Miao Zhenjie carves porcelain. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over the past six years, Miao Zhenjie has taught more than 100 students with hearing impairments the skills of porcelain carving at a school for the deaf in Taiyuan, Shanxi province.

Miao, a provincial-level inheritor of the skills, began learning to carve porcelain in 1997, when she was attracted by a folk craftsman carving a lifelike puppy on a white porcelain plate with a small hammer and knife.

The art of porcelain carving has a long history and was appreciated by royals and other nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Various images and patterns, including human figures, flowers, birds and natural scenery, can be created on the surface of porcelain with special tools.

Miao Zhenjie teaches a lesson at a school for the deaf in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Unlike many traditional forms of art, porcelain carvings can be preserved forever," Miao said. "However, it's not easy to carve on a 1-millimeter-thick surface. It demands precision."

Artisans must pay attention to the strength of the hammer and the carving knife, she said. "It also requires a solid foundation of painting skills."

To spread the traditional culture, Miao began teaching at the school in 2018.

"During the process, I found that the students with hearing impairments are well suited for learning the art, because they are not easily affected by various sounds in the process of carving and can be completely immersed in the creative process," she said. "They also have their own understanding of porcelain carving."

A piece of porcelain art created by Miao Zhenjie [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With the help of her teaching assistant, Miao has minimal difficulty communicating with her students.

"The students can read my lips and then think, describe and share their understanding and questions with me," she said. "They get lots of happiness and confidence from the course.

"I will continue to help the students get the skills to create more exquisite works of art. I also hope I can create more works with Shanxi characteristics and help more people appreciate the art."