Characteristics of He Chaozong's Works

He Chaozong is a representative figure of Dehua kiln porcelain carving. The main activities were in Jiajing and Wanli periods of Ming Dynasty. He Chaozong attaches great importance to the artistry of his works. Immature works will never be burned easily. Therefore, He Chaozong's works handed down from ancient times are few, and most of them are Buddhist figures such as Buddhism, Guanyin and Lohan. He Chaozong's works pay great attention to depicting the facial expressions of characters. He often puts the characters in a specific environment to express the theme. For example, in his Portrait of Dharma Crossing the Sea, Dharma is placed on a piece of Wang Yang sea, with his hands folded on his chest, and his eyes are deep, staring into the distance. The artist's ambition and determination to spread Buddhism to the east are just right. At the same time, Dehua porcelain and plastic artists, represented by He Chaozong, absorbed the advantages of sculptures of past dynasties, especially inherited the painting style of Buddha statues in the Tang Dynasty, which made the sculptures of Guanyin and Dharma have the charm of the Tang Dynasty, and their images were dignified, solemn, approachable and full of human feelings.

Chaozong porcelain sculpture wins with its simple sculpture beauty and texture beauty of fetal glaze materials. Beauty is like fat jade, with strong texture and high appreciation value. The Palace Museum in Beijing collects its sculptures "Cross-legged Guanyin" and "Dharma", and the Quanzhou Cultural Management Committee collects its "Crossing the Sea Guanyin", which are listed as national first-class cultural relics. "Sitting Guanyin" found abroad, two porcelain Guanyin and 1 Dharma exiled to Japan from Putian County during the Republic of China, the founder of Khufu plundered by the United States, and three porcelain Guanyin and Wenchang Emperor statues preserved in Putian County are all excellent treasures. He Chaozong is good at porcelain carving of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and also makes exquisite and elegant incense pots, small bottles and other items for viewing. In the 28th year of Wanli in Ming Dynasty (1600), he died at home. His superb skills have been handed down all over the world.