Jade carving (Suzhou jade carving)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: jade carving (Suzhou jade carving)

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Project No.: 833

Project No.: Ⅶ - 57

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Protected by: Suzhou arts and Crafts Museum

Introduction to jade carving (Suzhou jade carving)

Applicant: Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Archaeological excavations show that jade carvings appeared in Suzhou six or seven thousand years ago. In the spring and Autumn period, Wu Guoyu made Parrot Head arched jade ornaments and double arched ridge jade ornaments, which showed his superb skill. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, jade carving in Suzhou was famous all over the world, and it can be called the leader in the same industry. According to historical records, the sound of jade carving could be heard everywhere in Zhuanzhu lane of Suzhou at that time. Song Yingxing of the Ming Dynasty wrote the book Tiangong Kaiwu, thus saying that "although good jade is collected in the capital, skillful craftsmanship will push Su County.". During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, the court set up a special jade carving workshop, which called many jade workers from Suzhou to Beijing to make jade wares. Later, these jade workers settled down in Beijing, and the "Su Bang" jade making skills began to spread in the capital. During this period, there were many talented jade workers in Suzhou. He Si, Liu Zong, Wang Xiaoxi and Lu Zigang were famous for their jade carving skills.

Suzhou jade carving is mainly made of small and medium-sized pieces. It mainly makes stove bottles, birds and animals, and pendants such as pegs, pendants, rings, hairpins and bracelets. The production often uses precious materials such as white jade and jadeite, with exquisite technology, refined technique and rich subject matter. Jade carving generally goes through a number of processes, such as material selection, cutting, design, carving, polishing and so on. It pays attention to the craftsmanship according to the material, carving while designing, especially the skillful use of the natural color of the material. It all depends on the ingenuity of the artists. The final polishing can keep the original flavor of the carving, making the jade more warm and pleasant, and the detailed depiction more delicate.

Suzhou jade carving has the characteristics of emptiness, floating and delicacy. Emptiness is the balance between the virtual and the real, the density is appropriate, so that people don't feel cumbersome and ethereal; floating is the vivid shape, smooth lines, so that people don't feel dull and have the idea of elegant; fine is the careful thinking, exquisite conception, so that people don't feel rough and have the sigh of wonderful workmanship. The modern Suzhou jade carving technique inherits the traditional artistic style of "Su Gang". The lines of the patterns are soft and decorative. They are exquisite in ornament, density, transition and thickness. On the whole, they try to avoid delicacy and show a profound and simple meaning in fullness. The idea of hanging ornaments is particularly unique. Jade carving artists naturally embody their rich life experience and modern aesthetic taste, and their ancient charm and modern style are more powerful.