ChineseToday | "Speechless Buddha" creator's descendant reinterprets time-honored porcelain making art

NANCHANG, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A porcelain sculpture of arhat, housed in the Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum, has gained Internet fame after netizens nicknamed it the "Speechless Buddha" for its endearingly charming expression. The artwork was created over 80 years ago by Zeng Longsheng, a master of Chinese porcelain art who established a long-standing family reputation for porcelain sculpture.

Zeng Rui, 36, is a fourth-generation inheritor of the family legacy. In 2011, he returned home to study ceramics under his father, mastering various sculpturing techniques. After the "Speechless Buddha" went viral in 2023, he set up a studio to recreate the original work and develop cultural and creative products inspired by it. For Zeng Rui, tradition is the foundation. By preserving classic themes and techniques while reinterpreting them for a contemporary audience, time-honored art can be revitalized.

More Beijing News

Access More

Sign up for Beijing News

a daily newsletter full of things to discuss over drinks.and the great thing is that it's on the house!