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September 23, 2013

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Heir of first boxwood sculptor works at museum

By Wu Huixin | September 23, 2013, Monday | Print Edition

Visitors to the Workmanship Demonstration Pavilion of the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum can see a sculptor at work who is a descendent of the man credited with beginning the tradition of boxwood carving.

Ye Lijia, 35, has been sculpting for more than 10 years, is a sixth-generation descendant of Ye Chengrong, who started the boxwood sculpting craft in China, She was invited by the museum to carve on site in the pavilion, where tourists can watch boxwood sculpting in close proximity.

Her work is part of the tradition of Yueqing boxwood sculpture, which along with Dongyang wood sculpture is one of the two noted schools of wood sculpting in Zhejiang Province. Yueqing is a county located in the southeast of the province.

The story of boxwood carving’s origin is an inspiring story. In ancient times, the little cowherd Ye Chengrong watched an old craftsman sculpt a Buddha figure in a temple with clay. He was so curious he tried to imitate the old man.

The old artisan was moved and took the cowherd as an apprentice. After Ye had mastered the skill of clay sculpting, a Daoist one day picked up a boxwood branch and asked Ye to carve a hairpin.

Ye found the boxwood, which is also known as buxus, was a tough wood that also had a fine and smooth texture, superior to other woods. That’s when he dedicated himself to the new medium.  

Most of Ye Chengrong’s offspring, including Ye Lijia’s relatives, are engaged in boxwood carving. Some have established workshops dedicating to handing down the craft and some have been awarded the title of boxwood carving master by virtue of superb techniques.

Ye Lijia’s father also specialized in this folk art.

“I was influenced by my father in childhood, so I picked up the carving tools naturally,” she said. 

Usually, it takes a person six to seven years to master all skills of boxwood carving. Ye said talent also is required.

A single piece of boxwood sculpture takes Ye a month to finish, including procedures of molding, cutting, carving, polishing and lacquering.

Most of her works range in price from 1,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan (US$164-US$818).

Boxwood is a slow-growing shrub and small tree, typically 1 to 6 meters tall.

Though boxwoods are widely distributed in Zhejiang Province, only the trees beyond 50 years old are suitable for making sculptures. Generally, a 50-year-old boxwood is only 15 centimeters in diameter.

The scarcity of carving materials makes boxwood carving precious. Its value approaches that of carvings of other precious materials and stones. Boxwood sculptures darken over time, giving them a cherished patina and quaint tone.

Yueqing once abounded with boxwoods, which boosted the development of wood carving. But with the development of sculpting with the material, the limited boxwoods were used up and sculptors now have to bring timber from Hubei Province, which increases the cost of boxwood sculptures.

“The decrease of materials plus other factors make fewer and fewer people want to take up this craft. It is declining like other folk arts,” Ye sighed.  

Boxwood sculptures from Yueqing feature vivid figures and a glossy finish. They are always displayed as interior decorations or collected.

Traditionally, Buddhist characters and celestial beings were the major subjects of Yueqing boxwood works.

People traditionally put such boxwood sculptures in their homes to bring good luck and blessings.

 

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