A Yueqing boxwood sculpture depicting Buddhist monk Xuan Zang and his apprentices, the main characters of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Yueqing boxwood carving, along with Dongyang wood carving and Qingtian stone carving, is one of the three most famous traditional types of carving in East China's Zhejiang province.

Boxwood carving originated in Yueqing county in the southeastern part of the province during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and was most prevalent during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Boxwood works well for sculptures as it is close-grained, strong but pliable in texture, and bright in color. Most Yueqing boxwood sculptures depict figures in a vivid manner.

In May 2006, Yueqing boxwood carving was included by the State Council on the first-ever national-level intangible cultural heritage list. Three boxwood sculptors have been officially designated as national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors, while seven have been granted the title of "Chinese Arts and Crafts Master".