A carving knife carries forward a legacy spanning thousands of years; flying wood shavings embody the carver’s unique craftsmanship. When Max, a Russian “home-decoration carpentry expert”, met Ma Chengwen, a master woodcarver from Liaoning Province, a cross-cultural exchange and collision of craftsmanship between East and West unfolded.
Wood carving is not only a dazzling pearl in the traditional Chinese culture, but also a time-honored intangible cultural heritage. At Li’s Imperial Wood Carving Studio in Shenyang City, Max saw Ma Chengwen’s representative masterpiece Pines and Cranes for the first time. Pine branches are vigorous and powerful, and cranes flutter their wings to soar high. Every detail of the carving showcases the solemnity and exquisiteness of northern-style wood carving.
Max originally thought wood carving was merely an old-fashioned craft, but under the guidance of Ma Chengwen, the representative inheritor of Li’s Imperial Wood Carving, he gradually came to appreciate the essence of this ancient art. From the primitive carvings at the Hemudu Site to the exquisite craftsmanship in the imperial court of Ming and Qing dynasties, Chinese wood carving embodies 7,000 years of history and culture, with every chisel stroke and carving detail encapsulating the wisdom and ingenuity of the artisans.
“Completing a wood carving piece involves multiple procedures, including material selection, sketching, rough carving, fine carving, polishing, and coloring. Each step requires meticulous operation and careful handling,” Ma Chengwen said. “Every chisel stroke in Chinese northern-style wood carving has its significance and cannot be replicated by machines. Although some carvings can now be accomplished using machines, they lack human touch. I choose to keep refining each piece using traditional handcrafting techniques.”
Under Ma Chengwen’s guidance, Max listened as the teacher narrated the inheritance and development of northern-style wood carving techniques, while imitating the teacher’s movements to experience carving. “This is my first time holding a carving knife, and it’s far more magical than drawing on paper. The knife is a little bit heavy, and every stroke requires precise control of force and direction, which truly tests people’s meticulousness and patience.” As the carving knife rose and fell, there were more and more wood shavings on the table. Max witnessed how a piece of wood transformed into an exquisite piece of art under the artisan’s skillful hands.
“It’s quite amazing. Every stroke of the knife embodies a sense of vitality, bringing life into the wood. The beauty of wood carving lies in its intricate knife work and the profound sense of history it carries, which is truly thought-provoking.” Through this immersive experience, Max realized that true wood carving is not merely about “creating”, but rather about engaging in a “dialogue” with history. “Watching the master craftsman use those ‘antique’ tools to bring an ordinary piece of wood to life stroke by stroke, I felt the unique artistic charm of northern-style wood carving, and understood the significance of craftsmanship and inheritance.” Max said.
