Customs of Hai 'an Town

Xu Chunrong was born in a woodcarving family in Hai 'an. His ancestors took lettering and carving as their profession, which was passed down from generation to generation and studied from generation to generation. By the time Xu Chunrong's parents arrived, he was already well-known as a woodcarver in Hai 'an. Xu Chunrong received a good family education since childhood, and because of his hard work in painting, the plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, mountain, stone, bottle and shelf in the picture book of Xieziyuan are familiar enough. Not only that, he also taught himself the art of brick carving, and the relief and round carving were all exquisite. His masterpieces remain in the deep houses of many wealthy families in Hai 'an.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xu Chunrong entered Haian lettering society and switched to printing and sealing. On the 10th anniversary of the National Day, the Ministry of Light Industry held the "Ten-year anniversary Art Exhibition". Xu Chunrong chose a boxwood and carved a relief of "Chairman Mao went to Tiananmen Gate". After layers of selection, he was selected for the exhibition, which became an unforgettable thing in his life.

1985, based on the principle of "repairing the old as the old", Hai 'an County Government rebuilt the Han Mansion (the former residence of Han) and built Hai 'an County Museum. Under the recommendation of the Cultural Relics Management Office of Hai 'an Cultural Bureau, Xu Chunrong, who is over 60 years old, was invited to be responsible for the design and production of wood carving accessories and brick carving ornaments for doors and windows of the gatehouse. Xu Chunrong lamented that "the half-length sculpture art decorated the houses of rich and powerful people, and now it is exquisite for the people" and devoted himself to the production and design projects. Xu Chunrong's carved wooden door preface "Two Dragons Playing with Beads" is superior to the previous work, and the two-door corner carving "Monkey Flat Peach" is comparable to the original. Especially in the middle of the reconstructed zhaobi, a brick carving "Songhe Yannian" with a diameter of up to one meter, a tall and handsome pine tree and a pair of cranes in high spirits are picturesque and simple and elegant; Up to now, Chinese and foreign tourists who come for sightseeing often stop here to watch and take pictures as a souvenir; This brick carving by Xu Chunrong took three months and was carved with nine specially made Lodi bricks, which is a masterpiece of brick carving.