Refined skills

According to Kuai, Huizhou wood carving emphasizes simplicity, with smooth, simple lines and intricate yet modest carving techniques that render beauty in an elegant and poetic way, in harmony with the cultural atmosphere of the area.

He says that since wood is softer than brick and stone, and is easier to carve, it can be more richly detailed and express a more delicate sentiment than the latter.

According to tradition, when carving a representation of a 3-year-old child, the eyes should dominate nearly half of the face, while the jawline ought to be rounded. For a depiction of a 10-year-old, the eyes should be positioned higher on the face, occupying a smaller area. In the portrayal of adults, the eyes should occupy a smaller proportion of the face, often set in a more angular facial structure.

"From 3-year-olds to adults, the carving of different age groups varies based on observations of the maturing process. This is the basic principle of our wood carving tradition," says Kuai.

According to Wu Zhenghui, a 58-year-old national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor of Huizhou brick carving, the tradition is known for its multiple layers, which can result in an almost three-dimensional effect that makes them look more dynamic.

"By making recourse to multilayered carving, Huizhou brick carving transcends flat, two-dimensional presentation, and introduces techniques of perspective that advance toward three-dimensional art," says Wu.