Riding the wind of rebirth

In particular, Wu Juzhong gave a detailed introduction on the topic of discovering local intangible cultural heritage techniques, combining traditional crafts with the needs of overseas manufacturers, and creating elegant products that are popular in overseas markets and can be exported to generate foreign exchange.

Xu Anxin, now a seasoned socialite, could easily strike up a few pleasantries. She began by recounting her observations during her visit, highlighting the rapid development and changes in Liangshan Prefecture, the many local delicacies she had sampled, and her deep impression of the prefecture's abundant produce and the warm hospitality of its people. She also expressed great optimism about the local pomegranate industry, believing it should be vigorously developed. Furthermore, she praised Director Wu's development strategy of organically combining traditional and international approaches, mentioning that she had come specifically to appreciate the two intangible cultural heritage products and to purchase some as important gifts for her relatives and friends in Hong Kong.

Xu Anxin also expressed great interest in the Southern Red Agate produced in several towns such as Lianhe and Jiukou.

Director Wu expressed his gratitude for Ms. Xu's praise and mentioned that the local government, in conjunction with multiple departments, is developing a plan for mineral resources with the main guiding principles of "effective protection, rational development, emphasis on environmental protection, and improvement of people's livelihood." At the same time, they are actively sending local technicians to Guangdong, Jiangsu and other provinces with strong stone carving craftsmanship to learn from them, and have introduced jade processing production lines, which are now able to develop some simple ornaments.

The government also plans to establish a South Red Agate trading market on the shore of Qionghai Lake, striving to maximize the commercial value of this unique mineral deposit in Liangshan Prefecture.

They also introduced Ms. Xu to another new mineral deposit – Yanyuan agate.

Yanyuan agate originates from Yanyuan County, Liangshan Prefecture. It possesses excellent jade-like qualities, good oiliness, good toughness, fine and smooth texture, and hardness.

The biggest difference between it and Southern Red Agate is its rich color range. Yanyuan agate has a wide range of colors, including yellow, green, red, black, blue, and purple. Based on the recommendation of Comrade Zhou Zhi, it has been decided to use "Seven-Colored Yanyuan" as the promotional term for this stone.

The emergence of colorful Yanyuan agate has made up for the shortcomings of agate, such as its single color, heavy glassy texture, and color distribution that is not suitable for carving. At present, the state has organized a batch of stones to be sent to the Suzhou Jade Carving Center, and commissioned several masters to create works, which are ready to be presented at this year's Hundred Flowers Awards.

Some of the products have already been returned and are in the bureau's light industrial products showroom. Ms. Anxin, please come and visit.

In the past, the exhibition hall of the Light Industry Bureau of the Autonomous Prefecture mainly displayed products with ethnic characteristics, such as Yi ethnic three-color lacquerware, felt, ethnic costumes, and silverware. These items were far from being "exquisite" and were unlikely to attract merchants to stop and look.

The exhibition hall is completely different now. After expansion and renovation, it has become similar to the VIP showroom of a craft and art mall, and has become elegant and refined.

The first display case contains many exquisite Southern Red Agate carvings, beaded necklaces, earrings, pendants and other ornaments, which shine like rubies under the spotlights.

The current processing plants can only produce simple products such as round beads, safety buckles, peace pendants, irregular pendants, and geometrically symmetrical pendants. However, these products are enhanced by the unique natural patterns of Southern Red Agate, such as ice flowers, seaweed, or flames. The simple shapes highlight the beauty or purity of the material, making them very eye-catching and even outshining the many carvings borrowed from Zhouzhi for the exhibition.

Besides Southern Red Agate, there is another type of agate carving here known as "Seven-Colored Salt Source".

Xu Anxin liked it at first sight.

Most of the raw agate stones from Yanyuan are egg-shaped, covered by a stone skin, making it difficult to judge their quality from the outside alone. They must be cut open to see for themselves. Moreover, most of the raw stones have many cracks, so whole or large pieces are actually very rare.

Besides the limitations of the raw material, color is also an indicator of quality. Most salt source agate tends to be dark in color, appearing "dull" and "matte." Only less than one-tenth of the material has characteristics such as bright, soft, and vivid colors. Among these one-tenth, most are monochrome or have a dark outer shell. Material with multiple colors is even rarer.

This also determines the rarity of materials of different grades. Ordinary materials are used to grind individual beads of various diameters, and then selected to be strung into beaded strings of various grades.

The remaining small pieces of material with good texture and color, such as light red, light purple, and light green, are suitable for carving into themes that women like, such as animals, flowers, and beautiful women.

Only the most precious type—colorful yet elegant, warm and understated, with large, crack-free stones—is worth the effort to carve into a sculpture.

However, once carved, it immediately becomes quite valuable.

For example, the colorful agate flower basket from Yanyuan that is now in the center of the exhibition hall is a masterpiece of Suzhou craftsmanship.

The entire stone is about the size of a small flower basket. The lower half is carved into a woven vine flower basket using the outer shell and dark color of the stone. The bright, colorful jade core extracted from the upper part is carved into leaves in two shades of green, light green, as well as flowers in various colors such as water red, pink, yellow, light blue, and light purple, which are very elegant and exquisite.

The most amazing thing is that there are some crystal "cores" inside the flower basket, which have been carved into water droplets of various sizes on flowers and leaves. Next to a yellow rose, there is a mantis with a bright green back and a yellow and white belly with large eyes, which is incredibly lifelike.

"This is so beautiful!" After entering the showroom, only Wu Renzhong, Xu Anxin, and Zhou Zhi remained. The conversation became more casual, and they looked at Zhou Zhi: "Are all these sculptures yours? And this flower basket too?"

“Don’t even think about it,” Zhou Zhi said. “This is a transformative work by Master Zhu Qinghong, with a very high level of breakthrough. We’re hoping to submit it for the Hundred Flowers Award.”

After saying that, he pointed to the other Southern Red Agate carvings: "The rest, cherry red, persimmon red, take your pick."

"Getting more and more stingy!" Xu Anxin punched Zhou Zhi: "I was thinking that since we don't have any works with Buddhist themes, it would be nice to put this flower basket in front of the Guanyin statue that grants children."

“That’s a good idea to promote Yanyuan agate,” Zhou Zhi said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “But it really won’t work now, otherwise Master Zhu will beat me to death. Do you know how difficult it is for a master to achieve a breakthrough?”

Zhu Qinghong is a master craftsman from Suzhou, specializing in carving antique-style themes. He gained fame for his Southern Red Agate imitation of the Qianlong Hibiscus Stone Incense Burner and became a renowned jade carving master in the Chinese community.

After receiving the Yanyuan agate material from Zhouzhi, the jade carving master completely unleashed his creativity, employing extensive openwork techniques. He combined the cost-insensitive jade carving methods of Taiwanese masters with his own skills to create this piece. (End of Chapter)