She inkstone making technique, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor

Zheng Han

A renowned contemporary inkstone carver, specializing in the creation of inkstones depicting landscapes, figures, flowers, and birds.

The beauty of art lies in the space between resemblance and non-resemblance.
Zheng Han's works are characterized by vigorous, seasoned, and concise carving techniques. His masterful combination of depth, transparency, openwork, dots, lines, and planes in carving is virtually flawless. His ingenious conception and skillful use of the stone's natural colors and textures are his unique strengths. His works draw inspiration from the past without being bound by it, inheriting tradition while simultaneously breaking through its limitations.

In 1997, Zheng Han's inkstone carving, "Imprints of Huangshan Scenic Spots," was selected as a gift from Premier Li Peng to Emperor Akihito of Japan. His inkstone carving, "Chinese Dragon," was presented as a gift from President Hu Jintao to French President Jacques Chirac. Both national gifts were crafted by the same inkstone carver.

He believed that inkstone making should "learn from nature and find inspiration in one's heart," and that one's heart should resonate with the ancients and with the heavens. Inkstone art is a thing of truth, goodness, and beauty, and one should find the feeling of beauty in life.

In their creative process, they revere the laws of nature, striving to achieve a state where the essence is embodied in their hearts and expressed through their craftsmanship. They seek to return to the laws of nature, and through ingenious design and meticulous production, they aim to create artistic treasures that are "in harmony with nature and do not conform to human desires," achieving a state of "being in accord with the heavens."

Zhao Qingtao, the master of Daya Hall, and Teacher Zheng Han