Hezhou Brick Carving [Gansu Linxia Specialty]

What is Hezhou Brick Carving? Authentic Gansu Linxia specialty: Hezhou brick carving

Content summary:Do you want to know what Hezhou brick carving is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product of Linxia, Gansu Province - Hezhou Brick Carving. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network after reviewing and collecting relevant information on Hezhou Brick Carving. The full text takes about 7 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Hezhou Brick Carving and how the history of Hezhou Brick Carving originated? The production method of Hezhou brick carving, etc

Basic Introduction to Hezhou Brick Carving

Hezhou Brick Carving is well-known in Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia. Originating from the Northern Song Dynasty and maturing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Linxia, formerly known as Hezhou, was named "Hezhou Brick Carving". Hezhou brick carving can be divided into kneading and carving. Pinching is the process of first shaping clay and mud into patterns such as dragons, phoenixes, lions, and various flowers, birds, and insects using hands and molds, and then firing them into bricks in a kiln. 'Kehuo' is a technique of carving various relief patterns onto green bricks using a knife. Brick carving art can be seen everywhere in folk houses, temples, and temples in Linxia. On the mountain walls, shadow walls, corridors, and entrances of buildings, exquisite carvings are made according to the design of the objects

Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties

According to archaeological excavations, the art of Hezhou brick carving was already quite mature in the Song Dynasty. By the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, exquisite brick carving had been widely used in various buildings. The Ming and Qing dynasties were the prosperous periods of brick carving in Hezhou. The "Dragon and Phoenix Chengxiang" shadow wall in front of the Baifang Mosque North Temple, built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, can be regarded as a masterpiece of existing brick carving in Hezhou. On both sides of the shadow wall are the "Phoenix Laiyi" and in the center are the "Three Manifestations of Ink Dragons". Looking at this shadow wall, there are shallow reliefs of ink dragons, appearing and disappearing intermittently. In the midst of dark clouds and indifference, clouds and mist are emitted, accompanied by thunder, giving a feeling of sudden heavy rain

During the period of the Republic of China

During the period of the Republic of China, Hezhou brick carving artists came forth in large numbers. Among them, the Hui old artists are the most famous, and Zhou Shengpu is the most famous. The brick carving of Donggongguan, which is a collection of Hezhou brick carving, is the artistic crystallization of the former. The "Mount Taishan sunrise picture" on the south wall of the Linxia Hongyuan pavilion is Zhou Shengpu's best work. And some newly built large-scale brick carving works such as Yubaba Gongbei, Dagongbei, and Hongyuan Square showcase the exquisite skills of the new generation of brick carving artists in Hezhou

The production method of Hezhou brick carving

In terms of production technology, Hezhou brick carving can be divided into kneading and carving. The so-called "kneading" refers to the process of carefully blending and preparing clay and mud into various shapes using hands and molds, and then roasting them in a kiln. Most of these works are formed independently, such as dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns. They are mostly used on the roof ridges, commonly known as "roof figures". The so-called carving activity refers to using a carving knife to carve various patterns on carefully selected and fired green bricks. The process is much more complex than kneading activity. A pattern is often composed of more than ten or even dozens of green bricks pieced together and carved on clay kiln bricks with a knife. This method is commonly used for wall decorations, steps, and other structures in buildings. The process of carving includes eight procedures: polishing, composition, carving, fine grinding, water immersion, numbering, splicing and installation, and decoration. The production tools include folding rulers, saws, planers, shovels, chisels, carving knives, etc. Among them, shovels, chisels, and carving knives are divided into several types according to the process requirements, including light weight, size, length, blade width, and thickness

Its carving techniques mainly include intaglio line carving, concave line carving, convex line carving, shallow relief, high relief, hollow through carving, and other types. This is the essence of Hezhou brick carving art. A brick carving is often composed of three or four layers of patterns, overlapping, echoing from the inside to the outside. It is an integral whole with a strong three-dimensional sense. Clever ideas and exquisite carving techniques bring vivid images and vivid meanings to life on a few green bricks, which is truly breathtaking