Home >> Hot Issue

Carving a story of skill

Updated: 2023-06-27 07:32 ( CHINA DAILY )

Share - WeChat

A student tries her hand at the craft at a campus event hosted by Yangzhou Guangling Ancient Book Engraving Co Ltd. CHINA DAILY

Celebrated artisans

Hangji town in particular stood out as a woodblock-printing hub. Chen's grandfather opened Hangji's biggest woodblock-printing business during the reign of Emperor Guangxu.

Later, Chen's father took over the enterprise and produced many collector-grade classical books. He became a celebrated woodblock carver in the region as the industry boomed.

"The workshop had more than 30 skilled craftspeople, who were proficient at various tasks, such as typesetting, block carving, printing and binding," Chen recalls.