Students made seal-cutting works featuring Phryge, the mascot of Paris Olympics, at a class in Qingtian county, Lishui, Zhejiang province, on July 30, extending their heartfelt blessing to Olympic athletes.

Under the guidance of teacher Chen Qiaoyun, the students began by drawing the image of the mascot on their stones. Vibrant depictions of the mascot then came to life on the stone after carving.

"As the Paris Olympics are currently underway, I thought it fitting to teach the students to carve the Olympic mascot, allowing them to show their support for our Olympic heroes through the techniques they've learned," explained Chen.

Firm in her belief that "interest is the best teacher" in seal-cutting education, Chen continually seeks to innovate by blending traditional techniques with contemporary elements, breathing new life into this ancient art form.

Reflecting on past classes, Chen shared how they had created numerous seal-cutting pieces inspired by current events, such as rabbit patterns in the Year of Rabbit and Bing Dwen Dwen during the Winter Olympics, helping children to learn and appreciate traditional culture in a fun and engaging way. 

This method is also winning over the hearts of students. "I feel very proud and happy to be able to carve the Olympic mascot to cheer for the athletes," said student Chen Youxi.

Students show their seal-cutting works. [Photo/Tide News]