Jiaxiang county in Jining, celebrated as the hometown of Chinese stone sculpture, boasts a rich heritage in the art of stone carving that spans centuries.

A testament to this legacy is Wuliang Temple, an assemblage of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) stone carvings that stand as both a historical record and a symbol of Jiaxiang's sculptural prowess.

The Liang family, renowned for their stone carving skills, has resided in Liangshan village adjacent to Wuliang Temple for generations. Liang Binggong, the 19th generation descendant of this esteemed lineage, is recognized as a provincial-level practitioner of Jiaxiang stone carving, an intangible cultural heritage. His journey with stone carving began in his youth under the tutelage of his elders.

Liang Binggong, a provincial-level practitioner of Jiaxiang stone carving, is hard at work on a piece of stone art. [Photo/WeChat account: jnwhlyj]

The Confucius statue carved by the renowned stone carving Liang family of Jiaxiang county in Jining. [Photo/WeChat account: jnwhlyj]

Liang's dedication to preserving and pushing forward ancient carving techniques has led to the creation of remarkable works. His masterpieces include Confucius's Traces, the statue of Confucius in the Qufu Confucius Temple, and a series of lion sculptures inspired by the Wuliang Temple. Among his acclaimed works are large-scale group sculptures like Hunt the Kylin when Tripping West. His art has been widely recognized for its excellence.

This stone lion carving is exquisitely crafted, lifelike and vivid. [Photo/WeChat account: jnwhlyj]

Despite the challenges posed by mechanized production, which threatens to homogenize the art market and dilute the unique value of handcrafted art, Liang remains steadfast. He believes that high-difficulty artistic works, created with great effort, hold unique value in the modern era.