Stone carving (Leizhou stone dog)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: stone carving (Leizhou stone dog)

Applicant: Leizhou City, Guangdong Province

Project No.: 832

Project No.: Ⅶ - 56

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Leizhou City, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Leizhou Folk Custom Research Association

Introduction to stone carving (Leizhou stone dog)

Applicant: Leizhou City, Guangdong Province

Stone carving, also known as "stone carving", is a traditional hand carving technique with stone as raw material. China's stone carving art has a long history. It has been carried on for thousands of years and has been handed down to the present day. It shows the exquisite technology, ingenious conception and abundant creativity of traditional folk crafts. Stone carving is usually created on natural stone materials such as marble, granite, bluestone and sandstone. In this process, a series of skilled folk carving techniques such as round carving, relief carving, openwork carving and line carving are used. Because these stone materials are natural and can be preserved for a long time, stone carving techniques are mostly used to make large-scale sculptures and decorative sculptures. According to the use, stone carving products can be divided into three categories: first, building components and decorations, such as platform base, memorial archway, stone lion, etc.; second, god Buddha statues, such as the statues of Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi Province and Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province; third, daily necessities, such as desk ornaments and inkstones, which can be appreciated and used. Traditional stone carving used axes, hammers and chisels as tools. In modern times, some more advanced tools such as glycerine powder and simple machinery were used. With the development of society, the stone carving technology is improving day by day. As a unique commodity, the related products are widely circulated in the market and have unique artistic charm.

Leizhou stone dog is a popular folk carving art in Leizhou Peninsula. Leizhou belonged to Luoyue in ancient times. Panhuman tribe of Luoyue nationality once lived here. They called themselves descendants of dogs and had the custom of worshiping dogs. The stone dog carved in basalt is the embodiment and materialization of this folk belief. It is respected as the "Guardian God" and "mascot" by the local people. In daily life, people in Leizhou often follow the traditional customs and set up stone dogs at the gate, village entrance, road crossing, water entrance, temple and tomb to worship during the Spring Festival or red and white wedding. This kind of stone dog reposes people's good wishes to pray for good fortune, and even has the sacred meaning of "taking stone dog as father". The "stone dog culture" composed of stone dog carving and related customs in Leizhou is the product of the integration of Han and Yue cultures. Taking Leizhou City as the center, a "stone dog culture circle" has been formed in the Beibu Gulf area. The stone dog carving in Leizhou contains rich historical and cultural information. To some extent, it can be regarded as the concentration of Leizhou history and folk customs. It has the research value of cultural anthropology, ethnology, sociology, history and so on.