The Fading Skills of Turning Stone into Gold

The art of stone carving, a cherished tradition in Taiwanese temples, now grapples with the rise of machine automation. "Shi Di Fa" (Stone Prosperity), a dedicated artisan, has committed over fifty years to hand-carving since starting at seventeen. His deep passion for this art has elevated him to master status in traditional Taiwanese stone carving circles. His creations, which are distributed throughout Taiwan and internationally, vividly capture and immortalize the rich historical narratives and traditional tales of society in stone, touching the hearts of those who see them.

The art of stone carving is gradually fading in Taiwan, endangered by technological replacement and low wages. Active governmental intervention is crucial to improving the industry's current situation and preserving traditional skills.

以下為中文對照

凋零技術 點石成金

台灣廟宇大量運用石雕裝飾，這樣的傳統工藝，卻面臨著被機器取代的問題。“石地發”入行已經超過50年，是現今少數仍然堅持手工雕刻的藝師。他從十七歲開始做起，五十幾年來沒有斷過，秉持著對石雕的熱愛，才能堅持到現在，這些年累積的手作經驗，讓他成為精通台灣傳統石雕藝術與施作技法的石雕師。作品遍布海外與台灣南北的石地發，刻鏤出傳統社會的各式典故，豐富的歷史故事銘刻在他人心中。

石雕工藝在台灣已逐漸失傳，傳統技藝的保存，在技術被取代及薪資低的問題下，面臨重大挑戰，唯有政府積極作為，才能改善整個產業的現況。