中國(guó)智慧-文化面面觀 課件 UNIT 9 Chinese Creativity and Craftsmanship、UNIT 10 Chinese Commitment and Inheritance

UNIT9

ChineseCreativityandCraftsmanshipLearningObjectivesSpeakonChinesepeople’screativityandcraftsmanshipLearnaboutFuzhoubodilesslacquerware1ExploreChinesehistoryofartsandcrafts23Whatartoffersisspace–acertainbreathingroomforthespirit.—JohnUpdikeQualityisneveranaccident;itisalwaystheresultofhighintention,sincereeffort,intelligentdirectionandskillfulexecution;itrepresentsthewisechoiceofmanyalternatives,thecumulativeexperienceofmanymastersofcraftsmanship.Qualityalsomarksthesearchforanidealafternecessityhasbeensatisfiedandmereusefulnessachieved.—JohnRuskinABodilessbutTimelessTreasureLocalartsandcraftsmayreadilycatchone’seyeintheculturallandscapeofaplace.InChina,probablyeverycityhassomethingofartisticcreativitythatthecitizensareespeciallyproudof.AnyonetravelinginFuzhoumaynaturallyfeelobligedtohavealookatandtoknowmoreaboutitsmostacclaimedbodilesslacquerware,whichisrecognizedasoneofthetopthreetreasuresofChina’straditionalartsandcrafts,theothertwobeingcloisonnéofBeijingandporcelainwareofJingdezheng.Inlacquerwaremaking,the“body”referstotheclay,plasterorwoodenmouldthatisusedtogiveittheshape,becauselacqueralonecanhardlymakeathree-dimensionalworkofart.Inthatcase,isn’tthebodynecessary?Howcomeitis“bodiless”?That’sbecausethemould,orbody,willhavetoberemoved,whichiswhatmakesadifferenceinmakingthisadmirabletypeoflacquerware.So,tomakeabodilesslacquerware,abodyofaparticularmodelmustbeprepared,whichisusuallymadeofclayorplaster.Ontoitlacquerisapplied,andthengrasslinenorsilkpastedlayerbylayerwithlacquerinbetweenasthebinder.Next,thewholethingmustbeplacedintheshadetodryuntiltheouterlayersofclothhavehardenedtoformanunbreakableshell.Thenisthetimetoremovethebody,sometimesbyknockingandshatteringthemodelinside.Aftertheremoval,theremainingshapedshellwillbesmoothedwithputty,andpolished,andagaincoatedwithlayersoflacquer.

Finally,elaboratedecorationsareappliedwithsophisticatedlacqueringskillstocreatefascinatingpatternsorimagesthatoftenarouseimaginationoftheviewer;or,asmanyprefer,itmaybeplainlyfinishedwithoutanydecorationsothatthebeautyofsimplicityandpurityishighlighted.Whicheverwayyoulookatit,thewholeprocessdemandsmonthsofmeticulousworkandmayinvolvedozensorevenmorethanahundredsteps.OnemaybequitesurprisedtolearnthatFuzhoubodilesslacquerware,thoughalwaysglinting

exquisitenessanddelicacy,areindeedcapableofdailyuse.Vases,jars,bowls,plates,amongmanyothersthings,thatareproducedbythisparticulartechnique,arewonderfullylight,sturdy,durable,moisture-proof,andevenresistanttoheat,cold,acidandalkali.Thus,eitherforornamentalorpracticalpurposes,Fuzhoubodilesslacquerwareprovetobevaluable.AlthoughChinesepeople’suseoflacquerwaredatesfromtheNeolithicage,today’sFuzhoubodilesslacquerwarewasoriginatedbyalacquerernamedShenShao’anintheQingdynastywhenEmperorQianlongreigned.Atthattime,FuzhouwasalreadythecapitalcityofFujianprovincewherehandicraftindustryhadbeenwelldeveloped.Thoughthelacquerwaretrademightenjoyhigherrespectthanitscounterparts,businesswasnotsogood,becauseworkshopsweremanyandcompetitiontough.Tomakethingsworse,inmanypeople’seyes,thistradehadnotproducedanythingneworinterestingforaconsiderabletime.Formanyartisans,therefore,itwasnotenoughtodependsolelyontheirworkshops;sotheyhadtofindsomepart-timejobsasanextrameansoflivelihood.AndamongthemwasShenShao’an.Oneday,whenhewashelpingrepairadilapidatedtemple,Shensuddenlyfoundtohisamazementthatwhilethewoodenpartofaninscribedboardthatwashungupoverthefrontgatehadlongrottedaway,thelacqueredgrasslinenthathadbeenusedtocoatthebaseboardseemedintact.Thisobservationinspiredaninnovativeideaaboutmakinganewtypeoflacquerware.AndnosoonerhadShengothomethanheexperimentedbymakingamodelwithmud,untowhichhepastedgrasslinenwithlacquer.Hewaitedpatientlyuntilthelacqueredoutershelldriedandhardened,andthenbyfunnelingwaterintothemouldthroughaholehetriedandsuccessfullyremovedthesoftenedmuddymodelinside.Bycountlessexperiments,hefinallysucceededwiththeearliestversionofbodilesslacquerware.Itwasn’tlongbeforethisnewlyinventedtypeoflacquerwarehadwontremendousadmirationfromallwalksoflife.Infact,whatShenexperimentedwithanddevelopedinmakingthebodilesslacquerwarewasessentiallythesameasalong-losttraditionaltechnique–Jiazhu,which,accordingtohistoricalrecords,appearedasearlyastheWarringStatesperiod,andwasfullydevelopedintheJindynastywhenBuddhismwaswidelyembracedinChina.Atthattime,Atemplefairwasaceremoniousoccasion,forwhichpeoplewouldcarryBuddhiststatuesinagrandparade.Unsurprisingly,thestatuesneededtobelight.Therefore,artisanswouldfirstsetupawoodenorbambooframeworkastheskeleton,andthenpasteontoitawetmixtureofstraw,mudandashasthefleshbeforecoatingandpatchingthesurfacewithlacquer.Afterpolishingittoasatisfactorydegree,theartisanwouldapplylacquerandgoldendecorationstothestatuetogetitreadyforconsecration.Whenallwasdone,theinnerframeworkwouldberemovedtoreducetheweight.Inthecourseoftime,thetechniquedevelopedandimproved,andartisanswereabletouseonlygrasslinentomakethefleshpartsothatthewholestatuewouldbeextremelylight.ForalongtimeJiazhuhadbeenanimportanttechniqueformakingBuddhiststatues.However,withthepassingoftime,especiallyaftercampaignsofrejectingBuddhismanddestroyingBuddhisttemplesandstatuesinthelateTangdynasty,theJiazhutechniquewasgraduallyforgottenandlostuntilseveralhundredyearslaterbychance,andbyathinkingandcreativemind,itwasresurrectedandevenhighlydevelopedtoenablethecreationofFuzhoubodilesslacquerware.Sincethen,generationsoftheShenfamilyinFuzhouhavebeendevotedtohoningtheskillsandexploringnewtechniquestocreatethefinestpossiblebodilesslacquerware.TwoofShen’sgreat-great-grandsons,ShenZhenghaoandShenZhengxun,madeasignificantcontributioninthisrespectbyblendingpoweredgoldorsilverintolacqueranddevelopingvariousunprecedentedcoatingcolours,includinggold,silver,azure,verdant,bronze,andthuscreatedamultitudeofnewandintriguingpossibilitiesforartisticexpression.Indeed,toasignificantextent,peopleadmireFuzhoubodilesslacquerwarefortheirsurpassinglyvividcoloursandglossylustre,whichmustbeattributedtoarichvarietyoflacqueringtechniques.Traditionallytheseincludedarklustreing,colourlustreing,thinlacquering,goldenrendering,colourpatterning,andvariousfoilorshellinlaidcarvingandlacquering.ThemostdistinctfeatureofFuzhoubodilesslacquerware,however,istheirunbelievablelightness.AstoryistoldaboutthedramaticfirstsightthatgaveEuropeansadistinctimpressionofthisfeature.Onthefirstdayofthe1889WorldExpositioninParis,ashipfromChinasailedalongtheSeine.Atthedock,acranewaswaiting,becausetheFrenchorganizerhadgotnewsthatamongthearrivingChineseexhibitstherewasacolossalwaterbuffalostatue.Whentheexpectedheavyworkofartcameintoview,however,everyonewasastonished,for,massiveandweightyasitlooked,thebuffalowascarriedbyaChinesedelegatesingle-handedly.“WhataHercules!”,somecouldnothelpbutexclaim.Butwhattheydidn’tknowandcouldhardlybelievewasthatthebuffalo,aFuzhoubodilesslacquerwaremasterpiece,wasactuallylessthantenkilograms.StoriesaremanythattelltheremarkablenessofFuzhoubodilesslacquerware.Thoughallthedistinctnessandadmirationthatareattachedtothemmustbetheresultofexceptionalprocesses,itisinarguablythetimesoassiduouslyandcreativelydevotedtoeachandeverypiecethatmakesFuzhoubodilesslacquerwaretrulyunique,andatimelesstreasure.landscapen.

allthevisiblefeaturesofanareaofcountrysideorland,oftenconsideredintermsoftheiraestheticappeal;figurativethedistinctivefeaturesofaparticularsituationorintellectualactivity;oraparticularareaofactivity風(fēng)景；圖景e.g.Theystoodatthetopofthehillandviewedthebeautifullandscape.lookacrosstheliterarylandscapeofEnglandacclaim

v.

praiseenthusiasticallyandpublicly稱道e.g.Hisworkwasacclaimedbyartcritics.Theywerehighlyacclaimedandimmenselypopular.apply

v.

putorspread(something)onasurface涂抹e.g.We

applied

theointmenttothecut.After

applying

athinlayerofpainttothewallandlettingitdry,

apply

anothercoat.coat

v.

tocover(somethingorsomeone)withathinlayerofsomething給…涂層e.g.Alayerofsnowcoatedthetrees.Next,coatthefishwithbreadcrumbs.sophisticated

adj.

(ofamachine,system,ortechnique)developedtoahighdegreeofcomplexity復(fù)雜的e.g.ahighlysophisticatedweaponssystemHerknittingtechniqueismore

sophisticated

thanmine.meticulous

adj.

showinggreatattentiontodetail;verycarefulandprecise一絲不茍的e.g.Thebookdescribeshisjourneyinmeticulousdetail.Hewasmeticulousinhisuseofwords.glint

v.

giveoutorreflectsmallflashesoflight發(fā)出微光e.g.Thegoldrimsofhisspectaclesglintedinthesun.Sunlightglintedoffthewindowsofatallapartmentbuilding.exquisite

adj.

extremelybeautifuland,typically,delicate精美的e.g.themostexquisitecraftsmanshipHelaboredlonganddevotedlyonthestatueandproducedamostexquisiteworkofart.delicacy

n.

thequalityofbeingdelicate,inparticular,finenessorintricacyoftextureorstructure精致e.g.miniaturepearlsofexquisitedelicacyThatwashowhemadehisliving-sellingpaintingsofgreatdelicacyandserenityandbeauty.sturdy

adj.

strongenoughtowithstandroughworkortreatment結(jié)實(shí)的e.g.sturdycomfortableshoesThebikeissturdyenoughtocopewithbumpytracks.ornamental

adj.

usedasdecorationratherthanforapracticalpurpose裝飾的e.g.Thepillarsinthecentrearepurelyornamental.Roseshavestructuralaswellasornamentalvalueinthegarden.originate

v.

tocause(something)toexist;toproduceorcreate(something)起源于e.g.Alotofourmedicinesoriginatefromtropicalplants.TheideaoriginatedwiththeancientGreekphilosophers.trade

n.

askilledjob,typicallyonerequiringmanualskillsandspecialtraining行業(yè)e.g.thefundamentalsoftheconstructiontradeMygrandfatherwasaplumberbytrade.dilapidated

adj.

(ofabuildingorobject)inastateofdisrepairorruinasaresultofageorneglect破舊的e.g.Whensheturnedleftaroundthecornerofthehouse,adilapidatedbuildingcameintoview.Asearchoftheoutsidestorerevealedtwofoldingcanvasgardenchairs,dilapidatedbutuseable.intact

adj.

notdamagedorimpairedinanyway;complete無(wú)損的e.g.Hisreputationsurvivedintact.Anditdidsoinawaythatallowedthetraditionalculturetoremainlargelyintact.embrace

v.

acceptorsupport(abelief,theory,orchange)willinglyandenthusiastically接受e.g.Still,insomewaysthismanagerhadyettofullyembracethenotionofbuildingateam.MostWestEuropeancountrieshaveembracedtheconceptofhigh-speedrailnetworkswithenthusiasm.ceremonious

adj.

relatingorappropriatetograndandformaloccasions隆重的e.g.aGreatHallwhereceremoniousandpublicappearancesweremadeheacceptedthegiftswithceremoniousdignity.consecrate

v.

makeordeclaresomethingsacred;dedicateformallytoareligiousordivinepurpose圣化；開(kāi)光e.g.Theboneswillbereburiedinconsecratedground.Timehasconsecratedthiscustom.resurrect

v.

tobringbackintousesomething,suchasabelief,apractice,etc.,thathaddisappearedorbeenforgotten復(fù)活e.g.anotherfailedattempttoresurrecthiscareerHeistryingto

resurrect

hisactingcareer.unprecedented

adj.

thathasneverhappened,beendoneorbeenknownbefore史無(wú)前例的e.g.Hetooktheunprecedentedstepofstatingthattherumourswerefalse.aneventthatisunprecedentedinrecenthistorylustren.agentlesheenorsoftglow,especiallythatofapartlyreflectivesurface;光澤e.g.Hepolishedthesilverwareforhourstryingtorestoreits

luster.v.Toputalustreupon(cloth,pottery,etc.)使有光澤；給……上光e.g.TheirnameshavelustredChineseliterature.assiduous

adj.

showinggreatcareandperseverance堅(jiān)持不懈的；一絲不茍的e.g.shewas

assiduousin

pointingouteveryfeature.Theprojectrequiredsome

assiduous

planning.I.Readthefollowingstatementsanddecidewhethertheyaretrue(T)orfalse(F).1.Thebodilesslacquerwaresimplymeanslacquerwarewithoutbody.2.TheporcelainwareofDehuaisrecognizedasoneofChina’stopthreetreasuresoftraditionalartsandcrafts.3.Infact,manypeoplepreferbodilesslacquerwarewithoutanydecoration.4.Inmakingthebodilesslacquerware,thebodymustberemovedinonepiece.5.TheuseoflacquerwarebyChinesepeopledatesbackasearlyasmorethan4000yearsago.FFFTT6.ThroughoutChinesehistory,Buddhismhasalwaysbeenwelcomedandbelievedinbythemonarchyandpeoplealike.7.Fuzhoubodilesslacquerwarewasinventedwhencommonlacquerwarepieceswereingreatdemand.8.Europeansbegantoknowaboutthebodilesslacquerwareatthebeginningofthe20thcentury.9.Foralongtime,coloursavailableforlacqueringhadbeenverylimited.10.ThemostdistinctfeatureofFuzhoubodilesslacquerwareisthattheycanbeextremelylight.FFFTTII.Givebriefanswerstothefollowingquestions.1.WhyisitthatFuzhoubodilesslacquerwareprovetobevaluableeitherforornamentalorpracticalpurposes?2.WhyisitthatFuzhoubodilesslacquerwarecanbeextremelylight?3.WhyhadthetraditionalJiazhutechniquebeenlostforseveralhundredyears?I.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.福州漆藝從傳統(tǒng)走到了現(xiàn)代，不變的是工藝技法，改變的是設(shè)計(jì)理念。傳統(tǒng)脫胎漆器多呈現(xiàn)瓶、盤、盒等器具造型，現(xiàn)代漆藝則青睞多元化的表現(xiàn)形式，如各種抽象的漆立體等。現(xiàn)代漆藝家一直在思考并實(shí)踐著創(chuàng)意與傳統(tǒng)的結(jié)合。不拘一格的設(shè)計(jì)理念，讓傳統(tǒng)技法在現(xiàn)代漆藝作品中散發(fā)出嶄新的充滿個(gè)性的美，也給漆藝家的靈感插上了自由的翅膀。I.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.福州漆藝從傳統(tǒng)走到了現(xiàn)代，不變的是工藝技法，改變的是設(shè)計(jì)理念。傳統(tǒng)脫胎漆器多呈現(xiàn)瓶、盤、盒等器具造型，現(xiàn)代漆藝則青睞多元化的表現(xiàn)形式，如各種抽象的漆立體等。ThetraditionalFuzhoulacquerarthasundergoneatransitiontomodernity.Butitisaprocessofembracingnewdesignphilosophieswhilepreservingtraditionaltechniques.Inthepast,Fuzhoubodilesslacquerwareweremainlyfashionedfromdomesticutensils,suchasbottles,plates,andboxes;nowadays,modernlacquerartprefersdiversewaysofexpression,includingvariousabstractthree-dimensionalworksoflacquerart.TranslatethefollowingparagraphintoEnglish.現(xiàn)代漆藝家一直在思考并實(shí)踐著創(chuàng)意與傳統(tǒng)的結(jié)合。不拘一格的設(shè)計(jì)理念，讓傳統(tǒng)技法在現(xiàn)代漆藝作品中散發(fā)出嶄新的充滿個(gè)性的美，也給漆藝家的靈感插上了自由的翅膀。Modernlacquerartistshavebeencontemplatingandpracticingthefusionofcreativityandtradition.Nowunlimiteddesignphilosophieshavehelpedtraditionaltechniquestofindtheirwayintothecreationofnewandexceptionalbeautyinmodernlacquerartworks,andinspiredthelacquerartiststofreetheirimaginationaswell.II.Fillintheblankswiththewordsorexpressionsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessaryapplyarchaeologistbeautycharactercutfromindigenousintactlacquerlayernaturaltime-honouredresistantsapsunrisesurfacetapunearthvarnishwriteLacquerreferstothe1.ofthelacquertreeusedto2.woodorothermaterialsandgiveitahardshiny3..Inotherwords,itisa4.substance.Thelacquertreeis5.toChina,whichisalsotheworld’sbiggestrawlacquerproducerandexporter.To6.rawlacquer,i.e.todrawsapfromthelacquertreeby7.intoit,entailshardwork.Summeristhebestseasonforthetapping,andthetapperhastodoitbefore8.whenitisthebesttime,becausethesunmayquicklyreducethemoistureintheairandthusstoptheflowofthesap.sapvarnishsurfaceindigenousnaturaltapcuttingsunriseII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsorexpressionsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessaryapplyarchaeologistbeautycharactercutfromindigenousintactlacquerlayernaturaltime-honouredresistantsapsunrisesurfacetapunearthvarnishwriteIncontactwiththeairlacquerwillquicklyhardeninafewhours,andthusformaverydurable9.ofprotection.Chinesepeoplemusthavefoundthebenefitof10.lacquertothesurfaceofmanythingsofdailyuse;andindeed,Chinahasa11.traditionofusinglacquerware.Accordingto12.,theearliestlacqueredarticlesdiscoveredinChinadate13.morethan7000yearsago.Andsomeofthem,paintedwithpatterns,werealmost14.whenunearthed.layerapplyingtime-honouredarchaeologistsfromintactII.Fillintheblankswiththewordsorexpressionsprovided,andchangetheformifnecessaryapplyarchaeologistbeautycharactercutfromindigenousintactlacquerlayernaturaltime-honouredresistantsapsunrisesurfacetapunearthvarnishwriteA15.surfacewillbemoisture-proof,andeven16.toheat,acidandalkali.Moreover,itscolourandlustrearehighlydurable,adding17.toitspracticaluse.ArchaeologistsalsofoundthatbeforeChineseinkwasinvented,lacquerhadbeenusedfor18..Somebambooclips19.fromaWarringStatesperiodtombwerefoundwith20.writteninlacquer.lacqueredresistantbeautywritingunearthedcharactersIII.RetellthestoryabouttheinventionofFuzhoubodilesslacquerware.IV.Speakonthefollowingtopics.ThemesthattraditionalChineseartsandcraftsoftenhaveChinesenationalcharacterasreflectedintraditionalChineseartsandcraftsInfluenceofartsandcraftsalongtheSilkRoadV.CriticalthinkingHaveyoueverthoughtoverwhyChinahasasplendidhistoryofartsandcrafts?Inyouropinion,isthereanydifferencebetweenartandcraft?Andwhichone,theartorthecraft,hascontributedmoretothesplendidnessofChina’sartsandcrafts?Andwhy?ReadingThisreadingmaterialistakenfromFourThousandYearsofChina’sArtbyDagnyCarter.ThebooktellstheamazinglycontinuousstoryofChina’sartisticdevelopmentwhich,accordingtotheauthor,isactuallythestoryofagreatpeople’sspiritualdevelopment,evolvedalonglinesdifferentfromthatofthepeoplesoftheWest.Chapter23ofthebook,fromwhichthefollowingtextisadapted,discussesaninterestingtopic,whichmayberarelynoticedamongChinesecollegestudents.Questionsforcriticalthinking:1.MarcoPoloobservedthatChinawassuperiortoanyEuropeancountryineveryrespect.Doyouagreewiththisobservation?Andwhy?2.Accordingtothetext,whywasitthatinthosedaysChineseartsandcraftscouldhaveasignificantinfluenceoverEuropeanindustrialart?3.ItmaybeinferredfromthetextthatChinesepeoplemusthavebeenveryconfidentintheirartsandcraftsatthattime.Whatdoyouthinkgeneratedtheconfidence?Andwhy?UNIT10

ChineseCommitmentandInheritanceLearningObjectivesSpeakonChinesepeople’scommitmenttoculturalinheritanceLearnaboutShoushanstonecarving1ExploreChineseintangibleculturalheritage23Onlyonewhodevoteshimselftoacausewithhiswholestrengthandsoulcanbeatruemaster.Forthisreasonmasterydemandsallofaperson.—AlbertEinsteinAcivilizationisaheritageofbeliefs,customs,andknowledgeslowlyaccumulatedinthecourseofcenturies,elementsdifficultattimestojustifybylogic,butjustifyingthemselvesaspathswhentheyleadsomewhere,sincetheyopenupformanhisinnerdistance.—AntoinedeSaint-ExupéryIncredibleStoneandCommittedCarversIncredibleStoneandCommittedCarversManyyearslater,ashesatinacardrivenbyhissonalongascenicroadtothebeautifulShoushanvillage,Baiyuwastorememberthatdistantmorningwhenhisfathertookhimtodiscoverthoseincrediblestones.Atthattime,Shoushanwasjustasmallmountainvillageinaccessibletomodernvehicles.Aroughandruggedroadwasalmosttheonlywaytogetinandoutofit.Interestingly,however,onrainydayssomepeoplefromoutsidewereoftenseengoingupthismuddyandbumpyroadtothevillage.Andwhentheyleft,goingdownthesamewetandslipperypath,theywouldoftencarrysomethingheavyinbags,somethingtheyhadexpectedtodiscoverandtocloseadealwiththevillagers,whowereusuallybusywithfarmingorquarryingwhentheweatherwasgood,andwouldonlyfindtimeonrainydaystodealwiththeseoutsidebuyersforwhattheyhadcutfromthemountain–theextraordinaryShoushanstone,namedaftertheonlyplacewheretheywerediscovered.Perfectfortheartofcarving,Shoushanstoneisacclaimedasthekingofstonesbyvirtueofitswarm,moist,pure,solid,clear,andsleekfeel.Thenaturalcharmingcolors,shapes,andtextureofthesestoneshavealwaysinspiredartisticcreativityofgenerationsofcraftsmensincetheywerefirstdiscoveredandmadeintovariousartfulorpracticalpiecesinancienttimes.Legendhasitthatthesestoneshaveahighoriginbecausetheyhadmergedwithwhatwastobecomeaphoenix,foronceuponatimeaphoenixeggthatwasaccidentallybrokenheresawitseggwhiteandyolkslowlytrickleintothestreamdownthemountainsideandpassthroughthesoiltoendowtherockbelowwithexceptionalqualities.Thisphoenix-relatedstorymusthaveariseninpeople’simagination,buttheShoushanstonehadindeedbeenrebornindestroyingheat,whichhadbeengeneratedbyvolcanicactivitiesmillionsofyearsagoandhadtriggeredcomplicatedchemicalprocessesthatcleansedimpuritiesandforgeduniquecharacteristicsovertime.Amazinglyuniqueasthesenaturalstonesare,nodoubtitisthemindandhandofgenerationsofmastercarversthattrulymaketheminvaluable.TheartofShoushanstonecarvinghasnearlyfifteenhundredyearsofhistory.ItbegantorisetofameintheTangdynastywhenthestoneswereoftencarvedintoBuddhism-relatedfiguresorobjects;andfullydevelopedintheMingdynastywhentheyweremostfavouredformakingstamps;andreacheditszenithintheQingdynastywhenaremarkablevarietyofartisticrepresentationsflourished.Intherecentdecades,ithasexperiencedarejuvenationwiththerisingofnewgenerationsofmastercarvers,thankstothoseartistsorfamiliesofartistswhohavebeendevotedtotheinheritanceofthisgreatculturalheritage.Bornintosuchafamily,Baiyu,arecognizedgreatmasterofShoushanstonecarvinghaswitnessedtherevivalanddevelopmentofthistraditionalartsincehischildhoodmorethansixtyyearsago.Itwasafinewinterdaywhenhedecidedtotakehisson,Anzhi,ayoungpromisingartist,torevisitthesmallmountainvillagewhereallbegan.Thiswouldbeatripforimpartingtheknowledgeandinspiringtheyoung,justashisfather,Shiqing,agreatermaster,oncedidforhim.“Tomakeasuccessfulpiece,you’llhavetodiscovertherightstone.EverynaturalShoushanstonehasitsowncharacterwhich,toalargeextent,decideswhatkindofartfulpieceitcanbemadeinto.Acarvermustseethestone’suniquenessandapplytherighttechniquestoitsothatthebesteffectcanpossiblybeachieved.Thecrafthasbeenpasseddowntousandweareobligatedtolearneverytechniquethatmastersofoldergenerationdeveloped.Itis,indeed,ourdutytocarryforwardtheShoushanstonecultureand,withoutlimitingourselvestowhathasbeenachieved,tocontributesomethingnewandgoodtothisgreatart.That’sthemeaningfulwaytocarryitforward.”SaidBaiyutohissoninthisknowledge-impartingandinspiration-findingtrip.So,whatwillbeinheritedandcarriedforwardforthisgreatart?Theinsight,thecreativity,thecraftsmanship,theprofoundculture.Thelistmaygoon.Andalltheseareembodiedincountlessmasterpiecestherehavebeen.Shiqing’smasterwork,ASliceofLifealongtheMountain,carvedoutofatopclassTianhuangstonewhichisperfectlycharacterizedbyallthesixvirtues,offersagooddemonstration.Oneverysideofitarecarvedvividlyinthinrelieffigures,trees,cottages,creeks,orrocksthataloneoralongsideotherspresentanenjoyableepisodeoftheidylliclifeinthemountain.Allthatemergeareharmoniouslyintunewiththenaturaltoneandtextureoftheoriginalstone,beitthedappledbarkoftheexaggeratedpinetree,orthemoss-invadedrocks,orthecottagesshroudedinmist.Soingenious,someaningful,andsoadmirable!InAnzhi’seyes,“Agoodpieceinthinreliefmustfirstofallpresentanartisticmood.Inthisrespect,theartist’sunderstandingofNaturematters.That’swhyIsometimesmakeaspecialtriptodrawinspirationfromMotherNature,tofeelandtoseewhatmastersofoldergenerationmighthaveseen.Ourfamilyhasbeendevotedtothisgreatartforthreegenerations.Grandpahashandeddownquiteafewspeci