Gong Si - Master of Dai Folk Carving in Lianghe County, Dehong 

Gong Si (龚四), also known as Gong Jingqing (龚景清), is one of Yunnan Province’s first batch of provincial-level intangible cultural heritage (ICH) representative inheritors, and a key guardian of Dai (傣族) folk carving art. Born in 1932 in Zhezhen Street (遮镇街), Lianghe County (梁河县), Dehong Prefecture (德宏州), Yunnan Province (云南省), he developed a deep interest in carving from an early age due to his family’s artistic influence.

By observing craftsmen from Jianchuan, Gong Si mastered exquisite Dai carving techniques, creating notable works such as “Tenghai Twisting Dragon (腾海绞龙)” and “Colorful Dragon Spouting Water (彩龙吐水)”. As a custodian of traditional Dai carving, he not only sculpted Buddhist statues for local temples but also incorporated Dai cultural motifs, reflecting the community’s pursuit of beauty, prosperity, and happiness.

I. Personal Background

• Name: Gong Si (龚四) / Gong Jingqing (龚景清)

• Gender: Male

• Ethnicity: Dai (傣族)

• Year of Birth: 1932

• Hometown: Zhezhen Street, Lianghe County, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Local Context

• Lianghe County is located in the western Hengduan Mountains, on the western slopes of Gaoligong Mountains, with rich ethnic diversity. More than 20 minority groups live here, including Han, Dai, Achang, Jingpo, Deang, Lisu, and Wa.

• Lianghe borders Tengchong City, earning the nickname “Northern Gate of Dehong.” It is the only borderless county in Dehong Prefecture.

• The Dai population is mainly in Mengyang, Mangdong, Zhedao, Hexi, and Jiubao Townships, primarily Dry Dai (旱傣).

• Dai motifs:

  • Red/Green: honor ancestors

  • Peacock: auspiciousness

  • Elephant: abundance and prosperity

II. Learning and Transmission

Family Artistic Background

• Father: Gong Yuchun, shadow puppet lead actor, starred in adaptations of Fengshen Yanyi in the 1960s–70s

• Mother: Dao Yunlian, skilled in Dai brocade weaving; in 1953, one of her woven pieces was sent to Beijing

• Gong Si grew up immersed in art, learning sculpture from childhood

This “family influence + self-taught practice” model is typical for Dai traditional crafts, reflecting artisans’ conscious cultural inheritance and creativity.

III. Craft Characteristics and Works

Dai Folk Carving Features

Applications: Architecture, Buddhist statues, ritual objects, practical utensils

Forms: Water-splashing dragons, Buddhist story reliefs, shrines, deity statues

Techniques: Round carving, relief carving, openwork carving; fine line carving for small details and inscriptions

Style:

• • Integrates Southeast Asian carving features

  • Emphasizes both practicality and decoration

  • Majestic yet rustic, with clear regional and ethnic characteristics

  • Flowing lines, natural turns, distinct textures

Tools: Simple chisels and knives; mainly uses wood from local forests

Common motifs: Dragon, elephant, crane, human figures, flowers, butterflies, phoenixes, bats

Representative Works

“Tenghai Twisting Dragon (腾海绞龙)”

• • Created 1974, exhibited at Canton Fair

  • Early work showcasing precision carving and traditional dragon motifs

“Colorful Dragon Spouting Water (彩龙吐水)”

• • Created 1984, carved from a single large camphor wood tree

  • Water spouts from dragon’s mouth, forming a spectacular display

  • Demonstrates skill in large-scale carving and innovation

Achang Elephant

• • Created 1992 as a gift for the 3rd China Arts Festival

  • Symbolizes abundance and prosperity; reflects cultural exchange between Dai and Achang people

Temple Buddhist Statues

• • Since the 1980s, sculpted Buddha statues in Taiping Temple, Hongyang Temple, Guanyin Temple, Bao’an Temple

  • Demonstrates characteristics of Dai Buddhist statuary and Gong Si’s mastery

IV. Contributions and Impact

• Skill Transmission: While specific apprentices are not publicly documented, Gong Si’s role as a heritage guardian contributes to the preservation of Dai carving techniques.

• Cultural Influence:

  • His works exhibited nationally, showcasing the artistry of Dai folk carving

  • Large-scale works like Colorful Dragon Spouting Water attract tourists and cultural enthusiasts

  • Temple statues enrich local religious and cultural landscapes

• Local Cultural Development:

  • Lianghe actively supports ICH through training, competitions, exhibitions, and recording endangered skills

  • Promotes tourism and cultural integration, highlighting ethnic arts

V. Conclusion

As a provincial-level ICH inheritor, Gong Si has dedicated his life to preserving Dai folk carving, combining family heritage, observation, and self-taught mastery. His works reflect Dai culture, spirituality, and pursuit of a harmonious life, while his innovations bring traditional carving to contemporary relevance. In the context of intangible heritage protection and rural revitalization, Gong Si exemplifies how dedicated artisans can revive ancient crafts with vitality and modern significance.