Shandong master artisan preserves ancient engraving craft

Master craftsman Zhang Huili, the fifth inheritor of miu zhuan – an engraving technique used for copying seals, which is a provincial intangible cultural heritage item in East China's Shandong province – has been dedicated to preserving and promoting the craft for over 40 years.

An example of miu zhuan engraving. [Photo by Xiao Shouxiang for chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhang is currently collaborating with FounderType – the leading commercial supplier of Chinese fonts or typefaces to the media, publishing houses and other customers – to create a miu zhuan character library and over 7,000 characters have already been collected.

Miu zhuan has a rich history dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and Zhang's family has been practicing the art form for generations.

Zhang Huili gets to work on a project. [Photo by Xiao Shouxiang for chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhang says he has created a unique and captivating form of expression by combining the art of miu zhuan engraving with calligraphy and painting.

In addition to his artistic contributions, Zhang has collected and organized ancient books, compiled extensive information and utilized digital multimedia to strengthen cultural exchanges in seal carving and calligraphy around the world.

Zhang also serves as a professor, teaching the art of miu zhuan engraving and calligraphy to students from various provinces and cities. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)