Preserved on paper

Jia Wenzhong shows his rubbings of ancient bronze ware and other relics at an exhibition in Beijing's Prince Kung's Mansion. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Although he had worked on many important bronze pieces before, Jia says, it was still a great honor for him to have a chance to do a rubbing of the Boju Ge, which is a national treasure.

To make a rubbing, he carefully measures the bronze ware and chooses the best angle to present the piece on paper. He makes line drawings of its different parts, using a special kind of paper, and these are then separately laid on different parts of the item to be rubbed. Then the rubbing, which involves several steps, is carefully done to capture the patterns in ink. The papers bearing the patterns are finally pieced together on a sheet of paper to complete the whole-shape rubbing.

"It took me a whole week of careful work to complete the Boju Ge piece," he recalls.

The exhibition is in three parts: Jia's whole-shape rubbing technique, his rubbings of bronze ware themed on zodiac animals, and an introduction to his family's contribution to epigraphy.

The exhibition runs till July 17.

Jia has been involved in cultural relics repair work since the late 1970s, and has made significant contributions to the inheritance and promotion of the traditional whole-shape rubbing technique.

Currently Jia is making efforts to pass on the old technique to students who major in cultural relics' protection and scientific archaeology at Beijing Union University.

"Now I have two master's students who are studying whole-shape rubbing," says Jia, adding that he is preparing to apply for the craft to become national intangible cultural heritage.

Contact the writer at liuxiangrui@chinadaily.com.cn