Yuyao Buddhist Sculptures

Yuyao Buddhist Sculptures

　　[Yuyao Buddhist Sculptures]. Buddhist sculpture originated in the Wei and Jin dynasties, flourished in the Tang dynasty, and has a history of over 1,000 years to date. Yuyao wood carving, primarily focused on carving Buddhist statues, began in the Ming dynasty and was concentrated in Lubu Town, Yuyao. Passed down through generations, it has earned a high reputation. The Qing dynasty marked the heyday of Buddhist sculpture, with many temple statues in some Southeast Asian countries as well as famous temples on Mount Tai, Mount Hua, and Mount Putuo crafted by artisans from Lubu. In China, Buddhist sculptures are generally divided into various types such as wood carving, stone carving, clay carving, and bronze carving, with the southeastern coastal regions excelling in wood carving. Among wood carvings, there are distinctions between the Zhejiang and Fujian schools, with the Zhejiang school centered around Lubu and renowned for its craftsmanship. Yuyao wood carvings often depict figures from Buddhist scriptures and mythological legends, including over 600 types such as Sakyamuni, Guanyin, Arhats, Maitreya, Skanda, Ksitigarbha, Ji Gong, and Guan Yu. These statues are mostly hand-carved from camphorwood and teak, featuring exquisite designs, diverse expressions, lifelike appearances, smooth lines, and a simple style, and are regarded as treasures by Buddhists. The craft of Yuyao wood carving has a long history, having experienced several rises and declines. On the eve of liberation, wooden Buddhist sculpture was on the verge of extinction. After the founding of New China, the government organized scattered artisans, established the Arts and Crafts Carving Factory, and invited veteran artisans to pass on their skills, giving new life to the wood carving craft. However, during the Cultural Revolution, Buddhist statues were criticized as feudal superstitious products, and wooden Buddhist sculpture faced another crisis. After the reform and opening up, the craft of wooden Buddhist sculpture regained its glorious prospects. Currently, Yuyao Lubu wooden Buddhist sculptures are an export handicraft product of Ningbo, mainly sold to the United States, various Southeast Asian countries, as well as Hong Kong, Macau, and other regions.