Crafting heritage: A couple's dedication to traditional art of pyrography

An inconspicuous seasoning shop in Weihai's Chucun town hides a treasure trove of traditional Chinese paintings, pyrography, and painted gourds. [Photo by Gao Xin for chinadaily.com.cn]

Pyrography, a folk art recognized as national-level intangible cultural heritage in China, demands exceptional skill. An inconspicuous seasoning shop in Weihai's Chucun town hides a treasure trove of traditional Chinese paintings, pyrography, and painted gourds. These intricate works are the creation of the shop's owners, husband and wife duo Liu Chao and Li Hui.

Li Hui paints peonies, her favorite. [Photo by Gao Xin for chinadaily.com.cn]

Li's childhood fascination with painting, especially peonies, led her to traditional Chinese painting. Her husband, Liu, supported her and eventually joined her artistic journey. Starting with gourds, Liu's pyrography skills grew, and he later ventured into pyrography on rice paper. Despite encountering skeptics, the couple remains undeterred, believing that creating art requires a "quiet mind".

Painting on gourds demands exceptional skill. [Photo by Gao Xin for chinadaily.com.cn]

"Pyrography emphasizes a sense of three-dimensionality, utilizing varying line thickness to convey light and shadow. It requires patience and continuous learning. I spent hours studying many masterpieces online, analyzing and practicing. Sometimes, a single artwork took an entire day as I completely immersed myself in my world. As more and more customers began praising my works and friends started purchasing them, I knew I had finally succeeded," said Liu.

Their dedication and perseverance have enriched their lives and preserved and passed on the beauty of traditional Chinese art, inspiring others to appreciate the intricacies of this ancient craft. (Edited by Jiang Ting)