Ninghaishu root carving

Tree root carving, also called firewood carving, is a traditional handicraft in Ninghai area. Tree root carving mainly uses the roots of rhododendron, Chinese lacquer, oak and boxwood as raw materials, which are dipped in water and peeled, slightly processed and carved into various birds, animals, flowers and figures, blending art with natural beauty and becoming an abstract work of art. Ninghai tree root carving handicraft production has a long history. According to the Records of Ninghai County, "Wood carving is a folk craft in Ninghai ..." Its representative works include Ma Gu in Ming Dynasty, Eagle, Shouxing and Running Horse in Qing Dynasty. At the beginning of the Republic of China, there were nearly 10 firewood carving shops in Ninghai. In 1935, Li YunBo's "Tie Guai Li", the late famous root carving artist in Ninghai, was exhibited at the provincial specialty exhibition and won the special prize. The art of root carving is characterized by vivid meaning, romance but not rudeness, not seeking resemblance, but seeking resemblance, and the beauty lies between resemblance and dissimilarity, giving people imagination, beauty and fun. However, the art of Ninghai root carving had declined before liberation. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the art of root carving has made new progress on the basis of tradition after vigorous rescue. For example, Melody, published in China Genyi album and Bonsai magazine, is a minority girl wearing a long skirt. The whole work, except for the proper realistic carving of the face, is natural. The wood is tough and delicate, with tumors and scars of different sizes on the roots, just like flowers blooming on the long skirt, which can be said to be natural and beautiful. The creation of root carving art requires the author to have a certain ability to capture, to skillfully blend form and spirit into one, to care for nature without damaging it, and to find different products in thousands of roots, which is the housekeeping skill of root carvers' artistic attainments. The treasure of root art is natural and unique. Root carving crafts have developed rapidly in recent years.
Reprinted with attribution： https://cnlocality.com/(Chinese Specialty Products)