Famous for its beauty and craft-friendly quality, Shoushan stone is the heaven-given material for the ingenuity of the Chinese carvers of many generations.
Characteristics of Shoushan Stone
The stones of the mountain Shoushan and its surrounding area in Fujian Province of China are renowned for their rich colours, beautiful veins, fine and moist textures, and softness. Chinese legend says that after finishing repairing heaven, the goddess Nuwa hid the unused magical material under the mountain Shoushan hence beautiful stones can be found there. Scientifically speaking, Shoushan stone is agalmatolite and belongs to the pinite family. The iron and several other minerals give the stones their bright clear colours and characteristic veins. Shoushan stones are classified according to their colours, textures and origins. 130 types of Shoushan stone have been recorded but only 60 of them are still found today. The most famous types are Tianhuang, Tianbai and Shankeng among which the Tianhuang stone is called the king of stones because of its unique qualities and rarity.
Development of Shoushan Stone Carving Art
Shoushan stone was first used for handicraft 1500 years ago in time of the Southern Dynasty but not until the Song dynasty did the craft truly prosper. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the carving techniques greatly developed and Shoushan stone pieces were extremely popular among the higher classes. The Shoushan stone carving art experienced a decline in the 20th due to wars and the so-called Great Cultural Revolution. However, thanks to the passion of the veteran artisans for their craft, most of the important techniques have been kept and taught to a new generation of carvers. Since China's reform, the Shoushan stone carving art has been revived and improved and is on the way to its former glory.
Originally the stone was used to make incense burners, Buddha figures, beads or funeral objects but in the later dynasties and the present, Shoushan stone has been chiefly carved into ornate seals, decoration objects and toys. The subjects of Shoushan stone carving art are very diverse from landscape to real or imaginative animals, human figures, flowers and fruits. However, the philosophy of the art is to preserve and enhance the beauty that nature has given to the stone, not to “force” the stone to satisfy the carver's will. The appropriate carving theme designed specially for each stone is based on its natural qualities such as colours, textures and grains thus the carving process is always begun with studying the stone. In addition, each carver expertises in one specific type of carving like seal carving, landscape carving or animal carving and has his own approach to the craft. Therefore, each Shoushan stone piece is unique due to the nature of the stone and the talent of the carver. Besides the carefully preserved traditional techniques and themes, new working methods and designs have been constantly introduced, which ensures a steady rhythm of development for the art.
Shoushan Stone Carving to Chinese Culture
Shoushan stone has long captivated the Chinese. The beauty of the material itself has been praised by poets and scholars. Emperors, mandarins and scholars chose it to be the material of their seals. Admiring the Shoushan stone artworks and commenting on the carving is considered an elegant pastime. Because of its beauty and cultural reputation, Shoushan stone is one of the candidate for the title “National Stone of China”. Nowadays, the fame of Shoushan stone carving has become worldwide. This spectacular art which is formed by both nature and human is entering a new glorious era.
References:
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/4-9-6/23103.html
http://english.people.com.cn/200105/01/eng20010501_69046.html
http://www.artoftheeast.com/chinese-shoushan-stone.htm
