Yi Shaoyong
Yi Shaoyong, whose courtesy name is Tianshu, is from Bashu. He was born in Shanghai in 1961. Senior art consultant of Shanghai Shanghai Jade Carving Culture Association.
Chinese name: Yi Shaoyong
Alias: Tianshu
Nationality: Chinese
Ethnicity: Han
Place of Birth: Shanghai
Date of Birth: 1961
Occupation: Jade Carver
Main Achievements: Named Chinese Jade Carver Master
Representative work: "Jade Bones and Yan Jade Tablets"
Personal Profile
Yi Shaoyong, courtesy name Tianshu, native of Bashu,
1961 Born in Shanghai.
Position title
Master of Chinese Jade Carving
Senior Art Advisor of Shanghai Shanghai Jade Carving Culture Association.
Life resume
In 1978, he worked at the Shanghai Jade Carving Factory Technical School and entered the furnace and bottle workshop in the same year.
Engaged in the research and production of white jade brands in 1991.
In 2004, he was named the Chinese Jade Carving Master.
Work experience
In 1978, with his persistent pursuit of jade culture, he became a young apprentice in the workshop of Shanghai Jade Carving Factory. During his time at the factory, he learned the craftsmanship of furnace bottle engraving from Zhong Jianlin, and was familiar with the processing of shapes, flat surfaces, and curved surfaces, thereby laying a solid foundation.
By chance in 1991, Yi Shaoyong's carving works were spotted by a Taiwanese businessman, who asked him to carve a piece of white jade at a high price. From then on, he realized his potential, became obsessed with white jade carving, and developed a strong desire for the production of jade plaques. He was determined to make a difference in white jade plaques, and he was out of control.
In 1995, he simply quit his job and began to study white jade carving at home and began making jade plaques. Jade tablets are a highly integrated technology that integrates calligraphy, painting, and sculpture. They are a window that reflects the breadth and depth of Chinese jade culture. From then on, there were only jade carvings in his world. Obsession accompanied Shaoyong to practice hard behind closed doors, studying white jade carving techniques to the point of forgetting to eat and sleep.
Sometimes, even for a month, I don’t want to leave my unique room that integrates design, sculpture, appreciation and fitness. The creation of jade carving requires workers to endure loneliness. When Shaoyong gallops in the vast space of jade carvings, his biggest spiritual support is music. He can sublimate the impressions and shocks from hearing into visual images; capture the abstract existence of music with the medium of knife and pen, and transform it into lines on warm jade, integrating the two-dimensional lines into the soaring melody, forming his own characteristics of jade plaque carving. For this reason, appreciating Master Yi's jade plaque is like listening to an elegant piece of music.
With his persistence and love for jade making, Shaoyong draws on the past but not the old, and innovates with the old. Whether in the shape of the jade plaque or the overall layout, he pursues a very self, which belongs to Yi Shaoyong. With his own style, he expressed various calligraphy characters on jade tablets of various shapes, and sometimes blended poetry with paintings to create an elegant and delicate charm and interest.
It is this special charm that makes his works exude a "temperament" that has never been seen in ancient or contemporary jade tablets, coupled with its unique shape , from the visual sense, it has escaped the stereotype of ordinary people towards jade cards. Taking "Jade Bone Tongyan Jade Tablet" as an example, the author uses meticulous techniques to depict the forehead of Ganoderma lucidum. The method of hollowing out the semi-circular carving can not only make it appear hollow but also reveal the rich and warm jade quality, and tie it. The holes are naturally hidden in the carvings, and this is the case even in his later works, whether it is a pine forehead or a plum blossom forehead.
Heaven rewards hard work
The Tianshu Jade Brand has become famous
Ten years of sharpening a sword. When Yi Shaoyong sent his masterpieces to the outside world again and again, almost all jade dealers in Shanghai were attracted by his works. His fame grew day by day. In 2004, Yi Shaoyong was awarded the title of "Chinese Jade Carving Master" without hesitation.
In addition, in the "Tiangong Award" competition held by the China Gem and Jade Association in 2004, Yi Shaoyong's works won the gold and silver awards respectively.
The Tiangong Gold Award-winning work "Sanqing Yipin Jade Tablet" is actually a re-creation of the poems of dianthus and narcissus by famous calligraphers and calligraphers in the early Qing Dynasty on a piece of white jade. His paintings are carved on the front and his poems are carved on the back. . In front of three daffodils, they are lined up in a row, with longevity stone and bamboo behind them. They are on the left and up, showing the composition of an [L] row. In the blank space on the right, there is the inscription "三清一品" in regular script. There is still a thin layer of light yellow skin on the lower right side. In this work, we see Yi Shaoyong's sophisticated use of incised lines. The volumetric texture of the jade surface of the Shoushi stone is intersected with lines of varying thickness; the three daffodils in the front are depicted with extremely fine and smooth lines, as if using the most delicate light ink to express the ice, muscle, jade bones, delicate The strong and handsome Narcissus.
The Tiangong Award Silver Award-winning work "Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra" has a full text of 262 words. Like "Sanqing Yipin Jade Tablet", it is also in regular script and is engraved with Buddha statues and an incense burner with dancing smoke and clouds. This work combines jade carving technology with gold-making technology, and then matches it with gemstones to give it a "jade painting" appearance. There are many calligraphers and skilled jade carving masters in China, but there are not many talents who skillfully integrate calligraphy and jade carving and carve calligraphy on jade. Among the 78 winning works of the Tiangong Award, only There is Yi Shaoyong’s excellent jade carving calligraphy! He is also the only jade carving master in China who has written calligraphy on jade plaques with real pens so far!
Over the years, too many stories have happened to Yi Shaoyong, which makes people deeply appreciate the charm of Tianshu jade carvings. There was once a Yang family rich man from the south of the Yangtze River who was in love with Zigang jade tablets. He paid seven figures to buy two "master-level" works from Suzhou. He loved them so much that he kept them with him every day. Friends who have seen these two jade tablets are all amazed and amazed by them.
Coincidentally, on April 25, 2008, the Yang family rich man who likes to collect came to Beijing to participate in the China Guardian 2008 Autumn Auction. At the preview of the auction, he saw the incised jade plaques created by Yi Shaoyong, and compared them with the jade plaques in his hand with great interest - without saying a word, he immediately changed hands the two jade plaques he had purchased with a lot of money. After giving it away, he went to Shanghai to visit Yi Shaoyong and asked him to create for him. Unfortunately, Yi Shaoyong has not had time to go under the knife so far, and Yang is still waiting patiently.
Art has no limits, never forget inheritance
Yi Shaoyong’s works can be said to be outstanding, no matter from the shape of the jade plaque, to the composition of the picture, to the exquisiteness of the carving. It is the best product for jade carving. Yi Shaoyong has an incisive explanation of the artistic style of his works, and the same is true for jade. Throughout the history of jade tablets, most of them followed the pattern of Lu Zigang in the Ming Dynasty, with characters or landscapes embossed on the front and poems and verses engraved on the reverse. The jade tablets I make today are based on the idea of ??marrying a wife, but more importantly, the touch is replaced by a negative line. The work pursues The style is clear, elegant, precise and detailed, using small things to see the big things. It uses rocks, flowers and trees as materials, and uses various pictures with various fonts to express the meaning and artistic conception of traditional Chinese themes, striving to integrate its form, craftsmanship and charm. As one body, calligraphy and painting have the same origin, are elegant and decent, and complement each other. The jade tablet integrates playing with jade, appreciating paintings, reading poems, and appreciating calligraphy. It contains a thousand prospects within a small space. After continuous practice and painstaking consideration, the Yinxian craft has been continuously perfected, giving it an additional form in the jade tablets, adding an extra level of elegance to the appreciation. The Yinxian craft pays attention to the technique of the knife, the meaning of the brush, and uses the knife instead of the pen, which has the meaning of appreciation and engraving. , and shows the rhythm of the brush strokes. The jade plaque with good Yin lines is like holding gel in the hand. If you look closely, you will feel like you are immersed in the scene. When you read it again, you will feel like you are having a conversation with it. When you shake hands with the scenery and love letter, you will feel comfortable.
In line with the artistic creed of "three tastes, only the heart", from an apprentice to today's jade carving master, Yi Shaoyong has been walking for 25 years! He has been with jade for 25 years, writing his own personal monument in every inch. Now, 25 years of hard work has finally been recognized by the industry and society. This makes Shaoyong feel sincerely gratified, and it also arouses his high sense of responsibility for the jade industry of the motherland. Now, he thinks about more than just art. He is more concerned about how to revive the art of jade. He wants to unite with some jade jewelers to transform traditional jade into high-end jewelry.
"People who liked jade in ancient China were all literati. Now jade has become a common utensil in mainland China. I want to make jade into high-end jewelry, but also vigorously promote the culture of jade. Antiques in prosperous times, gold in troubled times. Jade as a Artworks classified as antiques will have a very bright future.” From this point of view, it is good for ourselves, art, and the market. Shaoyong is very confident.
The Shaoyong in front of me has premature hair, and his forehead has been carved with vicissitudes of time; he has a slender face, and the small eyes under his single eyelids radiate light full of aura and wisdom; he wears light blue jeans and casual clothes. The vest not only reveals Shaoyong's casual manner, but also exudes his persistence and enthusiasm for the art of jade carving. Looking back on his journey, Shaoyong deeply felt that "learning is boundless" and that he must "work hard to make a boat". The boat can go around the mountains and reach the other side of the new realm. He said that suffering is happiness, and only by studying hard can you be happy.
You will gain only if you put in effort, and you must make greater efforts to achieve more gains. He also said: "Taibai once said, 'The road to Shu is difficult, it is difficult to reach the sky.' Only by not being afraid of difficulties and being unyielding." Going around, the road to Shu becomes a thoroughfare, and my hands touch the blue sky. I am the descendant of Shu, and people took the name "Tian Shu" as my original intention. There is no limit to art, and the road is long. How to inherit the great innovations of the ancients and show the style of contemporary jade carving is our duty, and we will work tirelessly to pursue it for the inheritance and development of the Chinese nation's jade culture.
It’s like discussing and polishing
The number of Yi Shaoyong’s works is too small. He only makes three or four jade plaques every year, and at most he can make a few more beautiful white jade pieces. Xiaoyin, with such a small output, is extremely unusual in today's jade carving world. The number of works is small, mainly because Yi Shaoyong has very strict requirements on creation. Every stroke on the jade tablet is made after careful consideration. From what angle is each stroke made? What is the arc? How many strokes are needed to form a picture? The balance of the picture, the frame structure of the calligraphy, etc. all require repeated thinking and deliberation.
Yi Shaoyong loves jade as much as his life. He treats every piece of his work as if he were his own child, because every piece of work is filled with his hard work and emotion. Yi Shaoyong is a fun-loving person, not a money-loving person, so he does not want to sell his works on the market. But it was helpless. Yi Shaoyong was so well-known in the circle that many collectors came to his door. When they saw the jade plaque in Yi Shaoyong's hand, they asked if they could sell it. Of course Yi Shaoyong didn't want to sell it, but the collector kept raising the price again and again. In the end, Yi Shaoyong felt embarrassed and had no choice but to part with it. Therefore, the prices of Yi Shaoyong's works are set by collectors, not by himself. This is unique in the Chinese jade carving industry.
To this day, Yi Shaoyong has formed his own unique jade carving language. Although it has become a fashion trend in the jade carving industry today to imitate Yi Shaoyong’s Tianshu style techniques, no one can achieve his level. In terms of artistic standards, no one is more dedicated and works harder than Yi Shaoyong.
Regarding the problem of the small number of works, Yi Shaoyong said that his attitude is that it is better to have less than to overspend. Creating a work of art requires three responsibilities: one is responsible for the severely scarce mutton-fat white jade, because it is a gift from God. Non-renewable; responsible to collectors, even if you lower the standards of some creations, collectors will not see it, but you must not do this; responsible for your own art, every work must be a high-quality product and must have a breakthrough, Never simply repeat.
Discussing the creation of jade carvings
Yi Shaoyong’s jade carving creations attach great importance to artistic conception. He said: "I create jade carvings with my heart, creating an elegant and subtle connotation. Chinese arts and crafts are all about artistic conception. The blank space is the artistic conception, scattered perspective, diagonal perspective, the combination of negative and positive carvings, and the balance of hardness and softness. , all in order to shape the artistic conception. "Yi Shaoyong's jade carvings, calligraphy and painting have a distinctive style of emptiness, elegance and elegance, and have become the "best products" of China's jade workshops. As Tang Jiaoran said: "The modern and ancient styles are all extremely wonderful."
Yi Shaoyong's jade carving works are full of the spirit of a scholar and a book. He told us with insight: "The poems, calligraphy, seals, paintings, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos, and chrysanthemums on my jade plaque are all highly praised by the Chinese and have been described by countless literati in history. I often talk to the ancients Dialogue, study their theories with great concentration, and apply them to the creation of jade carvings.
"Therefore, Master Yi's jade carvings have the beauty of Chinese classical art. Following the term "literati painting" in the Song Dynasty, we might as well call Master Yi's works "literati jade carvings."
For the praise of the industry, Yi Shaoyong felt very pleased: “I pioneered the use of incised jade plaques. What I am most satisfied with is that I have filled the gap in the calligraphy and painting of inscribed jade plaques." Indeed, Master Yi has become a famous figure in the creation of the maritime jade altar. Some people call his inscribed jade calligraphy and painting "unique throughout the ages." . Master Yi's fame has not made him rest on his laurels. He is more diligent and meticulous in his art. He said: "I only sign works that reflect my character. I have to be responsible for myself and history." "
Social evaluation
In the jade carving world, Yi Shaoyong is almost a legendary figure. He is known as "the first literati brand". His "Tianshu" jade brand "His calligraphy skills are unparalleled." Each of his works is an absolute masterpiece, and there are very few of them circulating in the market.
Yi Shaoyong uses jade as paper and carvings as calligraphy. Culture, carving history into every inch, his works, from the shape of the jade plaque, to the composition of the picture, to the delicacy of the carving, the dynamic changes in the lines, and the skillful and delicate techniques, can be said to be the best in jade plaque carving. The quality is breathtaking. It has formed a unique expression technique and artistic charm, creating the concept and style of "Tianshu Pai" that combines calligraphy and jade carving, filling the gap in the history of Chinese jade carving. Shaoyong's works are fresh, elegant, poetic and picturesque, which is pleasing to the eye
Pi Churong, a well-known figure in Taiwan's jewelry and jade industry, spoke highly of Yi Shaoyong's "Tianshu Jade Brand" Gao said that "the calligraphy is unique" and "the expression is amazing". The Tianshu calligraphy mentioned by Pi Churong naturally refers to the calligraphy written with a knife instead of a pen. The pen, the pen and the knife are used to "write" Chinese characters in regular script, official seal and other calligraphy on hard white jade, jade and other types of jade. The jade-carving iron pen and knife are used to vividly express the meaning of brush calligraphy since ancient times. Up to now, jade tablets mostly use positive carving patterns on the front and text on the back, but Master Yi boldly tried to use negative lines to express the front and back pictures and texts, firstly to make them feel soft, and secondly, to use traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting methods to make them feel and visually unified. , showing a literati temperament and elegant form.
The Tianshu jade brand is famous among other places. Yi Shaoyong's calligraphy with swords and pens often matches other people's jade carvings, and other people's carvings and inscriptions from Tianshu complement each other, and the pictures and texts complement each other. , there are also many jade carvings with books and no text, and the author's surname was also carved by Yi Shaoyong. Many celebrities also come to ask Master Yi to carve seals. Recently, Yi Shaoyong is good at character sculptures. The famous Chinese jade carving master Wu Desheng joined forces for the first time and jointly launched a stunning work in Chinese discussion circles - "Tang Yun Chunya". This work uses first-grade slightly alluvial suet white jade seed material with an original weight of 258 grams. The weight of the carved work is 208 Gram. The front of the work shows Master Wu Desheng's graceful and exquisite painting of a concubine taking a bath, and the back shows Master Yi's leisurely, elegant and soul-stirring jade carving calligraphy. It is indeed a rare masterpiece in the Chinese jade world.
As the saying goes. Said: "Jade depends on the quality of the jade, and the jade quality matches the workmanship. "Yi Shaoyong's superb carving skills coupled with high-quality jade are naturally expensive. Generally speaking, the price of the jade plaques he carved is five times higher than other similar jade products in the market for the same jade quality. above.
Personal Honors
In 2004, "Three Purities and One Product" and "Heart Sutra" won the gold and silver awards of the third "Tiangong Award";
2007 "Fairy Shadow" won the creative gold medal of the first jade carving "Magic Award";
In 2008, "Jade Bones Cold Fragrance" and "Fragrance Pressed Thousand Reds" won the third China Arts and Crafts "Hundred Flowers Award" Gold Award, Best Craftsmanship Award;
In 2009, "Colorful Phoenix Flirting Branches" (Wu Desheng, Yi Shaoyong) won the gold medal of the second jade carving "Magical Craftsmanship Award";
Appreciation of works
Award-winning work
Cai Feng Fuzhi
Material: Hotan White Jade Seed Material
Gold Medal of the Second "Magic Award" /p>
Wu Desheng designed and produced the graphics, and Yi Shaoyong engraved the text
Some of the works
An interesting pairing
Size: 42×17×10mm ————34×15×9mm
Weight: 21g 13g
Style: Jichou Tianshu sketch
Seal: complement each other
>Title: The clear spring reflects the emerald green, and the white cloud embraces the quiet stone. The breeze carries the faint fragrance, and the empty valley is fragrant alone.
Jade Bone Tongyan White Jade Brand
Material: Xinjiang Hotan seed material
Size: 70×33×9mm
Weight: 37 Gram
Title: Jade Bone Tongyan Tianshu
Explanation: The dripping water-shaped sign shows a sense of elegance and agility, and the yang character and yin picture create subtle changes in the sign. The combination of narcissus and plum blossoms reflects the cold winter and the refreshing fragrance of flowers, and also heralds the dawn of early spring.
"Spring White Jade Brand of China"
Material: Xinjiang Hotan seed material Size: 72×38×8mm
Weight: 63 grams
Inscription: Tianshu
Title: Qin bricks and Han tiles show the majesty of China, plowing mountains and water carving out the spring of China. The ingenuity of heavenly craftsmanship has led to the joint promotion of masterpieces on the jade altar, and the thirty-year-old Shu Shu heart monument is just a flick of the finger.