Cowleg, beam pad, piano Fang, doors and windows, flower board … Yesterday, these most representative ancient wood carvings of Dongyang in Ming and Qing Dynasties were collectively unveiled in the exhibition hall on the first floor of West Lake Museum.
This exhibition in the West Lake Museum is called “Ingenious Dreaming-Decorative Art of Traditional Dwellings in China Dongyang Wood Carving Exhibition in Ming and Qing Dynasties”. Regarding the name of the exhibition, Pan Changceng, curator of the West Lake Museum, explained that these woodcarvings are not only works of art, but also the inheritance of China traditional culture. For a simple example, on the doors and windows, you can see family rules and precepts, and you can also see New Year pictures with the themes of “loyalty, filial piety, decency and righteousness”.
It is understood that this exhibition is divided into four parts, namely, auspicious animals, characters in operas, family precepts and rules, and abstract Bo Gu. More than 100 pieces of the most representative ancient wood carvings of Dongyang in Ming and Qing Dynasties and New Year pictures in the West Lake Museum are on display.
In the Ruicaoxiang beast plate, it is about some animals, flowers and trees that all have their own meanings, which are a bit like flower language. For example, the combination of bats, deer, beasts and magpies means “Fu Lu Shou Xi”, which means happiness and good luck. Auspicious animals such as cranes, unicorns, dragons and phoenixes, lions to ward off evil spirits and protect the law, etc., which appear in woodcarving, express people’s good wishes for good weather, prosperity and peace.
Opera characters are even more interesting. Many woodcarvings are based on stories and legends, such as the well-known My Mother-in-law’s Tattoo, Yang Jiajiang, Empty City Plan, etc. Many of them talk about the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation such as “loyalty, filial piety and integrity”, which are used in the decorations of residential houses.
Family precepts and rules are even more “moved” on doors and windows. For example, in Jiaqing period of Qing Dynasty, there were eight sets of Family precepts of Zhu Xi engraved on doors and windows. These doors and windows were also gilded with gold. “At first glance, it was the doors and windows of local tyrants.” Someone said jokingly.
This exhibition will last from today to March 23rd. During the Spring Festival, there are also wonderful activities such as “overprinting New Year pictures to welcome the blessings in the spring”, “My’ blessing’ spirit, I am the master” and “treasure hunting to explore the joy of spring”. (Correspondent Sheng Jiehua, reporter Pan Tingting)