Using a combination of field research and online interviews, the author conducted in-depth interviews with 3 experts in traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry, 4 student inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and 15 artisans. This approach aims to comprehend the current state of intangible cultural heritage preservation and market dynamics within this sector. The three experts in traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry interviewed by the author are key custodians of this intangible cultural heritage in Nanjing. They have dedicated considerable time to this craft, offering unique insights and perspectives on the perpetuation of this heritage.
The first expert in traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry, Wang Hong, served as the Executive President of the Nanjing Traditional Chinese Stone Rubbing Artistry Club. As a fourth-generation inheritor of this craft, he is renowned for his mastery and is a celebrated figure in Nanjing’s stone rubbing circles. Recently, he has been proactively collaborating with higher education institutions, such as Nanjing Forestry University and the Jinling Institute of Science and Technology, to enhance the reach and appeal of contemporary stone rubbing techniques among university students. His work primarily involved creating rubbing from stone tablets and walls of forgotten villages, fostering a fusion of traditional skills with modern art. Wang Hong also prioritizes nurturing future talent. Under his guidance, numerous fifth-generation inheritors have emerged, preserving this artistic legacy.
Zhu Wei, the second expert in traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry, is a distinguished faculty member at the Nanjing Forestry University’s School of Art and Design. He plays a pivotal role in the Nanjing Traditional Chinese Stone Rubbing Artistry Club and as an academic advisor to the university club, focusing on art theory education and practical guidance. Zhu Wei dedicated 12 years to meticulously researching this art form and produced a collection of remarkable works. Among his notable creations are “The Wheel of the Year,” crafted using spruce slice rubbings, and “The Mark of Plants,” a series of rubbings showcasing campus flora, which have garnered widespread acclaim.
Chen Kunpeng, the third expert in traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry, is a fifth-generation inheritor and advisor to the Nanjing Forestry University’s Traditional Chinese Stone Rubbing Artistry Club. He has been honored three times with invitations to the UNESCO-sponsored Nanjing Peace Forum, where he has notably contributed by designing and creating rubbings presented as official gifts from the city of Nanjing to distinguished guests. His innovative ecological series integrates plant ecology with traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry, expanding the creative scope of this art form and highlighting his distinct flair for innovation.
The three aforementioned traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry experts possess extensive practical experience and theoretical understanding, making them professionals and authorities in their field. Interviews with them offered deep insights into the current developments in this art form and assisted in identifying clearer reform directions for the inheritance of intangible heritage based on the internal dynamics of skill transmission. Recently, led by Chen Kunpeng, the Nanjing Forestry University’s Traditional Chinese Stone Rubbing Artistry Club has been actively conducting training sessions, recruiting members, and nurturing professionals. It has successfully fostered four student inheritors of intangible heritage. Xue and Wang were mentored by Wang Hong, while Liu and Huang were guided by Chen Kunpeng, who established a nascent master-apprentice training system. This intergenerational collaboration produced several joint creative works that infuse clubs with cultural dynamics.
The Nanjing Forestry University’s Traditional Chinese Stone Rubbing Artistry Club actively engages in intangible cultural heritage projects in collaboration with the districts and markets in Nanjing and Changzhou, maintaining strong partnerships with many practitioners in related fields. For this study, 15 artisans specializing in intangible cultural heritage were interviewed, comprising 7 women and 8 men within the age range of 24–52. These participants included five individuals from the Nanjing Ming Xiaoling Museum, four from the Jiangxi Yushan Museum, one from the Guangdong Chaozhou Museum, two from public welfare intangible heritage organizations in Nanjing’s Xuanwu District, and three from academic institutions, such as the Jinling Institute of Science and Technology and Nanjing University of Technology.
Interviews with three traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry experts, four student inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, and 15 artisans provided valuable insights into contemporary heritage inheritance’s current state and challenges. This study addresses common issues in the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage skills by facilitating cross-regional and intercultural exchanges among various intangible cultural heritage cultures. This groundwork is essential for exploring effective methods and approaches for the widespread dissemination of traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry.
In the interviews, the expert first emphasized the importance and urgent need to protect of intangible cultural heritage skills such as traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry in cultural inheritance. Subsequently, the experts elaborated on the current difficulties in skill inheritance, such as the lack of interest in traditional skills among the younger generation and the significant changes in the environment for inheriting traditional skills. In addition, the experts put forward constructive suggestions, including advocating for the preservation and innovative promotion of intangible cultural heritage skills. These are key directions for research on traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry.
Students who inherit intangible cultural heritage believe that the government, enterprises, universities, and clubs should collaborate to formulate stronger policies that support the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage skills. At the same time, education and publicity should be strengthened to raise public awareness of traditional skills [27].
Most artisans of intangible cultural heritage have pointed out that the trend toward the marketization, commoditization, and popularization of intangible cultural heritage has provided new development opportunities for traditional skills. However, it raises concerns about whether intangible cultural heritage protection can maintain cultural originality. They called for commercial development to be accompanied by sufficient respect for intangible cultural heritage and for over-commercialization to be avoided [28].
From the above analysis, it can be concluded that traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry encounters both opportunities and challenges in modern society. Balancing the relationship between tradition and modernity and between technology and art will be the core issue for the future sustainable development of traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry. The traditional single-family mode of inheritance is no longer suitable for this new era. Exploring new methods of inheritance and innovation in traditional Chinese stone rubbing artistry, possibly in groups or workshops, is essential.