Shih Chih-Hui

Shih Chih-Hui (1935-) was born in Lukang Township, Changhua County. Shih is the master artisan in the
Quanzhou style of tsng-hut art (divine statue carving and decoration). Assuming the title of the “master of knife carving” which his father, Shih Li, also claimed, Shih Chih-Hui specializes in wooden sculpture and lacquer lining.
==Life==
Shih Chih-Hui was born in Lukang Township, Changhua County in 1935. His father, Shih Li, was also a master artisan of the Quanzhou style of sculpturing and claimed the famed title of the “master of knife carving”. Later Shih Chih-Hui also assumed the same title.
After graduated from the high school, Shih Chih-Hui started to shadow his father’s tsng-hut practices. Upon completing his study, Shih and his cousin, Shih Li the junior, became his father assistants. His first work is a statue of Jesus Christ with the cross. In 1961, he was married to Ms. Hsu Chin-Chih. Next year, he started carving and decorating the statue of Maitreya Buddha for the Paochueh Temple in Taichung. In 1964, Shih Chih-Hui accompanied his father to the Xuan Wu Temple in Chiayi for carving and decorating several statues including the Xuantian Shandi. Nex year, his second son, Shih Shih-Tong, was born, who later became the third generation of the tsng-hut art. Shih Li passed away in 1985. Shih Chih-Hui inherited the family business, “Siziho Furniture”, and renamed it “Siziho Buddhist Statues”. Shih Chih-Hui was honored with the National Heritage Award by the Ministry of Education in 1994. In 2006, Shih received the certification of the Taiwan Crafts Workshop. He was designated as the “Preserver of Traditional Craft - Tsng-Hut” by Changhua County in 2009. Two years later, Shih Chih-Hui was further designated as the “Preserver of Important Traditional Craft - Tsng-Hut” by the Council for Cultural Affairs (now Ministry of Culture). In 2014, Shih Chih-Hui was honored with the National Craft Achievement Award.
==Style and influence==
The art of tsng-hut involves an elaborate process from wood sculpting to detailed decoration. Shih Chih-Hui belongs to the Quanzhou style and specializes in wooden sculpture and lacquer lining. He pays extra attention to bring out the spirit of a sculpture. When creating the dragon or wave patterns on statues with lacquer threads, Shih does not even need to consult any draft. In the process of statue sculpting and decorating, Shih carefully follows the faith-based ritual requirements such as opening the axe, filling the statue, and opening the eye of the statue, to show his respect.
In addition to his tsng-hut work, Shih Chih-Hui also involves in the transmission of tsng-hut art and has two disciples: Shih Shih-Tong and Chen Tzong-Wei to continue the craftsmanship.
==Works==
# Xuantian Shandi
# Austerity – Guan Yu
# The General with Attendants Holding Sword and Seal
# Matzu the Sea Goddess with Chienliyen (sharp-eyed) and Shunfeng'er (downwind ears)
# Four Happiness
==Collection and Publication==
# The Spirit of Tsng-Hut Art: 2014 National Craft Achievement Award. National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute: 2016.
# National Treasure and Transmission: 70th Anniversary Exhibition of Shih Chih-Hui. Shih Chih-Hui and Shih Shih-Tong. Bureau of Cultural Affairs of Changhua County: 2020.
# The Tsng-Hut Art of Shih Shiu-Li and Shih Chih-Hui. Shih Shih-Tong, Chang Shou-Tsai and Chen Tzong-Wei. Siziho Buddhist Statues: 2018.
# National Treasure: the Tsng-Hut Art of Shih Chih-Hui. Shih Chih-Hui. Bureau of Cultural Affairs of Changhua County: 2015.
Category:1935 births
Category:People from Changhua County
Category:Artisans
Category:Wooden sculptures