The Chisel’s Journey

Mr. Cai Congxin, the preserver of chiselled art of Chiayi City:
Mr. Cai Gongxin’s craftsmanship reflects the shifts of the times. In his early years, he apprenticed to learn the art of carving before dedicating himself to the intricate patterns found in temple sculptures.
As the economy transformed, Cai and his peers moved to Chiayi, which is a major hub for producing crossbeam panels, and began working in panel factories. However, as the crossbeam panel industry declined, he returned to the craft of woodcarving and worked on temple sculptures. Today, his chisel glides seamlessly between the artistry of temple carvings and the legacy of crossbeam panels.