Jade carving (Guangzhou jade carving)

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

Applicant: Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province

Project No.: 833

Project No.: Ⅶ - 57

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province

Protected by: Gao Zhaohua jade carving art studio, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Introduction to jade carving (Guangzhou jade carving)

Applicant: Liwan District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province

Guangzhou jade carving is a kind of folk carving craft which is popular in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. It has a long history. There are jade rings in the Neolithic site of Feieling, Guangzhou. In 1983, more than 130 kinds of "rare treasures of Han jade" were unearthed from the tomb of Nanyue King, such as jade Bi, jade box, jade seal, jade horn cup, etc., which shows that the jade carving technology of Guangzhou reached a very high level in the Western Han Dynasty. During the reign of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou jade carving had become a market, and guild organizations appeared. Most of the jade carvings in Guangzhou are made from southern jade produced in Xinyi, western Guangdong. The jade is grass green, translucent, and has many natural stripes. After being polished, it is crystal clear and transparent. It can be processed into jade bracelets, rings, earrings, jade pendants and other jewelry, as well as ornaments such as flowers, figures, birds and animals, jade balls, flower boats, pagodas, bottles and cans. Guangzhou jade carving draws on the merits of many people, and at the same time absorbs the skills of Guangzhou ivory carving. It has formed its own unique style in terms of variety, technology and materials. Tongdiao jade ball is a creative achievement made by Guangzhou jade carving artists to overcome the high hardness of jade. It has more than 20 layers inside and outside and can rotate freely. Compared with the solemn and unsophisticated Northern Style jade carving, Guangzhou jade carving is elegant and beautiful, light and elegant, and exquisite, showing the characteristics of Lingnan culture. Since the 1980s, influenced by the commercial situation of the jade market, traditional jade carving technology has gradually declined, the number of employees has decreased sharply, and there has been a talent gap in the industry, so it is urgent to strengthen the protection.