Shoushan Stone
Carving Shoushan stone is a kind of alabaster quarried from a mountain called Shoushan in the northern suburbs of Fuzhou. With a soft, smooth surface and variegated colours, this stone makes an ideal material for carving. We know from the sculptured stone pigs found in an ancient tomb from the Southern Dynasties that Shoushan stone carving has been in existence for some l,500 years.
The stone carvings of the later Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties were generally Buddha statues, incense burners, rosaries and funeral figurines. During the Yuan and Ming (1271-1644), Shoushan stone also came to be used for seal carving. Later, craftsmen excelled in various carving styles and many different schools were formed. Types of Shoushan stone carving now include circular, relief, openwork hollowed out, boyi (shallow relief) and marquetry carving. Top craftsmen are able to create wonderful images by utilizing the natural contours and fine streaks of colour in the stone.
Source: travelchinaguide.com
Editor: Wang Moyan
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