The stone sculpture for April. [Photo/66wz.com]
A dozen stone sculptures – one for each month of the year - created by master Chen Shunde recently struck a chord among local residents.
The sculptures, which took master Chen three years to complete, feature a combination of the city's nursery rhymes, characteristics and cultural customs. Some scenic spots like the Mid River Islet, Jiudou Mountain, and Miaoguo Temple, as well as cultural landmarks like the lodging of Emperor Zhao Gou of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the mansion of First Minister Zhang Cong of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), can be found on these works.
For example, the stone sculpture for April, which has been shown to the public via a documentary produced by the China Central Television, was inspired from Nanxi Opera, one of the oldest operas in China that originated in the Song Dynasty. The sculpture features a harmonious integration of opera spectators, the ancient opera stage, and the landscapes of Haitan Mountain.
It is estimated that every stone sculpture weighs around 15 kilograms.
The stone sculpture for May shows people rowing a boat to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival that takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year. [Photo/66wz.com]
