Wood carving works of Wukong. [Photo/66wz.com]
The Chinese game Black Myth: Wukong has captivated gamers worldwide, making the Monkey King a global sensation. This surge in popularity has also boosted real-world cultural creations in Wenzhou.
Traditional craftsmen and intangible cultural heritage inheritors have responded to the game's popularity with their own creations and reflections.
Wenzhou Muzhu Wood Caving Co Ltd's Wukong-themed products, originally created in 2015 after the release of the movie Monkey King: Hero is Back, have now become hugely popular. Orders for these woodcarvings, especially solar-powered car ornaments featuring Wukong, have skyrocketed.
Master craftsman Ye Zhu emphasized the importance of understanding young people's preferences to create marketable and culturally rich products. His team plans to develop more Wukong-related items, blending traditional woodcarving with modern trends.
Zhang Tianqing, a 54-year-old rice dough figurine artist, quickly created a Wukong piece after seeing the game's trailer. He hopes to use this opportunity to introduce the world to rice dough figurines.
Xiang Zhihua, founder of a comic book studio, has been illustrating Journey to the West since 2009. He hopes that fans of Black Myth: Wukong will also appreciate their new comic adaptations of the classic tale.
However, not all intangible cultural heritage inheritors are jumping on the bandwagon. Some, like Ou Embroidery artist Wang Shi, stress the importance of quality over quick gains, preferring to take their time to create intricate works.
