Where did China's lacquer line carving skills come from?

China's lacquer line carving technology originated in Quanzhou, Fujian.

Lacquer line carving is a traditional handicraft skill in Xiamen, China, which is well-known in the local area and deeply loved by people. Its rich expressive force and exquisite craftsmanship are amazing, and it is a must in Xiamen and even China, which has been circulated for more than 300 years. Lacquer line carving, formerly known as "makeup Buddha", is a decorative art called lacquer line carving, which is used to make statues of gods and buddhas. From the beginning, it existed as a decorative technique for deities and buddhas.

The development of lacquer line carving can be traced back to the middle and late Ming Dynasty. At that time, inspired by the line carving techniques of Song and Yuan Dynasties, especially the line carving techniques of dripping powder and clay sculpture, craftsmen began to try to decorate Buddha statues with fine lacquer lines. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, lacquer line carving technology gradually matured and was widely used in sculptural clothing. At this stage, the technical level of lacquer line carving was further improved, and the production basically formed a scale.

Characteristics of lacquer line carving technology

1, delicate and complicated lacquer line decoration: the core of lacquer line carving lies in the unique technology of lacquer line. Artists use natural lacquer and specially prepared lacquer soil to make soft and tough lacquer lines, which can be flexibly rubbed, rolled, wound, piled and engraved with their fingers.

2. Deep historical and cultural background: Lacquer line carving originated from the colored plastic art in the Tang Dynasty, especially in southern Fujian, with a history of thousands of years. It is mainly used for the decoration of religious artworks such as Buddha statues, bearing rich connotations of traditional Chinese culture and Buddhist culture. His works are simple, solemn and lifelike, with high historical research value and artistic appreciation value.

3. Unique creation technology and techniques: The production technology of lacquer line carving is rigorous and complicated, including sculpture modeling, foundation treatment, lacquer line decoration, makeup and so on. Each lacquer line carving work is carefully crafted by the artist himself, and it takes many processes from conceptual design to final product, which reflects the ingenuity and exquisite skills of traditional Chinese craftsmen.