Stone Carvings,Craftsmanship And Craftsmen

Starting from the carving technique,the author regards the craftsmen,especially the representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage,as the interpreter of the technique,and discusses how the modern craftsmen and the local government“reinvent” the traditional carving technique for development.“Traditional reinvention”is a common strategy used by craftsmen and local governments.It is a process of formalization and symbolization in essence,which is represented by modern craftsmen imitating ancient Dazu Rock Carvings to construct Dazu Stone Carvings.Dazu Stone Carvings,as an industrial form,appeared in the early 1980 s.Its characteristics are related to the past subjects of sculpture.Dazu Stone Carvings is the continuation of Dazu Rock Carvings,and modern carving technology is the continuation of traditional carving technology.The goal and characteristics of "tradition" lie in invariance,while the uniqueness of “Traditional reinvention” lies in its connection with and difference from tradition.On the one hand,the study of traditional reinvention cannot be separated from the social,historical and cultural background.The local belief in stone,special historical environment,geographical location,stone resources,and the tradition of sculpture are all the basic conditions for the rise of the reconstructed Dazu Stone Carvings.Symbolic,technical and social carving techniques are the root of traditional reinvention.The author takes craftsmen,especially the representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage,as the main object of concern,and understands that symbolic stones are rooted in the daily life of craftsmen,which promotes them to develop a firm,persistent and loyal character,which in turn guides their thinking and action styles.Influenced by Dazu Rock Carvings culture and tourism after the reform and opening up,modern craftsmen have developed Dazu Stone Carvings industry that imitates Dazu Rock Carvings.Craftsmen regard carving as a kind of power,which not only brings them income and reputation,but also makes traditional skills inherit and carry forward.The low living standard and meeting the needs of livelihood are the primary driving force for modern craftsmen to engage in Dazu Stone Carvings industry.After the reform and opening up,the gradual improvement and implementation of the national religious policy,and the comprehensive opening up of Dazu Rock Carvings tourism are the guarantee for Dazu Stone Carvings industry.Ritualized religious activities and daily symbolic practice strengthen its position.Dazu Rock Carvings were included in the World Cultural Heritage List in 1999 and Dazu Stone Carvings were included in the second batch of Chongqing’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009,making the symbolic Dazu Stone Carvings an integral part of local and national culture and protected and promoted.In this process,the symbolic meaning of stone has been expanded.The sculptures with traditional culture and belief have economic and political connotations.The reinventing Dazu Stone Carvings has increased local income and employment,and expanded the cultural influence of traditional Dazu Rock Carvings.On the other hand,craftsmen’s life is not fixed,and the traditional reinvention is different from the past.Its development is to meet the changing practical and objective needs.The author explains the two forces that promote the development of stone carvings culture from the perspectives of external(government support policy,media resources)-internal(group organization spontaneously formed by craftsmen),and explores the identification process of craftsmen.The external and internal forces selectively describe,write and popularize the relationship between Dazu Stone Carvings and Dazu Rock Carvings to prove the value of Dazu Stone Carvings.At the beginning of the 21 st century,the representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritages and legal recognized intangible cultural heritages came into the view of craftsmen.New tools and technologies were introduced from the coastal areas,which not only formed the differentiation between the representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritages and ordinary craftsmen within the group,but also caused fierce competition among craftsmen,confusion in the carving market,and a large number of craftsmen transferred to other industries,making “Traditional reinvention” The road to development is in trouble.