I am Chen Zhigang. I have been immersed in the jade industry for over thirty years. From an apprentice to the head of a jade carving studio, I have witnessed the ups and downs of jade carving art and personally participated in its development and transformation. Today, I want to share my thoughts on jade carving art in the current era, especially regarding the inheritance and innovation of the two core concepts: "harmonious blend of form and spirit" and "profound artistic conception."

I. Harmonious Blend of Form and Spirit: From Exquisite Craftsmanship to Imbuing with Life

"Harmonious blend of form and spirit" is the cornerstone of jade carving art. In traditional understanding, it emphasizes that a jade carving piece should be precise and vivid in its form, and expressive and imbued with spirit in its essence. However, in the contemporary context, I have developed a deeper understanding of "harmonious blend of form and spirit."

Firstly, exquisite craftsmanship is an eternal pursuit. Whether it's traditional round carving, relief carving, openwork carving, or modern ingenious carving and thin-relief carving, every cut and every chisel stroke embodies the carver's ingenuity and skill. For example, I once participated in the creation of a large landscape carving. The raw jade material weighed over a hundred jin (about 50 kg), with a mottled surface and complex internal structure. Our team spent two years, from the initial conception to the final polishing, meticulously perfecting every step. To depict the grandeur of the mountains and the ethereal quality of the clouds and mist, we repeatedly refined our approach, even employing micro-carving techniques to delineate the mountain paths and pavilions. Ultimately, this piece not only possessed a magnificent form but also vividly captured the spirit of the landscape, leaving every viewer awestruck.

Secondly, the harmonious blend of form and spirit lies even more in understanding and imbuing the jade with "life." Each piece of jade has its unique texture, color, and quality, which are the "life codes" bestowed upon it by nature. An excellent jade carver does not simply impose their ideas onto the jade but learns to "read" the jade, conforming to its natural beauty, and even cleverly transforming the jade's flaws into highlights of the artwork. This is akin to the "inspection, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation" in traditional Chinese medicine; the jade carver must observe, touch, and feel to discover the jade's inherent potential.

I once acquired a piece of Hetian jade seed material with a natural fissure. Following conventional thinking, one might avoid carving near the fissure. However, after careful observation, I found that the direction of this fissure had a rhythmic quality. Thus, I boldly conceived an idea to skillfully integrate the fissure into the wing of a phoenix poised for flight. The fissure became the natural texture of the phoenix's feathers, not only preserving the integrity of the artwork but also adding a touch of natural vitality and charm. This exemplifies the respect for and re-creation of the jade's vitality.

II. Profound Artistic Conception: From Poetic Imagery to Humanistic Care

"Profound artistic conception" is the soul of jade carving art. It transcends mere physical depiction, pursuing the cultural connotations, philosophical reflections, and emotional expressions embedded within the artwork.

In traditional jade carving, artistic conception is often conveyed through the depiction of landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures, aiming for an aesthetic experience of poetic imagery. For instance, a jade carving with a "high mountains and flowing water" theme should not only depict the ruggedness of the mountains and the murmuring of the stream but also evoke in the viewer the joy of finding a kindred spirit and a transcendent state of mind.

However, in contemporary society, the artistic conception of jade carving can be more diverse and profound. It is no longer limited to traditional themes but can incorporate more modern elements and humanistic care.

I was once invited to create a jade carving piece with an "anti-epidemic" theme. This was a completely new challenge for me. How could I use this ancient material, jade, to express current social hot topics and emotions? After much deliberation, I chose a warm white jade and carved a medical worker in protective gear. Although her face was covered by a mask, her eyes revealed determination and gentleness. The background featured a rising sun, symbolizing hope and light. After the completion of this piece, many viewers expressed that they felt the selfless dedication of medical workers and humanity's resilience in the face of adversity. This is a vivid example of how jade carving art, in a modern context, conveys humanistic care through the creation of artistic conception.

Furthermore, the profundity of artistic conception is also reflected in the understanding and application of materials. The natural colors, textures, and luster of different jade materials inherently carry unique artistic conceptions. For example, the deep and restrained quality of black jade, the ancient elegance of celadon jade, and the warm purity of white jade can all add different emotional tones to a work. Excellent jade carvers choose themes and expressive techniques that best embody the artistic conception of the jade based on its characteristics.

III. Conclusion and Recommendations: Upholding Tradition, Embracing Innovation, and Looking Towards the Future

Reviewing the inheritance and development of jade carving art, it is clear that "harmonious blend of form and spirit" and "profound artistic conception" have always been its core values. In the new era, we jade carvers should, while adhering to the essence of tradition, actively embrace innovation to bring new vitality to jade carving art.

My recommendations are:

  • Deeply study tradition and build a solid foundation of skills: Innovation does not come out of thin air but is built upon a profound understanding of tradition. Only solid traditional skills can provide endless possibilities for innovation.


  • Broaden horizons and draw nourishment from diverse cultures: Jade carving art should not be insular. It should actively learn from and draw upon the strengths of other art forms, such as painting, sculpture, and architecture, and even draw inspiration from literature and philosophy to broaden creative thinking.


  • Pay attention to the times and integrate humanistic care: Jade carving art must keep pace with the times, reflect the spirit of the era, pay attention to social hot topics, and use the unique language of jade to express thoughts and emotions about life, society, and nature.


  • Make good use of technology to improve creative efficiency and expressiveness: Modern technologies, such as 3D modeling and laser carving, are not enemies of jade carving art. Instead, they can assist us in improving creative efficiency and achieving a level of precision and complexity that is difficult to achieve with traditional handcrafting. Of course, technology is always a tool; the ultimate artistic presentation still requires ingenious craftsmanship.


  • Strengthen exchanges and promote common progress: The jade carving industry needs more exchanges and cooperation, whether it's skill-sharing among peers or cross-disciplinary collaboration with designers, artists, and collectors. All of these can bring new sparks to jade carving art.


Jade carving art is an ancient yet vibrant art form. It carries the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese nation and holds infinite potential for innovation. As a jade carver, I am deeply aware of the responsibility on my shoulders. I firmly believe that as long as we uphold craftsmanship and embrace innovation while preserving tradition, jade carving art will undoubtedly shine with even greater brilliance in the new era and move towards a broader future.