In the long river of Chinese civilization, jade is not only the essence of heaven and earth but also a symbol of a gentleman's virtue. It carries the nation's aesthetic taste, philosophical thoughts, and even spiritual beliefs. When we look back at the ancient art of jade carving, from the jade dragons of the Hongshan Culture, the jade cong of the Liangzhu Culture, to the jade burial suits of the Han Dynasty and the exquisitely carved mountain pieces of the Qing Dynasty, every jade article embodies the wisdom and painstaking efforts of artisans. However, under the impact of modern industrial civilization, can traditional jade carving art still be revitalized? The answer is yes, because we have those contemporary jade carving masters who inherit the past and enlighten the future.
I once had the privilege of visiting a jade carving master who lived in seclusion in a Suzhou garden. His surname is Lu, and he is known as "Old Lu." Old Lu did not come from a formal art education but learned Suzhou-style jade carving from his father since childhood, immersing himself in this art for over half a century. His studio is simple yet elegant, with various jade materials and tools piled on the desk, and the air is filled with the unique cool scent of jade. Talking with Old Lu, you will find that he is not only proficient in carving techniques but also has a profound understanding of traditional Chinese culture. He often says, "Carving jade is not just about carving the form, but also about carving the spirit and the soul."
Old Lu's jade carving works are most praised for their ingenious "carving according to the material." He can skillfully design a seemingly ordinary piece of Hetian jade pebble, based on its natural skin color and fissures, into a profound artistic scroll. For example, one of his representative works, "Fishing Alone in the Cold River," uses a pebble with natural dark spots. The dark parts are treated as rugged mountains and dark river water, while the pure white jade flesh is carved into a fisherman in a straw cape, fishing on a small boat. The entire work is natural and has a distant artistic conception, as if the charm of Tang poetry and Song lyrics is solidified in the jade. This reminds me of Huang Shen, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou in the Qing Dynasty, whose figures in paintings often have only a few strokes but are full of spirit. Old Lu's jade carvings also have the same ingenious effect; he deeply understands the Oriental aesthetic of "using white space as black."
Old Lu's story is not an isolated case. In the contemporary jade carving world, there are many artists like him who adhere to tradition with a craftsman's spirit and imbue jade carving with new life through innovative thinking. For example, some masters focus on imitating ancient styles, striving to restore lost ancient techniques, such as "live chain links" and "thin-walled jade ware." Through in-depth research on unearthed archaeological artifacts and combining modern scientific and technological means, they allow those millennia-old techniques to shine again. I once saw a replica of a Han Dynasty "jade bi," whose smooth patterns and warm polish were almost identical to the genuine article, which was breathtaking.
Other masters are dedicated to combining jade carving with modern aesthetics, creating works with a more contemporary feel. They may integrate the three-dimensional sense of Western sculpture into jade carving, or introduce elements of abstract art into the design. For example, a young jade carver incorporates the linear sense and geometric aesthetics of modern architecture into jade plaque design, making traditional jade plaques more fashionable and artistically expressive while retaining their cultural connotations. These innovations are not a departure from tradition but an sublimation based on a deep understanding of tradition, just as Mr. Qi Baishi said, "Those who learn from me live, those who imitate me die."
Jade culture is the lifeblood of the Chinese nation. From ancient sacrificial rituals to symbols of emperors, and then to objects played with by literati and scholars, jade has always been closely linked to the development of our civilization. Contemporary jade carving masters are the inheritors and innovators of this lifeblood. With their carving knives, they not only carve the physical form of jade but also the nation's cultural memory and future vision. Their works are not only exquisite works of art but also embody the cultural confidence of the Chinese nation. Each jade carving tells a story of resilience, wisdom, and beauty. They remind us that in a rapidly changing modern society, there is still a group of people quietly guarding these ancient and precious cultural heritages and, in their own way, making them shine brightly in the new era.