From: Yuncheng Urban Collective Industrial Association

Issue Time: 2020-05-19 09:16

In Jiangxian County, the hometown of King Yao and the old capital of the State of Jin, there is a famous stone carving company, Shanxi Ruilai Arts and Crafts Co., Ltd., which is founded by HAN Ruilai, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor of seaweed stone carving, and his wife XU Lingli. There are many varieties of stone in Jiangxian County, and the “Money” stone is its most representative stone species. It is the seaweed stone that has been formed naturally after 700 to 800 million years of wind and rain, and is characterized by its clear & novel patterns, bright lines, clear colors, elegant and chic, simple and dignified, and is considered as rare and exotic stone.

HAN Ruilai, 34 years old, was born in a stone carving family in Jiangxian County, and his grandparents were all very famous stone carvers in the area. He who keeps company with his friends is the best. He was influenced by what he heard and saw from a young age. Since his childhood, HAN Ruilai conceived the idea of inheriting his father’s business to carry forward the art of stone carving. How wide the heart is, how big the stage is. He followed the voice of his heart, gone with his own rhythm, with his vivid passion, abundant courage and persistent upward tenacity, out of the fetters of thought, and walked out firmly. In 2013, HAN Ruilai gave up his regular high salary, returned to the village to set up “Ruilai Stone Art” enterprise with his wife XU Lingli. After several years of hard work, the enterprise has expanded from a family-style workshop to a large scale, technically excellent, and strong first-class company. In 2017, it builds an area of 8,000 square meters of “Money”stone culture and creative tourism industrial park in the town of Chen Village, Jiangxian County.

Carving meticulously, HAN Ruilai adheres to the company’s purpose of “if finished, it should be the finest”. Each piece of work is made of top quality “Money” stone, and the carving technique is determined according to the material of the stone. His stone carving process is on the one hand, maintaining the local technique characteristics, and on the other hand, incorporating the modern technique and innovating. Relying on his skill and practical experience, he carefully designs and carves according to each stone’s characteristic.

Nothing is more charming than the silent stone. Ruilai stone carving technology’s multifaceted value in economy, politics, humanities, science and even social life cannot be underestimated. From the perspective of technology, it concentrates all the essence of stone carving technology, and all the lofty aspirations and interests of ancient and modern emotions can be expressed. Its economic and collectible value is also considerable, and is increasing at an alarming rate over time. As a work of art, it can edify people, improve people’s aesthetic taste, and its social function and humanistic value are obvious, too. From the perspective of natural science, as a regional ore itself, the “Money” stone is of great scientific research value. HAN Ruilai was engaged in sculpture research and development design in Shanxi Yuda Group Sculpture Center from 2004 to 2012, during which he went to Tsinghua University Academy of Fine Arts for further study, and followed the master of Chinese arts and crafts HAN Meilin, Professor CAO Chunsheng of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the famous American sculptor WU Xinkun and other great and famous artists to learn attentively. In the seven or eight years of his career as an assistant, he has learned and innovated, making a perfect combination of traditional technology and modern craft, and connecting Chinese culture with Western civilization. His views and skills on art got completely changed like the phoenix being nirvana and the cocoon being broken into a butterfly. After he returned, his works gradually walk out of Jiangxian County, walk out of city and province, and even walk out of the country, winning gold, silver, or bronze awards for many times in various large-scale domestic events. Among them, 28 pieces of works such as “King’s Overlooking the World”, “Overlooking Happiness” and “Cheng Xiang Xian Bao” won gold medals, which effectively promoted the development of local stone carving, exploring and ink stone processing art. HAN Ruilai himself was awarded “China Young Jade Carving Artist”.

With “Money” stone as the medium, with intangible cultural heritage skills, like poetry fusing in the stone, like a beautiful picture in the craftsman’s heart, Ruilai Company creates high-end unique beautiful stone carving art. “Money” stone is a natural gift from nature, and also has health care function due to its special magnetic field, which is auspicious to calm the house and protect the health. Many institutions, museums and high-end collectors at home and abroad collect Ruilai’s“Money” stone carving artworks. Being the classic products, “Ruilai stone art” has become a high-end brand of stone carving art, renowned in Shanxi province, famous at home and abroad.