After Shenzhen, Shanghai and Chengdu, which city will be the next "creative city" in China? It could be Beijing or Hangzhou, or even a name that many people haven't thought of or even heard of - Dongyang. This small county-level city located in central Zhejiang province has relied on its centuries of accumulation, combined with continuous innovation and integration, to make traditional wood carving techniques shine anew. For this reason, Dongyang has become the only county-level city in the country approved to apply for membership in the United Nations Creative Cities Network. It is currently in the international approval stage and is expected to receive the title of "Capital of Handicrafts and Folk Art."
The Imperial East Yang 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; by the time of Song to Ming, the skills had reached maturity; 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 work on the imperial palace decorations in the Forbidden City. Until the end of the Qing Dynasty, most of the dragon thrones, furniture, and decorative wood carvings in the palace were made by Dongyang artisans. In 1915, at the Panama International Exposition, Dongyang wood carving chests and bookcases won the grand prize, while indoor decorative woodcrafts won the gold medal. Since then, Dongyang wood carving began to enter the world stage.
Lou Xiuzhong, secretary-general of the Dongyang Municipal Arts and Crafts Association, introduced that Dongyang is located in hilly terrain with poor soil, so the local population has traditionally sought livelihoods outside their home area, especially in the construction industry. Dongyang wood carving was born out of architectural decoration, forming a distinctive style mainly characterized by flat relief carving, often using multi-layered reliefs, scatter perspective composition, and preserving plane decoration techniques. It balances artistry and practicality, creating a distinct feature. Due to its light color, which preserves the natural texture and color of the original 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 Development of New Wood Carving
In modern times when many traditional skills face extinction, Dongyang wood carving continues to grow rapidly. Industrialization has chosen the right path, but the fundamental driving force lies in continuous innovation. Just taking materials as an example, Dongyang wood carving originally used mostly 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 adjustments in carving techniques according to the characteristics of the raw materials.
The rising young woodcarver Huang Xiaoming is a representative of the innovative integration of Dongyang wood carving. Huang Xiaoming, who learned art from a young age, 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, one needs to see more and think more," said Huang Xiaoming. 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 excellent creativity. Traditional handicrafts need to enter the market, and practitioners need to be good at learning rather than merely imitating. The high added value of Dongyang wood carving lies in creativity, which requires not only solid technical skills but also sufficient cultural depth from the practitioners. Exploring the fusion of various cultures can produce outstanding creativity and drive the continuous development and promotion of Dongyang wood carving. (Editor: Yaya)