The Hui Merchants' Conspicuous Contributions to Huizhou Woodcarving

The progress of Huizhou Woodcarving is duly said to be the embodiment of the expansion of the local Huizhou business community. In some way, its consummate artisanship resulted from the envious success of the Hui merchants' far-flung operations.

The Huizhou business community rose in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), matured in the Tang and Song dynasties, and enjoyed its golden age in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) under the reign of emperors Shunzhi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, when Huizhou business merchants ruled the commercial world across the country.

With the marvelous fortunes at hand, those businessmen spared no pains on building luxurious residential houses, gardens, archways, and temples. However, the standards of dwelling places in the feudal China were officially stratified in accordance with the owner's social position. Any house constructed beyond the restriction was regarded as an open offense to the government officials' authority and would induce severe punishment.

In their effort to avoid overt ostentations, the local gentry men consequently went in for exquisite decoration in the interior of their houses. Beams, pillars, and purling are all gilded or painted, and the art of carving on wood is displayed to the full. On the brackets, upturned eaves, lattices, arches, balustrades, and shrines are exquisitely carved landscape (sun, moon, clouds, waves, mountains, rivers, pavilions, and gardens), animals and plants (flowers, grass, insects, fish, birds, and beasts), legendary stories, mythical figures, historical events, and common practices (farming, weaving, fishing, cutting wood, studying for an official career, acting with filial piety, and fraternal duty).

The wide range of subjects engraved is hailed as a gallery of the genuine local conditions in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which re-dramatizes the folk culture of ancient Huizhou.

  Well-preserved Huizhou-style Courtyards Renowned for Woodcarving

Huizhou Woodcarvings, as elegant decorations for the residential construction and an important vehicle for culture transmission, were well protected for centuries. At present, in the Huizhou region there are thousands of complete architectural preservations represented by Xidi and Hongcun villages, both being listed as World Heritage sites in November of 2000 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

As a school of traditional Chinese architecture, Huizhou-style constructions embrace both local folk features and aesthetic trends. With black tiles, white walls, and wooden horse heads carved on upturned eaves, the buildings present a sense of elegance, simplicity, and dignity in perfect harmony.

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