In Chaozhou, Guangdong province, a region brimming with hidden talents, Li Zhongqing, a master woodcarver, has honed the art of Chaozhou woodcarving to perfection. Despite not being a native, Li has earned the admiration of locals.

Born in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, a place as storied in woodcarving as Chaozhou, Li started his journey from his hometown, while Chaozhou became the place where his skills were refined. The fusion of these two distinct woodcarving traditions has led Li to develop his signature style, known as "Dongyang-Chaozhou Woodcarving."

Apprenticeship and diverse learning

In his sixteen or seventeen, Li embarked on an apprenticeship, traveling from village to village in pursuit of work and knowledge. In Dongyang, the longstanding tradition of "Ten-Mile Red Dowry " dictates that a bride's dowry includes a set of ornately red-painted furniture, such as washstands, "Eight Immortals" tables , and elaborate bridal beds. "It's said that after three years as an apprentice, you become half a master by the fourth year," yet Li left Dongyang before completing this period.

At the age of eighteen, through a relative's introduction, Li joined a prominent woodcarving factory in Jiangxi Province, where he apprenticed under the renowned Dongyang wood carver Guo Zhigao, affectionately known as the "Minister of Carved Flowers." The intense daily work left his hands numb by day's end.

Guo Zhigao, though stern, recognized Li's dedication and diligence. He imparted not only the art of carving but also the skill of drawing. During his tenure at the factory, Li was gifted a copy of "The Pattern of Suzhou Embroidery ," which he studied and replicated for half an hour daily. Within seven to eight months, he had mastered the entire process from drafting designs to executing the carvings independently.

Innovative techniques and global recognition

In 1991, Li Zhongqing first ventured to Chaozhou, Guangdong. A decade later, in 2005, he returned with a mission. "The Guangji Bridge was undergoing restoration, and a friend recommended me for the project. I successfully took on the comprehensive restoration of the Bridge's pavilions and towers," he reminisces with emotion. Under his stewardship, the restoration was completed within two years to great acclaim. "Old Li" became a name that resonated far and wide.

Both Dongyang and Chaozhou woodcarvings are celebrated as two of the Four Most Famous Woodcarvings in China. Chaozhou's woodcarving is characterized by its three-dimensional, openwork style, while Dongyang's is known for its delicate relief work . After years of exploration, Li merged these techniques, giving birth to the "Dongyang-Chaozhou Woodcarving Art School ."

Li's art has since crossed borders, with a notable project in 2017 at the Tuas Tua Pek Kong Temple in Singapore. His innovative design approach sparked considerable interest and discussion locally. Despite his international acclaim, Li maintains a humble, modestly stating, "I am just a craftsman, and woodcarving is merely a way to enhance life's beauty."

Source :Yangcheng Evening News

【视频】木雕工美大师李中庆:从“手艺人”到“守艺人”｜走进名家工作室

在卧虎藏龙的广东潮州，有这样一位手艺人，他虽然来自外地，但却将潮州木雕的技艺掌握得炉火纯青，令无数本地人折服。

他就是李中庆，出生于浙江东阳。东阳和潮州同为木雕之乡，一个是李中庆学艺的起点，另一个则是他技艺精进的地方。二者的碰撞，让李中庆得以悟出他的独门绝技“东潮木雕”。

拜师学艺，吃百家饭

十六七岁时，李中庆开始了拜师学艺、吃百家饭的日子。哪个村里有活，他就跟着师傅到哪个村去。在浙江东阳，“十里红妆”的婚嫁习俗由来已久。每逢谁家有女儿出嫁，父母便要早早为其置办一套红漆嫁妆，包括脸盆架、八仙桌、大花床等喜庆家具。 “所谓三年徒弟，四年就是半个师傅了。”然而，还没等到三年，李中庆就离开了东阳老家。

在亲戚的介绍下，刚满十八岁的李中庆进入了江西的一家大型木雕厂，正式拜有“雕花宰相”之称的东阳木雕名家郭志高为师。一天工作下来，李中庆的双手已经被震得麻木。

师傅郭志高虽然严厉，但却把徒弟的认真和勤奋看在眼里，除了雕刻，也教李中庆画画。在工厂期间，师傅送给李中庆一本《苏绣图案》，让他每天花半小时临摹、钻研。等到七八个月后，从图稿设计到上手雕刻，李中庆都可以一个人独立完成了。

创新技法，走出国门

1991年，李中庆第一次来到广东潮州。2005年，他再次回到潮州。“当时广济桥正在做修复，朋友介绍我参与，顺利承接下广济桥亭台楼阁的整体修复任务。”李中庆很是感触。历时两年，在他的主持下，广济桥上所有亭台楼阁的修复工作得以如期验收交付。 “老李”的名声也因此越传越远。

东阳木雕与潮州木雕均居中国四大木雕之列。从雕刻手法而言，潮州木雕以通雕为主，风格立体且粗犷；东阳木雕以浮雕为主，以细腻著称。在经过数十年的探索实践后，李中庆将两地的雕刻技法“合二为一”，开创了“东潮木雕艺术流派”。

此后，李中庆还带着“东潮木雕”走出国门，于2017年承接新加坡大士伯公宫重修项目，由于在设计上注入了创新技法，在当地引起不小轰动。尽管已经蜚声海内外，李中庆依然十分低调，他打趣地说，“我只是一名手艺人，木雕也只是为生活增添了一点美而已！”

出品人｜杜传贵 林海利
策划｜孙爱群 陈桥生
监制｜邓琼 蒋铮 吴小攀
统筹｜朱绍杰 何奔
执行｜周欣怡 彭灏明 文艺 黄宙辉 孙磊
文｜记者 文艺 朱绍杰 周欣怡
图、视频｜彭灏明 彭泽祥 唐德荣 林丹丹 戚容源 陈贤宇 暨晴 张萁迅(实习生)
海报设计｜唐欣怡
译｜史洋溢
英文审校｜赵凡