近年来，由于生活方式的改变和外来文化的影响，年轻人多不愿投身这一学习周期长、见效慢的传统行业，现在的艺人多在60岁左右，有人亡技失之忧，迫切需要有关方面予以重视和扶持。
Dehua porcelain sculpture firing and manufacturing skills are excellent in the world.Now the inheritor is Su Qinghe.
福建的德化瓷雕塑烧制技艺高超。现在的传承人是苏清河。
Dehua County is located at the central part of Fujian Province. Dehua porcelain can be manufactured in two ways: one is direct forming with kaolin of high quality and the other is casting after mold fabrication or rubbing for forming. Whether to glaze or not is generally determined according to needs after the clay body is dry. Then the biscuit is placed into the kiln and fired into a finished product at high temperature above 1000℃.
德化县地处福建省中部。德化瓷的制作方法可分两种，一是选用优质的高岭土直接塑造成型，一是翻制模具后再注浆或拓印成型。德化瓷一般在土坯干后再根据需要决定是否上釉，而后放入窑中，在摄氏一千多度的高温中烧制出成品。
The production of Dehua porcelain emerged in Tang and Song Dynasties, flourished in Ming and Qing Dynasties. Manufacturing skills are unique and inherited till now. With the same status as important as silk and tea as exports from China, Dehua porcelain has won a world-wide reputation, which contributes to the spread of porcelain manufacturing skills and cultural exchange between China and other countries. He Chaozong, a handicraftsman of Dehua porcelain in Ming Dynasty developed exquisite Dehua porcelain carvings with local kaolin of high quality through eight skills, namely kneading, shaping, carving, engraving, scraping, joining and attaching, etc. Dehua porcelain has been collected by people in European countries for its unique artistic style. It is thus acclaimed as “oriental art treasure” and had already been exported to Europe in Qing Dynasty. Since late Qing Dynasty, Dehua porcelain industry has been declining. Handicraftsmen such as Su Xuejin and Xu Youyi, however, were still engaged in this field. Their products won gold medals at international expos in Panama, UK and Japan. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Dehua porcelain industry has revived and there have appeared many young talents who manage to make innovations on the basis of excellent skills and styles of their predecessors and to upgrade Dehua porcelain firing and manufacturing skills.
德化瓷的制作兴于唐宋，盛于明清，技艺独特，至今传承未断。它一直是我国重要的对外贸易品，与丝绸、茶叶一道享誉世界，为制瓷技术的传播和中外文化交流作出了贡献。明代，德化瓷艺人何朝宗利用当地优质的高岭土，使用捏、塑、雕、刻、刮、接、贴等八种技法制作出精美的德化瓷塑，因艺术风格别致而被欧洲各国收藏。德化瓷因而被誉为”东方艺术珍宝”，在清代时出口欧洲。晚清以后，德化瓷业每况愈下，但艺人苏学金、许友义等仍坚守此业，作品在巴拿马、英国、日本等国际博览会上获得金奖。中华人民共和国成立后，德化瓷业获得新生，新秀辈出，他们继承前人的优秀技法和风格，不断创新发展，使德化瓷烧制技艺重新焕发出青春。
In recent years, due to the changes in lifestyle and the impact of foreign cultures, fewer young people are willing to devote themselves to this traditional industry, as the learning cycle is long and benefits come slow. Most handicraftsmen are 60 years old now and there are concerns that the skills will disappear once this generation of handicraftsmen pass away. Therefore attention and support from relevant authorities are in urgent need.
