Wu Ching-Po

TAIWAN, Changhua

Wu Ching-Po is a folk carver and the successor of the fifth generation of the Little Western Paradise Statue Carving Shop in Changhua. Since childhood, he learned the art of carving from his father, Wu Wugong. By age 12, he began to make a living by carving and selling deity statues. During his step by step process of learning to carve, Wu spent half a year studying the various textures of the wood, a year and half learning how to sharpen carving knives, ten years learning how to carve into form, five years learning to refine, and ten years studying polishing and religious art etiquette.
In the lineage of the Quanzhou school, Wu strictly adhered to the rules and protocol of carving passed down by his ancestors. His technique, shapes, patterns, and colors, in combination with Buddhist attributes, create a unique and impressive work of art. The majority of statues carved by Wu are of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva or Lord Guan. In 1987, Wu was honored by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan as a Master of Traditional Wooden Craft Carving.