He Yaohui and his students

Many Foshan woodcarving masterpieces are displayed inside Guangzhous Chen Clan Academy and Foshans Ancestral Temple. The woodcarving objects are various, including birds, flowers, fishes, insects, wildlife, historic figures, drama and stories. Smooth curves, amazing skills, elegant patterns and decorative designs. Foshan woodcarving is acclaimed as folk treasure in Guangdong.

Woodcarving once thrived in Foshan

As a representative of Cantonese woodcarving, Foshan woodcarving has a long history and is renowned for its wild style and durability.

He Yaohui’s woodcarving

From the middle to late Qing Dynasty, woodcarving thrived in Foshan and there were a dozen of woodcarving shops, some of which were widely known, such as Guanghua Shop and Chengli Shop at Chenglong Street, Juli Shop at Fenyang Street, Hengji Shop, Sanyou Shop and Hengtai Hecheng Shop. In the early years of the reign of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty, a wood carver association "Xinghua Tang"(兴华堂) was established in Foshan and twelve shops and workshops joined the association. On the 13th day of the second Lunar month in the second year of the reign of Xuantong（1910 A.D.）, a wood carvers banquet party was held in Foshan and there were 148 woodcarving artisans at that time.

In the 1920s, under the impact of various new thoughts, the historic figure themed Foshan woodcarving failed to adapt to changing times and began to decline. By 1946, there were only four woodcarving artisans left in Foshan, including Xu Hao(徐浩), Ye Guang(叶光), Chen Sheng(陈胜) and Yang Gui(杨桂). Among them, Master Xu Hao was the most renowned and experienced.

Learn from masters and never give up dreaming

He Yaohui(何耀辉) is one of Xu Haos apprentices. In 1965, Foshan woodcarving craft was in danger of disappearing and the local government openly recruited 11 apprentices for Xu Hao in order to save this craft. He Yaohui was 16 year old at that time and he learned woodcarving techniques from Xu Hao at Foshan Craft Factory. He worked hard to master the techniques such as carving in relief, piercing through and three-dimensional carving. When he was in Foshan Craft Factory, he also received suggestions from some painters such as Yang Yan and Pang Meitian. His experience in Foshan Craft Factory laid a solid foundation for him.

However, his apprenticeship suspended because of Cultural Revolution. Many apprentices changed their career but He Yaohui never gave up his pursuit in woodcarving. In the 1980s, He left Foshan Craft Factory. To earn a living, he had to carve traditional statues such as budda statues or the heads and tails of dragon boats. In the recent decade, he diverted his interest to artistic woodcarving.

He Yaohui has devoted himself to woodcarving for over 50 years and his art works cover a wide range of objects. He has won various domestic and international art contests and he is considered as the leading figure of Foshan woodcarving.

Foshan woodcarving has been listed as Guangdong provincial intangible cultural heritage and He Yaohui is selected as the inheritor of Foshan woodcarving.

A woodcarving masterpiece that took 10 years to finish

Artist can add life to lifeless wood via excellent knife skills. On the basis of traditional woodcarving techniques, He Yaohui absorbs modern techniques and enlarges the themes of woodcarving. "I want to add more elements and characteristics to the art work and try to make it look natural." said He Yaohui. He hoped that his art works could convey the carvers thought and inspire the observers.

He Yaohui wood carving art studio

In 1995, one of Hes friends brought a piece of rosewood from India. He liked it very much and spent over ten thousand yuan to buy it. At the end of 1995, he began to carve this wood.

He Yaohui decided to carve a masterpiece. Its hard to imagine one spent ten years in carving an art work. As for He, inspiration is the prerequisite of creation. "Sometime I was short of inspiration and then I turned to carve other art works." said He.

He Yaohui and "eighteen disciples of Buddha"

Finally in 2006, his masterpiece "eighteen disciples of Buddha" was completed. With over 50kg weight and 1.3m height, the whole piece of "eighteen disciples of Buddha" emits light of rosewood. Every disciples, in his own gesture and costume, looks vivid.

Woodcarving techniques

Wood of fine grain is the prerequisite for fine carving. The most ideal material is boxwood (黄杨木). In addition, Qienan (伽楠) incense wood (aloeswood, 沉香木) and sandalwood (檀香木) are known for their nice aroma, whereas ebonys (乌木) advantage is its hues and sheen. Gnarled wood (瘿木) gets its name from its many knots, lumps, and snarls. Woodcarving artisans took advantage of this interesting natural form and subtly fashioned it into original artwork.

Traditional woodcarving techniques include carving in intaglio (yinke 阴刻), in relief (yangdiao 阳雕, either raised 浮雕 or piercing through 镂空), and in the round (lidiao 立雕). It costs years for a carver to learn and master all the essential techniques of woodcarving.

Written by Morly

Source：xkb.com.cn, Foshan Chancheng District He Yaohui wood carving art studio, China Online Museum