HAIKOU, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — Coconut shell carving, an art form that uses carving tools to create patterns on the hard shell of a coconut, was declared a country’s intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Wu Mingju, an inheritor of coconut shell carving, has been committed to inheriting and promoting this ancient and complicated art for 33 years by researching technical innovations, offering coconut shell carving courses in schools and nurturing young artists. Thanks to his efforts, the art has been given new life.
Wu Mingju carves a coconut shell at a workshop in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)Coconut shell carving artworks made by Wu Mingju are displayed at an exhibition on Haikou city during the 2024 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia held in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)Wu Mingju walks through the courtyard of a workshop in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, on August 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)Wu Mingju checks his coconut shell carving skills at a workshop in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)This undated file photo shows Wu Mingju (center) teaching coconut shell carving at Qiongtai Normal University in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province. (Xinhua)Wu Mingju (right) introduces a coconut shell carving to his friend at a workshop in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)Wu Mingju carves a coconut shell at a workshop in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)Wu Mingju (R) introduces coconut shell carving artworks to foreign customers at Qilou Old Street in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, April 22, 2024. (Xinhua)This undated file photo shows Wu Mingju (right) at a cultural communication event on coconut shell carving in Seychelles. (Xinhua)A coconut shell carving artwork made by Wu Mingju is pictured on Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)Wu Mingju arranges coconut shell carving artworks at a workshop in Haikou, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)The tools used by Wu Mingju to carve coconut shells are pictured on Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun)
