Quan Qankui – Inheritor of Yellow Beech Wood-carving in Qiubei County, Wenshan 

Introduction to Quan Wankui

Quan Wankui (全万魁) is a Zhuang ethnic group (壮族) woodcarving artist from Nawei Village (纳尾村), Bangchang Village Office (蚌常村公所), Pingzhai Township (平寨乡), Qiubei County (丘北县), Wenshan Prefecture (文山州), Yunnan Province (云南省). He is a provincial-level inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, specializing in traditional furniture carving techniques using golden-thread betel wood (金丝黄榔木).

Personal Background

• Year of Birth: 1941
• Ethnicity: Zhuang (壮族)
• Hometown: Nawei Village (纳尾村), Bangchang Village Office (蚌常村公所), Pingzhai Township (平寨乡), Qiubei County (丘北县), Wenshan Prefecture (文山州), Yunnan Province (云南省)
• Early Experience: After graduating from junior high school, he engaged in farming and worked as a carpenter, gaining local fame before specializing in woodcarving techniques.

Inheritance of Skills and Achievements

Lineage of Learning

Quan Wankui’s (全万魁) carving skills mainly originate from studying the works of the late woodcarving artist Wang Xiaomao (王小貌) from the same village. Wang Xiaomao was highly skilled but passed away without taking on apprentices, leaving behind only a golden-thread betel wood (金丝黄榔木) ancestral altar.

Through studying Wang Xiaomao’s remaining work, Quan Wankui taught himself carving techniques, repeatedly practicing the blade techniques for petals and leaves’ yin and yang sides, eventually mastering the essence of golden-thread betel wood carving.

Artistic Characteristics

Quan Wankui excels at creating carved furniture from golden-thread betel wood (金丝黄榔木), known for its exquisite craftsmanship, practicality, and antique charm. His works are popular not only in Wenshan Prefecture (文山州) but also in nearby areas such as Honghe (红河) and Qujing (曲靖).

Contribution to Cultural Transmission

He has trained six apprentices and is committed to preserving this traditional craft from extinction.

Social Impact

Quan Wankui’s (全万魁) works hold significant artistic value and have contributed to the development of the local woodcarving industry. His craft has become one of the key examples of intangible cultural heritage preservation in Qiubei County (丘北县).

In recent years, Qiubei County (丘北县) has strengthened its efforts in intangible cultural heritage protection, with Quan Wankui’s craftsmanship recognized as an important component of the region’s ethnic culture.

Quan Wankui’s (全万魁) story reflects the perseverance and dedication of folk artists in preserving and passing down traditional craftsmanship. His golden-thread betel wood (金丝黄榔木) carving skills not only carry forward a nearly lost art but also contribute significantly to the development of the local cultural industry.

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