Quyang Stone Carving

Quyang Stone Carving

Quyang Stone Carving is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　According to the *Quyang County Annals*: “Mount Huang has produced white stone since ancient times, suitable for steles and various objects, hence many stonemasons lived in the villages around the mountain.” Historical records confirm that as early as the Han Dynasty over 200 years BC, Quyang stone carving was already used in construction. To the south of Quyang County sits the “Dog Pagoda,” said to have been commissioned by Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–55 AD) in honor of a loyal dog that saved him from a fire, built by local stonemasons. By the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD), Quyang stone carving art had reached a considerably high level. At the time, Buddhism was widely venerated across the country, leading to a boom in temple construction, which also promoted the development of various Buddha statues in Quyang stone carving. The Buddha figures were dignified and graceful, with solemn or kindly expressions, and smooth, flowing lines—styles that remain among the traditional mainstays of stone carving. In 1953, over 200 stone carvings including Buddha and Vajra statues were unearthed from the ancient Xiude Temple. The bases of these statues bore inscriptions with dates such as the Zhengguang era (520–524 AD) of the Northern Wei and the Tianping era (534–537 AD) of the Eastern Wei, along with the names of their creators. It was found that all these artisans were from Quyang County. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Quyang stone carving flourished even more, with works spreading across many parts of China. In addition to Buddha statues, excavations have also uncovered Quyang stone carvings of animals and fruits.

　　 Within Quyang County lies Mount Huang, stretching east to west like a silver dragon. The mountain is covered with pure white marble, glossy, resilient, and ideal for fine carving. Blessed with such unique natural conditions and generations of inherited carving craftsmanship, Quyang has become a famed hometown of stone carving in China. Quyang stone carving represents the pinnacle of white marble sculpture. Its figures are lifelike, the craftsmanship smooth and delicate, and the patterns fluid and unrestrained.

　　 　　In the heart of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square stands the magnificent Monument to the People’s Heroes. The eight bas-reliefs depicting scenes of China’s revolutionary struggles at the base of the monument are masterpieces crafted by stonemasons from Quyang County, Hebei Province.

　　 Quyang is the home of carving. The pure, tough, and uniquely fine stones from the mountains south of the city provide artisans with exceptional conditions to showcase their skills. Quyang stone carving retains the mysterious and bold simplicity of the Wei Dynasty while embracing the natural, full-bodied, dignified, and graceful forms of the Tang and Song periods. Bodhisattvas, Guanyin, guardian warriors, celestial maidens, dragons, phoenixes, lions, and beasts are typical themes in its artistry. Lu Jinqiao, a master of contemporary Chinese arts and crafts, enriched stone carving techniques with the intricate and translucent methods of ivory and wood carving. He pioneered the creation of small, refined pieces and expanded the creative boundaries of stone carving, making Quyang stone carving a significant representative of modern folk stone art.

　　 　　With social development and technological advancement, traditional Quyang hand-carving skills have faced continuous challenges. Techniques such as material cutting, rough carving by hand, tool-making, and manual hammering are nearly lost, and molds are no longer produced. Moreover, to meet market demands, the types of carving materials and styles have been affected, with fewer Buddha statues being made, posing considerable harm to the preservation and inheritance of traditional Quyang stone carving skills. Immediate measures must be taken to rescue this ancient handicraft.

　　 　　The state places great emphasis on the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20, 2006, this heritage was approved by the State Council and included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage listings. On June 5, 2007, the Ministry of Culture designated Lu Jinqiao and Zhen Yancang from Quyang County, Hebei Province, as representative inheritors of this cultural heritage project, and they were included in the list of 226 representative inheritors of the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage projects.