How a mural artist invents and builds deities inspired by the spiritual customs of Quanzhou
Inside a bustling wood carving workshop, a mighty god greets visitors by the door. Surrounded by dozens of tinier Buddha statues, this half-finished wood sculpture stands out. With an unobtrusively staid face and tentacles sprawling from the torso, it leans forward as if about to charge, exuding a dynamic energy rare for deity statues in China.
Sculpting Divinity: The Artist Creating Gods from Ancient Folklore is a story from our issue, “Small Town Saga.” To read the entire issue, become a subscriber and receive the full magazine. Alternatively, you can purchase the digital version from the App Store.
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Ye Yuan is a freelancer writing on culture and social changes.
