Recently, in a blue brick carving workshop in Yongnian District, Handan City, Hebei Province, Zhang Shiqiang, an ancient blue brick sculptor, skillfully typed out the draft. As the carving knife in his hand moved away, the petals on the blue brick gradually revealed their shapes.
The brick surface is engraved with exquisite patterns such as Lucky Fortune, Carp Leaping from Dragon Gate, Songhe Yannian, Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum, which makes people feel as if they are in the world of Qingdai.
According to Zhang Shiqiang, from soil to blue bricks, there are many processes such as soil selection, billet making, firing, carving, and polishing.
Local brick carving products have been used in the restoration of ancient buildings such as the Palace Museum, the Hancheng of the Water Margin in Shandong, and the construction of antique buildings.
At present, there are more than 200 enterprises engaged in brick carving in Yongnian District of Handan City, with an annual transaction volume of more than 300 million yuan, which has driven more than 50 local villages and more than 20,000 people to become rich.
(Translated by Ai Guangde and Wang Tian, produced by Liu Peng)
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]