Materials and Techniques of Chinese Sculptures

Chinese sculptures use a variety of materials, including plastic materials such as plaster, resin, and clay, as well as hard materials that can be carved or engraved, such as wood, stone, metal, jade blocks, and agate. 

Lost-wax Casting

This technique was prominently used for bronze sculptures, especially during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. A model of the sculpture is made in wax, which is then coated with a ceramic shell. Once the shell is heated, the wax melts away, leaving a mold for molten bronze to be poured in.

Carving

This method involves directly shaping materials like stone, wood, or ivory. Skilled artisans use chisels, hammers, and other tools to carve intricate designs and figures. Stone carving, such as the creation of the Longmen Grottoes or the Yungang Grottoes, showcases this technique.

Modeling

For materials like clay, sculptors often build up forms by adding and shaping the material. This technique is used for creating terracotta figures and has been employed in various dynasties, including the famous Terracotta Army of the Qin Dynasty.

Relief Carving

This technique involves carving figures or patterns that project from a flat background. It’s commonly used for stone and wood sculptures, including temple and tomb carvings.

Inlay and Overlay

Inlay involves embedding materials like jade, ivory, or metal into a base material to create decorative patterns or designs. Overlay techniques might involve adding layers of material onto a base sculpture to enhance detail.

Woodblock Printing

Though primarily associated with printmaking, this technique has also been used in sculptural contexts. Artists carve designs into wooden blocks to create patterns that can be used for decorative purposes or in the context of wood sculptures.