What are the carving methods?
Relief Carving:
Relief carving is a semi-three-dimensional product where the image protrudes from the stone surface. It can be divided into low relief and high relief based on the depth of the stone surface detachment. Low relief features a single layer of carving with a single contrast in content and no hollowing out. High relief, on the other hand, is a multi-layered sculpture with complex content, often employing openwork and hollowing techniques, which makes it more captivating. Relief carvings are commonly used for wall decorations of buildings, as well as for dragon pillars and drums in temples. A notable example is the Imperial Way of the Forbidden City in Beijing, which features relief sculptures.
Garden Carving:
This is a three-dimensional imitation art form that exists as a standalone unit, requiring processing on each surface of the stone. Characterized by hollowing out techniques and precision cutting axes, there are many varieties of such carvings, most of which are single-stone sculptures, while some are composed of multiple stone combinations. Recently, this type of sculpture has developed into various micro products, some as small as fruit pits, others as thin as cicada wings, known as "micro carvings." These products have moved away from practical construction use and have become purely technical, making them compact and easy to carry. As commemorative treasures, they hold great potential for development.
Sink Carving (Sunken Relief):
Also known as "line carving," it is an artwork that employs the "water grinding and sinking flower" carving method. This technique absorbs traditional skills such as Chinese painting and meaning, stacking, and scattered point perspective. After the stone is polished by plane processing, it is used to describe the picture and text, and then lines are carved according to the image, using the thickness and depth of the lines to express a three dimensional feel through shadows. This type of product is mostly used for exterior building decoration and has a strong artistic value.
Shadow Carving:
A new technological product developed based on the early "right and wrong" technique. The earliest works were created by actors in Huian in the 1960s, all based on photographs, hence the name "shadow carving." This type of carving is made from jade crystal lake bluestone cut and sawn into flat plates as materials. The surface is first polished, and the characteristics of white spots can be displayed through chiseling. Small dots of different sizes, depths, and densities are carved out with sharp objects, distinguishing right from wrong at different levels. This not only makes the picture appear delicate and vivid but also has a unique charm. It represents the development of stone carving towards pure art, pioneering a new path for the production of stone carving technology.
