1. Definition
Use chisels and wooden hammers to drill and carve out various figures, flowers, landscapes, animals, calligraphy and other patterns on the water-polished blue bricks.
2. Classification
Brick carving (tilecarving) is to carve figures, landscapes, flowers and other patterns on blue bricks. It is a very important art form in ancient architectural carving. It is mainly used to decorate the components and walls of temple towers, tombs, houses and other buildings. Usually also refers to sculpture crafts carved from blue bricks. The main schools of brick carving are: 1. Beijing brick carving; 2. Tianjin brick carving; 3. Shanxi brick carving; 4. Huizhou brick carving; 5. Supai brick carving (Suzhou brick carving); 6. Guangdong brick carving; 7. Linxia brick carving (Hezhou brick carving); 8. Tang language brick carving.
3. Features
Brick carvings are mostly used as building components or decorations on doors, screen walls and walls. Due to the strict quality requirements in the selection, shaping, firing and other processes of green bricks, they are solid and delicate, suitable for carving. In terms of art, brick carvings can be viewed from far and near and have a complete effect. In terms of themes, the brick carvings include dragons and phoenixes, two immortals in harmony, bangs playing with golden toads, three Yang kaitai, Guo Ziyi celebrating longevity, unicorns delivering children, lions rolling hydrangea, pine and cypress, orchids, bamboos, camellias, chrysanthemums, lotus and carps. The main contents are those that imply auspiciousness and that people like to hear and see. In terms of carving techniques, there are mainly negative carvings (drawing outlines, just like outlines in paintings), bas-reliefs that are hidden on the ground, deep reliefs, round carvings, openwork carvings, and ground-reduced flat carvings (the negative lines carve the outline of the image and add it to the image. The open space outside the outline is dug low and leveled), etc. (see sculpture crafts). From a practical and ornamental perspective, folk brick carving has a concise image and rich style. It does not blindly pursue delicacy and delicacy, so as to maintain the firmness of the building components and withstand the sun and rain.