长沙非遗菊花石雕：石头里开出美丽的“花”

从长沙往东大约100公里，浏阳市永和镇大溪河，有一种长着“菊花”的石头。在复杂地质运动中，深灰色石材孕育出白色花纹，酷似怒放的菊花，得名菊花石。匠人因材施艺，巧施雕琢，做成菊花石雕。

About 100 kilometers east of Changsha, in the Daixi River of Yonghe Town, Liuyang City, there is a kind of stone with "chrysanthemums" on it. During the complex geological movements, the dark gray stone gave birth to white patterns that closely resembled blooming chrysanthemums, so it was named chrysanthemum stone. Craftsmen then crafted chrysanthemum stone carvings by applying their skills according to the characteristics of the materials.

菊花石雕在浏阳有200多年历史。跟其他石雕艺术相比，菊花石雕的“花”藏在石头里。雕刻前要先从石中找出“花”的所在，这个过程叫“开花”。只有经验丰富的艺人，才能凭借触感、纹理准确找出其中的花朵，而不破坏‘花型’。

Chrysanthemum stone carving has a history of over 200 years in Liuyang. Compared with other stone carving arts, the "flowers" of chrysanthemum stone carvings are hidden inside the stones. Before carving, one has to first find out where the "flowers" are in the stones, and this process is called "flowering". Only experienced artists can accurately locate the flowers by relying on touch and texture without damaging the "flower patterns".

为传承菊花石雕，非遗传承人陈继武不断拓展技法、创新题材；既招弟子传道授业，也面向大众传播石雕文化。他还用时3年筹建菊花石公馆，把菊花石雕融入古色古香的传统建筑。从1990年当学徒开始，陈继武与菊花石雕的情缘已超30年，见证了这项技艺入选非遗的过程，也历经市场起伏。

In order to inherit chrysanthemum stone carving, Chen Jiwu, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage, has been constantly expanding carving techniques and innovating themes. He not only takes in apprentices to teach them skills but also spreads the culture of stone carving to the general public. He also spent three years preparing for the construction of the Chrysanthemum Stone Mansion, integrating chrysanthemum stone carvings into the quaint traditional architecture. Since he started as an apprentice in 1990, Chen Jiwu's bond with chrysanthemum stone carving has lasted for over 30 years. He has witnessed the process of this technique being included in the intangible cultural heritage list and has also experienced the ups and downs of the market.

“希望这门手艺永远流传。”他说，“一辈子做好这件事就够了。”

"I hope this handicraft can be passed down forever," he said. "It's enough to do this one thing well in my lifetime."