Source: Yuncheng Urban and Rural Collective Industrial Association

Updated: May 15, 2020  16:25    

LI Yanjun is the director of Litian Wood Carving Culture Research Institute of Ruicheng county. He is also the representative inheritor of Yongle Peach Wood Carving of National Intangible Heritage project, and a master of Arts and Crafts of Shanxi Province. He is the vice president of Yuncheng Arts and Crafts Association as well as the president of Ruicheng County Arts and Crafts Association .LI Yanjun was taught by his grandfather and he was fond of carving since he was a child. Since 1995, he has been engaged in the carving of peach wood swords at home. In 2000, he become a student of Master CUI (CUI Zhizun), from whom he got his courtesy name LI Litian.  

“ If three of us are walking together, at least one is good enough to be my teacher”. In order to improve his skills and understanding of Taoist culture, LI Yanjun has repeatedly entered training courses in Tsinghua University, Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Academy of Art, Shanxi University, Wuhan University and other places to broaden his horizons and improve his skills. In support with the national intangible cultural heritage entering campus activities, LI Yanjun has repeatedly visited Lantian Primary School, Qiyi Primary School and Ruicheng No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 Middle Schools for more than 20 sessions, allowing children to get in touch with and learn about Yongle Peach Wood Carving from an early age.

He dedicates to promoting Chinese Taoist culture and inheriting the woodcarving skills of his family. Affected by the Taoist culture, the LI family inherited the hand-made peach wood carving craft for a long time. Its craft value is much higher than that of mechanical processing and mold forming. As the representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage project Yongle peach wood carving, LI Yanjun said that he will continuously promote the traditional cultural heritage left by his ancestors, and cultivate more young carving talents. He also plans to build a peach wood carving museum, consisting of a collection room, exhibition area, training room, experience area, and living area for the disabled. It will fully display the process and cultural connotation of peach wood carving so as to inherit and carry forward the Yongle peach wood carving from generation to generation.