Brick carving, refers to the carving of landscapes, flowers, figures and other patterns on the blue bricks, is a very important art form in the carving of ancient buildings, has a very wide range of uses, there are the carving decoration of the wall, the shadow wall, the gate tower, the ancestral hall, the theater, the temple, the pagoda, the dwelling and the garden building, etc., and there are also the tombstones, tomb tables, tomb chambers and other carving decorations of the tombs. Brick carving is a collection of carving, calligraphy, painting, modeling and other arts in one, with a unique artistic style and distinctive local characteristics.
The historical development of the art of brick carving
The art of brick carving has a long history and a long history. As early as the pre-Qin period, there were ornaments carved from bricks, such as Qin bricks and Han tiles. By the Song Dynasty, the brick carving process had reached a fairly high level, and brick carving as a decorative technique of architectural art also began to be widely used. The brick carving art of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties developed rapidly, and it was particularly popular among the people, and the brick carving art reached its peak during this period. The subject matter of brick carving is extensive, including drama stories, folklore, mythological stories, auspicious patterns, landscapes, flowers, birds, fish and insects. These themes are summarized and refined with the help of specific things, using symbols and metaphors, and creating specific and vivid artistic images through homophony, borrowing, etc., which convey people's pursuit and yearning for a better life.
The development and application of brick carving art in the Ming and Qing dynasties
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the art of brick carving has been greatly developed, whether it is an official building or a residential building, brick carving has been widely used as an important decorative technique. The subject matter of brick carving is becoming more and more rich and diverse, and the carving techniques are constantly innovating and improving. The brick carving works of this period, whether it is the composition layout or the human figure, are very delicate and delicate, fully demonstrating the exquisite skills and unique charm of the brick carving art in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
In the official buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, brick carving was mainly used for the decoration of important places such as palaces, temples, and sacrificial buildings. These buildings are large-scale and lavishly decorated, and brick carving, as one of the decorative techniques, also looks very exquisite and spectacular. For example, the main buildings of the Forbidden City, such as the Taihe Hall, the Zhonghe Hall, and the Baohe Palace, are decorated with a large number of brick carvings, carved with various auspicious patterns and dragon and phoenix patterns, implying the supremacy of imperial power and the prosperity of the country.
In residential buildings, brick carving is more used in gatehouses, walls, walls, ridges and other parts. These brick carvings not only have a decorative effect, but also imply good wishes such as good luck and happiness. For example, famous houses such as Qiaojia Courtyard and Wangjia Courtyard in Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, are famous for their exquisite brick carving art. The brick carving works of these dwellings, whether it is the composition layout or the carving technique, are very exquisite and delicate, fully demonstrating the unique charm and profound heritage of the Jin merchant culture in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
In addition, in garden architecture, brick carving is also widely used in the decoration of pavilions, verandahs, paths and other parts. These brick carvings complement the garden landscape, creating an elegant, tranquil, fresh and natural atmosphere. For example, Suzhou's Humble Administrator's Garden, The Lingering Garden and other famous gardens are famous for their exquisite brick carving art. The brick carving works of these gardens, whether it is landscape or flowers, birds, fish and insects, are very vivid and realistic, fully demonstrating the unique charm and exquisite beauty of Jiangnan garden art in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The art school of brick carving in the Ming and Qing dynasties
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the art of brick carving has been unprecedentedly developed, and various art schools have sprung up, forming a rich and diverse style of brick carving art. Among these schools, the brick carving of the Beijing school, the brick carving of the Su school, the brick carving of the Hui school, the brick carving of the Jin school, the brick carving of the Shaanxi school and the brick carving of the Sichuan school are particularly eye-catching, and have become the representative schools of brick carving art in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
1) Beijing brick carving.
Among the many brick carving schools, the Beijing brick carving is especially loved and respected by people for its unique artistic style and exquisite skills. Especially in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the brick carving of the Beijing school reached the peak of its art, not only exquisite skills, but also rich in connotation, and became a treasure in traditional Chinese architectural art.
The Beijing school of brick carving originated in the Northern Song Dynasty, when the brick carving skills were quite mature. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the construction of Beijing City and the attention of the royal family, the brick carving of the Beijing school has developed rapidly. In the royal gardens, temples and palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a large number of brick carvings of the Beijing school were used for decoration, which made the brick carving skills of this period reach their peak.
The selection of brick carving materials is exquisite, and the bricks selected are hard and delicate, and the quality and stability of the bricks are ensured after strict screening and treatment. The carving technique is very fine, the carving lines are smooth, the layers are clear, and the image is realistic. Whether it is a person, an animal or a plant, it is lifelike and has a high artistic value. The pattern design is rich and diverse, including traditional auspicious patterns, such as dragons, phoenixes, peonies, etc., as well as folk tales and myths and legends, which have high cultural connotations.
The brick carving of the Beijing school is not only exquisite, but also has high artistic value. It is not only an important part of ancient Chinese architectural art, but also an important carrier of traditional Chinese culture. Through its unique art form and pattern design, the Beijing brick carving shows the aesthetic pursuit and cultural beliefs of the ancient people, and has become an important material for the study of ancient Chinese culture and art.
2) Supai brick carving.
Supai brick carving is known for its fine and elegant style, and is known as the "show of the south". The brick carving works of this genre are mainly concentrated in the Suzhou area, which is deeply influenced by the garden culture of the south of the Yangtze River. The distinctive feature of Supai brick carving is that it advocates the use of wooden tools to carve directly on the surface of the bricks, and this "kiln carving" process makes the brick carving works more fine and three-dimensional. In terms of subject matter, the Supai brick carvings are mostly based on landscapes, flowers and birds, figures, etc., with ingenious composition and layout, and delicate carving techniques, which fully demonstrate the delicacy and delicacy of Jiangnan culture.
3) Hui style brick carving.
Compared with the Supai brick carving, the Hui brick carving is known for its rough and bold, simple and elegant style. Hui brick carving is mainly distributed in Huizhou, Anhui Province, and is deeply influenced by Huizhou culture. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the development of painting and woodcut had a positive impact on brick carving, and the brick carving of the Hui school gradually moved from a rough, naïve and simple style to a realistic, fine and complex style. In terms of carving techniques, Hui brick carving pays attention to the performance of layering and three-dimensional sense, and shows rich artistic effects through different shades of carving lines. In terms of subject matter, the brick carvings of the Huizhou school cover many aspects such as figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, and animals, showing the profound heritage and rich connotation of Huizhou culture.
4) Jin school brick carving.
Jin brick carving is an important school of brick carving art in the Ming and Qing dynasties, mainly distributed in Shanxi, especially in the Jin Shang courtyard is more common in its exquisite brick carving works. Jin school brick carving is known for its unique artistic style and exquisite carving skills, and has become a treasure in traditional Chinese architectural art.
The subject matter of Jin school brick carving is wide, including people, animals, plants, landscapes and other natural and cultural landscapes. In terms of composition, the Jin school brick carving pays attention to the performance of a sense of hierarchy and space, and creates a sense of three-dimensionality and profundity through ingenious composition and perspective techniques. In terms of carving techniques, Jin school brick carving adopts a variety of carving techniques, such as relief, openwork, line carving, etc., making the brick carving works more vivid and realistic, delicate and exquisite.
In the process of development, Jin school brick carving has formed two main carving processes: pre-kiln carving and post-kiln carving. Kiln carving refers to carving before the brick is fired, and then kiln firing, this process can make the brick carving work show a blue-gray hue, and has a certain air permeability, not easy to crack. The post-kiln carving is carved after the bricks are fired, which can make the brick carving works harder and more wear-resistant, suitable for outdoor decoration.
Jin brick carving has been greatly developed in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is closely related to the rise of Jin merchants. In order to show their wealth and status, the Jin merchants used brick carvings to decorate their residences and shops. These brick carving works not only have high artistic value, but also reflect the cultural pursuit and spiritual sustenance of the Jin merchants.
5) Shaanxi brick carving.
Shaanxi brick carving is mainly popular in Shaanxi, especially in Guanzhong. The brick carving art of this school is deeply influenced by the regional culture, historical tradition and architectural style of Shaanxi, forming a unique and rich artistic characteristics.
Shaanxi brick carving is known for its rough and bold, simple and generous style. In terms of composition, Shaanxi brick carving pays attention to the overall layout and layering, and shows a rough and powerful beauty through simple and bright lines and block surfaces. In terms of subject matter, Shaanxi brick carving mostly selects content with regional characteristics, such as historical stories, folk legends, natural scenery, etc., and expresses these themes vividly and interestingly through carving techniques.
In terms of carving techniques, the brick carving of the Shaanxi school mostly adopts the combination of relief and line carving, which makes the brick carving works have both three-dimensional sense and delicate changes. At the same time, Shaanxi brick carving also pays attention to the use of symbolism and metaphor and other techniques, through homophony, borrowing and other ways to create a rich artistic image, implying people's pursuit and yearning for a better life.
6) Sichuan brick carving.
Sichuan brick carving is highly praised for its exquisite technique and delicate style. In terms of picture composition, Sichuan brick carving emphasizes a sense of hierarchy and space, and shows a three-dimensional picture and far-reaching artistic conception through careful design and perspective techniques. In the selection of subject matter, Sichuan brick carving prefers elements with Sichuan characteristics, such as beautiful landscapes, vivid flowers, birds, fish and insects, and fascinating character stories, and these themes are presented vividly through exquisite carving skills.
In terms of carving techniques, Sichuan brick carving shows a rich diversity, including relief, openwork and line carving, which makes the brick carving works more realistic, vivid, delicate and delicate. In addition, the Sichuan brick carving also skillfully uses artistic techniques such as symbolism and metaphor to create a rich and colorful artistic image through homophony and borrowing, implying people's yearning and pursuit of a better life.