Stone Carving

Ⅶ-56Traditional Fine ArtsAnyue, SichuanBatch 2 (2008)Newly Added Item

01 · Historical Records

The local cliff-face statues began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties; they are mainly Buddhist images, with some Taoist images as well. Within its territory there are now more than five hundred sites of ancient stone carving remains and over one hundred thousand statues.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

Stone carving, also known as 'stone engraving,' is a traditional handcraft carving technique that uses stone as its raw material. Chinese stone carving art has a long history; passed down without interruption for thousands of years, it survives to this day, displaying the exquisite technique, ingenious conception, and abundant creativity of traditional folk craftsmanship. Stone carving is generally carried out on natural stone materials such as marble, granite, bluestone, and sandstone, and in the process requires the masterful application of a series of folk carving techniques, including round carving, relief, openwork, and line engraving. Because these stone materials are taken from nature and can be preserved for a long time, stone carving techniques are mostly used to produce large-scale sculptures and decorative sculptures. By use, stone carving products fall mainly into three categories: first, architectural components and ornaments, such as pedestals, memorial archways, and stone lions; second, statues of deities and Buddhas, such as those in the Yungang Grottoes of Shanxi and the Longmen Grottoes of Henan; and third, everyday articles that are both ornamental and practical, such as desk ornaments and inkstones. Traditional stone carving uses tools such as axes, hammers, and chisels; in modern times, more advanced implements such as glycerol gunpowder and simple machinery began to be adopted. With the development of society, stone carving techniques have steadily improved, and related products circulate widely in the market as distinctive commodities with a unique artistic charm. Anyue stone carving is a traditional carving art found in the Anyue area of Sichuan Province. Anyue has a long history and a concentration of cultural talent; it is renowned far and near for its cliff-face statues. Anyue stone carving inherits and carries forward the ancient artistic tradition of cliff-face statues. It takes such technical forms as round carving, pagoda carving, wall carving, and stele engraving; its cutting is fine, its knife work deft, and its conception original, with figures that are vivid and full of interest, demonstrating a superb level of craftsmanship.

The Purple Bamboo Guanyin and the reclining Buddha

The two best-known images in the county, they supply the direct subject matter and modelling for Anyue stone carving.

Over five hundred sites and a hundred thousand images

Cliff images began in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and flourished under the Tang and Song; some five hundred sites and a hundred thousand images survive.

Round carving, pagoda carving, wall carving and stele inscription

Continuing the cliff-carving tradition, the craft uses round carving, pagoda carving, wall carving and stele work with fine cutting and lively figures.

Shi Yong'en and his two hundred pupils

The national inheritor Shi Yong'en has practised for over fifty years, taught more than two hundred pupils and led large projects including the Buddhist story wall on Puzhou Square.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

Anyue stone carving is centered on the various cliff-face statue sites within Anyue County; niches and caves are especially dense in the townships of Yueyang, Shiyang, and Longtai, and Yuanjue Cave, the Reclining Buddha Monastery, Pilu Cave, and Huayan Cave are all representative large caves. The subject matter of the statues is mainly Buddhist, together with Taoist and combined-niche images.

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04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

Shi Yong'en (recorded in the official file of the associated inheritor): Male, Han ethnicity, born in July 1947, native of Guangyuan County, Sichuan Province. He has practiced this craft for more than fifty years, with consummate technique and superb skill. His works are vividly rendered, simple and elegant in style, combining traditional charm with modern aesthetic appeal. He has led an Anyue stone carving craft team in creating a large number of carved works, including the Purple Bamboo Guanyin and Reclining Buddha statues in Yuanjue Cave within Anyue County, the Buddhist-story stone carving art wall at Puzhou Square, the Eight Famous Personages statues of Anyue, the Buddha statue in Kuige Pavilion, as well as the Confucius statue at the Zizhong Confucius Temple and the white marble seated Buddha at the Great Buddha Temple in Huanglongxi. He actively transmits the craft, having taught more than two hundred disciples; all three of his sons are also engaged in stone carving. He is a representative inheritor of stone carving (Anyue stone carving), a national-level intangible cultural heritage item, from the fifth national-level batch.

05 · Associated Representative Bearers

Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗

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