The secret inside can be traced to Quanzhou Wood Carving. Quanzhou wood carving is a representative of Fujian folk arts.
From small statues to large furniture or even architecture, many things can be carved with wood.
Quanzhou wood carving originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and gradually became a mature craftsmanship after the 15th century. In the Longshan Temple, there is still a masterpiece– “Thousand-Hand Guanyin”, made in Ming Dynasty.
The whole work is carved from one camphor tree.
The wood-carved Guanyin statue has 1008 hands, holding scrolls, bells, drums, jewelry and so on, with different gestures.
There is an eye carved in the palm of each hand, which means watching the world and protecting all sentient beings.
The production process of wood carving is not complicated, but it is a test of craftsmen’s skills and patience.
First draw the shape on the wood, and then remove the redundant parts with different knives.
This step has to be repeated and refined many times, and finally polish with sand paper.
The most difficult part is to design the shape according to the original wood grain. Various techniques, such as hollow carving, embossing and bas-relief, will be used to make wood carving works beautiful and useful.
Today's 3D modeling technology has greatly reduced the cost of making handicrafts, but it lacks artisan’s spirit to continuously elaborate.
Let’s try to feel the beauty of nature from Quanzhou Wood Carving!
责任编辑：【吉翔】
