The reason why people have a preference for micro-carving with peach nut is that peach is a symbol of auspiciousness and happiness. Peach is regarded as a healthy fruit in China and in Chinese folklore it is a magic fruit that can make people immortal. Therefore, ancient people usually used swords made from peach trees to avoid evil things. And the engraved peach nuts, as talisman and decoration, were also very popular among common people.
Weifang kernel carvings are as famous as New Year paintings, bronze seals and kites of Shandong Province. In 1915, the folk artisan Du Langui won the award in the World Exposition with a kernel carving “Horses drag the ancient car”. He had been studying the craft of kernel carving throughout his life. With a number of extraordinary artworks, he was awarded the title of “National Senior Artist” in 1955 and his disciples Kao Gongqing and Du Chuangong handed this art down.
Kao Gongqing and his disciple Wang Xude developed this art based on the predecessors’ experiences, marking a new milestone of kernel carving.
By Feng Hui
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