Wuyuan Wood Carving

Wuyuan Wood Carving

　　Wuyuan County was established during the Tang Dynasty and historically belonged to the Huizhou region. The doorways, beams, brackets, dougong (interlocking wooden brackets), camel humps (decorative wooden blocks), spandrels, window lattices, partition screens, column bases, and lattice windows in Wuyuan’s ancient residences, official mansions, and old ancestral halls feature exquisitely carved details, among which wood carvings are especially prized. The carving techniques include relief carving, round carving, openwork carving, and line engraving, with styles in the Ming Dynasty being simple and unadorned, while those in the Qing Dynasty are elegant and delicate. The “Three Carvings” (wood, brick, and stone) art found in ancient architecture form an important part of Xin’an culture.

Wuyuan wood carving inherits the cultural system of Huizhou. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the carving techniques of folk artisans in Wuyuan had already developed a unique artistic style, making it one of the most influential schools of the time. Historical records indicate that during the Jiajing era (1522–1567) of the Ming Dynasty, “whenever there was carving work to be done, people would seek out artisans from Wuyuan.” After the Wanli era, the craft flourished even more, with artisans not only working locally but also “traveling far and wide with exquisite skills.” Many inherited their family businesses, sustaining their livelihoods through this craft for generations.

The glory of Wuyuan wood carving has become history. Studying the past is for the better development of the present, hence the establishment of the “Wuyuan Wood Carving Craft Factory.”

The Wuyuan Wood Carving Craft Factory covers an area of 6,000 square meters, and production has reached a preliminary scale. It currently employs over 20 design and carving technicians, including master designers. The factory undertakes the restoration of ancient wood carvings, decorative applications of modern wood carving craftsmanship, large-scale wood carving murals, various wood carving handicrafts, and the production of high-end root carvings.