Zhuang Rong (庄荣), a master for bamboo carving in Yunnan, carves on the bamboo. [Photo/ Zhou Miying]

Located in a common courtyard of Hamazhe Village, a training base of bamboo carving was specially built for folk artists. Deemed with undiscovered talents, the place is well-known for Zhuang Rong (庄荣), a master for bamboo carving in Yunnan.

With exquisite bamboo carving skill, Zhuang was titled as an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage in Yunnan province in 2002.

Zhuang usually dedicates himself to the basic work of bamboo carving all day, such as carving, drilling and spading.

Painting phoenix and carving patterns have been Zhuang’s favorites since he was a boy. He said that he would never forget the sense of pride and satisfaction after carving erasers into shapes of planes, cars and tanks. "I have been fond of carving from childhood. My teachers used to say that I like playing with articles, but they never knew that I carved on these articles," said Zhuang. He graduated from the junior high school when he was sixteen. He chose to work on carpentry determinedly, regardless of the disagreements from his families. Since then he has begun his creation and kept for more than thirty years.

His excellent skills have brought him numerous glories, but he stooped owing to the serious illness in 2005. "Bamboo carving is my life-long career, I will lack of skill if out of practice one day. I had rested for seven years because of the illness, and I was afraid that I couldn’t carve anymore." Last March, Zhuang restarted carving. Though not as nimble as once was, he feels satisfied now.

Themes in Zhuang’s works vary, and lifelike flowers, birds, phoenix and moon with artistic conceptions are carved from the bamboo chips. He likes carving bird cages most, he said: "The appearances of bird cages I carved are almost the same as others, but the carved patterns differ." He devotes particular care to the carving, a result of different designs." I don’t like copy, each of my patterns are deigned after numerous references from books. I think carvings are my life and my character, so I am not sloppy."

It used to take him about four months to complete the carving of a bird cage which was worth over RMB 3,000. The amount could just guarantee his basic living after cutting the costs, while his present bird cage can be sold at the price of RMB 12,000. The increased price not only maintains his living, but also enables him to aware of the approval of the traditional skills in the society, so he is confident with the future of bamboo carving.

"Falling ill reminded me of the failure of passing down the sill that I have practiced for several decades," said he. Today, he has accepted some disciples. He hopes that the bamboo carving skill can be inherited. (Editor:Lynn)

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