屯堡手工一绝——脸子雕刻

The Unique Handicraftsmanship in the Stockaded Village: Woodcut Masks

为地戏雕刻“脸子”——面具,是屯堡村寨里一门古老而又精湛的手工。贵州高山上的树木、中原大地上的文化、江淮水乡里的美韵,心灵对苍天的崇敬,通过艺人双手世世代代的敲打,形成一具具既含蕴着上苍神灵之光,又透射出人间工艺之美的“屯堡手工”——面具。

The manufacture of woodcut masks for the earth play is an ancient and exquisite handcraftsmanship in the stockaded village. Craftsmen of one generation after another adhere to and inherit the skill. As a result, the handcraftsmanship is able to pass on continuously. The woodcut masks call for care. They are composed of three parts, namely, the helmet, the face and the ear-wings. The craftsmen first cut the top quality white poplar into semi-circle logs, each about one chi wide, and then outline the helmet, the brows, the eyes, the nose and the lips with the carpenter's ink marker according to the proportions of a real human being. This having been done, the craftsmen hallow the back of the wood and carve out the masks with various carving tools. At last, they would paint the masks and add such decorations as moustache and glasses, etc. The workers in the profession are not only carpenters but also engravers and painters. The masks made by the craftsmen today are better and richer than those of their ancestors. In spite of that, they are less pious and respectful for the divinities.