic value was important. If the economic value of wood carving increased, more young people may enter this industry. Nowadays, Putian wood and stone carving techniques continued to innovate based on traditional skills, integrating modern artistic elements. Many craftsman, while inheriting traditional techniques, tried new carving methods and different shapes, injecting vitality to Putian carving crafts. Besides, the rise of e-commerce has further promoted the sales of wood and stone carvings. Mr. Qiu pointed out that online sales have become a trend, since through e-commerce and social media, stone and wood carvings can transcend regional limitations and be available to global consumers, which was beneficial to the inheritance and development of traditional crafts.
During this survey, students not only experienced the extraordinary charm of Putian wood and stone carving but also deeply understood the importance of inheriting intangible cultural heritage. From the delicacy of wood carving to the grandeur of stone carving, every cut and carve embodies the dedication and wisdom of the craftsmen. Through inheritance and innovation, Putian wood and stone carving are revitalizing. Let us protect this precious cultural heritage and contribute to the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage.
By Tan Jinglu and Du Jingping
