Nanwang Root Carvings

Nanwang Root Carvings

　　Nanwang Root Carvings

　　In Nanchou North Village, Nanwang Town, there is a skilled root carving artist named Cao Yonghe.

　　Cao Yonghe has drawn on a wide range of techniques through dedicated research and has devoted himself to creating root carvings. His works are mainly divided into three series: figures, landscapes, and animals. The figure series primarily features Shouxing (the God of Longevity), arhats, and bodhisattvas; the landscape series mainly depicts mountains, rivers, and streams; and the animal series includes China’s traditional twelve zodiac animals as well as eagles and tigers. Most root carving works stand about one meter tall, while some larger pieces can even reach several meters in height, exuding a strong presence.

　　The main tools used in root carving are common chisels, saws, knives, and polishing machines. The key steps in the process include selecting materials, peeling, shaping, carving, polishing, and waxing.

　　The key to making root carvings lies in material selection and carving. Selecting the right material requires unique insight and rich imagination. The chosen materials are usually cypress or pear tree roots with good wood quality and an initial form, which are then naturally dried in a place with ample sunlight and good ventilation. Afterward, the outer skin is removed and the piece is roughly trimmed to form the initial shape of the artwork, followed by fine carving.

　　During carving, precise cuts and meticulous knife work are required, with the entire piece kept in mind. Once the carving is complete, the piece is polished smooth using a grinding machine or sandpaper, coated with natural beeswax, and left to dry naturally. This completes a root carving work.