After Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Chengdu, which city will be China's next "creative city"? It might be Beijing or Hangzhou, or it could even be a name that many people haven't thought of, or perhaps have never even heard of - Dongyang. This small county-level city located in central Zhejiang province has, with hundreds of years of accumulation, combined with continuous innovation and integration, made the traditional wood carving art bloom with new brilliance. For this reason, Dongyang has become the only county-level city in the country approved to apply for the United Nations Creative Cities Network, and is currently in the international approval stage, with hopes of obtaining the title of "Capital of Handicrafts and Folk Art."
The Imperial Dongyang Wood Carving
Dongyang wood carving is one of the four major wood carvings in the country, with a long history. It had initially taken shape during the Tang Dynasty; from the Song to Ming Dynasties, its skills became increasingly refined; by the Qing Dynasty, it entered its heyday. Historical records show that during the Jiaqing and Daoguang periods, hundreds of Dongyang wood carving masters were recruited to the Forbidden City to work on palace decorations. Until the end of the Qing Dynasty, most of the dragon thrones, furniture, and display appreciation wood carvings in the palace were the works of Dongyang artists. In the 1915 Panama International Exposition, Dongyang wood carving chests and bookcases won the grand prize, and indoor display wood carving artworks received the gold medal. Since then, Dongyang wood carving began to go global.
Lou Xiumin, secretary general of the Dongyang Municipal Arts and Crafts Association, introduced that Dongyang is located in hilly terrain with barren land, so the people have traditionally gone out to seek their livelihoods, especially in the construction industry. Dongyang wood carving originated from architectural decoration, forming a style mainly characterized by plane relief carving, often using multi-layered relief, scattered perspective composition, and retaining plane decorative techniques, balancing artistry and practicality, thus creating distinct features. Due to its light coloration, preserving the natural texture and color of the wood, it is called "white wood carving." In 2000, Dongyang wood carving was listed as one of the first key protected traditional arts and crafts varieties in the country; in 2006, Dongyang wood carving was listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage representative works; Dongyang City has also been successively named as the "Chinese Folk Art Hometown" and the "Chinese Wood Carving Hometown."
Innovative Integration and Development of New Wood Carving
In modern times where many traditional skills face extinction, Dongyang wood carving continues to develop at high speed. Industrialization has merely chosen the right path, while the fundamental driving force lies in continuous innovation. Taking materials as an example, Dongyang wood carving originally mostly used northern linden wood, but with the increasing popularity of redwood furniture in recent years, high-end wood carving products all use precious woods such as Huanghuali, requiring corresponding adjustments in carving techniques based on material characteristics.
The young wood carving master Huang Xiaoming, who has been gaining prominence in recent years, is a representative of the innovative integration of Dongyang wood carving. Huang Xiaoming, who has studied art since childhood, has incorporated Western art elements into wood carving, forming a unique aesthetic taste. "There are tens of thousands of people doing wood carving, and there are quite a few with solid carving skills. To stand out, you need to see more and think more," Huang Xiaoming said. Lu Guangzheng, Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts and President of the National Wood Carving Professional Committee, believes that what Dongyang wood carving lacks most now is outstanding creativity. Traditional handicrafts need to enter the market, and practitioners should be good at learning rather than blindly imitating. The high added value of Dongyang wood carving is reflected in creativity, which requires not only solid technical skills but also sufficient cultural foundation among practitioners, exploring the fusion of various cultures, thereby generating excellent creativity and promoting the continuous development of Dongyang wood carving. (Editor: Yaya)