Inheritance and Development of Gourd Sculpture

After thousands of years of inheritance and evolution, Dongchang carved gourd still maintains its unique national and regional characteristics and artistic style. A large number of carving enthusiasts have devoted themselves to this craft, and talented people have come forth in large numbers, which has passed the decline period of talents. The cultural department of the urban area organized a citywide gourd carving contest and a folk skill contest to let folk artists learn and communicate with each other. Li Yucheng, winner of "Top Ten Cultural Celebrities of Peasant Youth in Shandong Province" and "Silver Award of Shandong Folk Arts and Crafts Fair", and other young and middle-aged high-level carving talents have been trained through exchanges, help and guidance. A number of gourd research bases and gourd technology companies have also been established in the local area, and thousands of new varieties have been developed. In addition to carving, there are pyrography gourds, painted gourds, painted gourds, and so on. At present, the local government is planning to build "Dongchang Hulu Street", and is preparing to hold a gourd cultural exposition to build a platform for the development of traditional craft gourds, form a cultural area with folk characteristics, and inject new vitality into the protection and development of intangible cultural heritage. Dongchang gourd carving technique has been listed in the national intangible cultural heritage protection list, and Dongchangfu District has been named as the hometown of Chinese gourd carving culture and art. In 20 13, the total area of gourd planting in Dongchangfu District has reached more than 6,000 mu, with an annual output of 60 million gourds, accounting for 60% of the national share. The local planting bases are concentrated in Tangyi Town, Liangshui Town and Yansi Office, and the planting bases developed in other places are mainly in Xinjiang. There are more than 360 gourd planting, processing and sales enterprises in Dongchangfu District, with nearly 3,000 employees, accounting for more than 60% of the national processing capacity, with annual sales of nearly 300 million yuan. Dongchang gourd not only sells well all over the country, but also is exported to Britain, America, Canada and other countries and regions 10. Many experts and scholars will also conduct special research on the prosperity and development, planting guidance, technology, product development and sales guidance of Dongchang gourd cultural industry.