Zheng Chunhui

01 · Lineage & Regional School

Zheng Chunhui, Male, Han, from Putian, Fujian, is a sixth-batch national representative bearer of Wood Carving (Ⅶ-58). The tradition is documented in Putian, Fujian. Within the regional tradition and school record of Wood Carving in Putian, Fujian: Putian wood carving is mainly distributed in Putian's urban center (the old Xinghua prefectural city) and in townships such as Huangshi, Hanjiang, and Xianyou Bangtou. The materials are mainly longan, boxwood, sandalwood, and redwood, each lending its own stylistic characteristics; the works are mostly treasured by wealthy families and have attracted many overseas antique dealers to come and purchase them. Putian wood carving began in the Tang dynasty, initially used for architectural decoration, Buddhist statues, and book printing; as early as the Tang dynasty Putian wood carving was already employed to decorate buildings. In the Song dynasty woodblock printing flourished in Putian, and printing workshops trained large numbers of skilled carvers, so that wood carving and block engraving nourished each other. In the Ming dynasty many master craftsmen of Buddhist statues and ornamental carving emerged, and in the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty there were already gilded openwork works presented as tribute.

02 · Mastery & Signature Works

The bearer record for Zheng Chunhui is anchored in the documented technical standards of Wood Carving in Putian, Fujian. Within the documented technical tradition of Wood Carving in Putian, Fujian: Putian wood carving is the collective name for wood carving artworks produced within Putian City, Fujian Province; the materials are mainly longan wood, boxwood, sandalwood, and redwood. Putian wood carving has a history of nearly one thousand years. As early as the Tang dynasty it was already used to decorate buildings, and it was also used for Buddhist statues and book printing. The Song dynasty statue of Guan Yu, carved by the famed Putian artisan Ping Diao after a painting by Ma Yuan, is still kept in Wanshou Nunnery today. By the Ming dynasty many artisans in Putian excelled at Buddhist statues and ornamental carving; the wooden statue of Mazu in Puxi Tianfei Temple has not only fine facial expression but also hands and feet that can move up, down, left, and right, and it remains well preserved to this day. In the Qing dynasty Putian wood carving art developed further, and in the Qianlong era there were already gilded openwork works presented as tribute. The late Qing master Liao Mingsshan was skilled at carving figures, flowers, plants, insects, and fish from small pieces of wood; his grandson Liao Xi and four brothers were all famed carvers, and their works won multiple awards at the Panama World Exposition. Putian wood carving has beautiful forms and exquisite workmanship, and is world-renowned for its traditional techniques of three-dimensional round carving, fine detail carving, and triple openwork. Because of differences in material, longan wood carving, boxwood carving, sandalwood carving, and redwood carving each display their own stylistic characteristics; the works are mostly treasured by wealthy families and have attracted many overseas antique dealers to come and purchase them. Representative repertoire, works and technical entries recorded for the project include: "The flat carving after Ma Yuan's Guan Yu": A flat carving after the Song painter Ma Yuan's Guan Yu, still kept in Wanshou Nunnery, is key evidence for the early look of Putian woodcarving. "The Mazu image of Puxi Tianfei Temple": A Ming-period masterpiece whose face is finely expressed and whose hands and feet still move, it survives in good condition. "Round carving, minute carving and triple openwork": Putian woodcarving is celebrated above all for three-dimensional round carving, minute detailing and triple-layer openwork. "Liao Mingshan and the five Liao brothers": The late-Qing master Liao Mingshan carved figures and plants in tiny pieces; his five grandsons were all noted carvers and won awards at the Panama exposition.

03 · Transmission & Safeguarding Status

In 2025, Zheng Chunhui was announced in the sixth batch of national representative bearers for Wood Carving, with Putian, Fujian as the declared area. Within the documented safeguarding record of Wood Carving in Putian, Fujian: The project was inscribed in the national inventory in 2011 (batch 3), with Putian, Fujian as its declared area, and Putian Erqinggongyelian Society as its safeguarding unit. Since the project was inscribed in the national inventory, its declared area and safeguarding unit have carried out documentation, transmission and presentation within the national safeguarding framework. Together, the inventory record and the project archive form the public documentary basis for the bearer’s transmission practice.

04 · Associated Heritage Item Dossier

05 · Fellow National Bearers Lineage

National representative bearers recorded under the same item code, ordered from the first to the sixth batch. Batch order is not a teacher–student relationship.

06 · Archival Sources & Bibliography

1. Zhengchunhui (Putian, Fujian) · China ICH Official Project Archive
2. Zhengchunhui · China ICH Official Archive