When Jiang Chao started copying the famous painting scroll Riverside Scenery on Pure Brightness Festival (Qingming Shanghe Tu) using the paper relief cutting style 11 years ago, little did he foresee the hardships and the joy he would face.

It was not only because of his physical inconvenience -- he has only one leg -- but also that the carving was more complex than first believed.

The original scroll is one of the most precious and traditional Chinese paintings drawn by Zhang Zeduan of the Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960-1127). It depicts the prosperous life in the capital of the time, Bianjing, known today as Kaifeng of Central China's Henan Province. The original painting is 528.7 centimeters long and 24.8 centimeters high, and depicts 1,643 characters detailing all walks of life.

Jiang's work uses a special means of paper carving in relief, which combines techniques of Chinese traditional painting, paper cutting and woodcarving.

"I got the idea after I paper cut the Chinese character 'xi' (happiness) for my friend's wedding," recalled Jiang, 45, who came to Guangzhou 11 years ago from Changchun of Northeast China's Jilin Province.

"I asked myself at that time why not use this carving technique to present episodes of the famous scroll on paper," said Jiang.

However, it took him quite a long time to find a proper material for the art work, since paper is ever so fragile to work with. He did not start working until he found a damp material which turned out to be paper combined with rubber.

Since then Jiang has devoted his time to the carving.

"My mind is preoccupied by the painting," Jiang said. "My friends and family even worried that I would go crazy one day."

In 2000, Jiang Chao's cousin Jiang Shiwen, 50, who used to work in Changchun Power Grid Company as a technician, joined him to help complete the work.

The Jiangs have a special passion for Chinese art.

Jiang Chao developed an interest in traditional Chinese and Western oil paintings at the age of eight. He obtained three years of art education in school.

"However, when I ended my schooling I had to carry on the paintings on my own during the spare time after work," said Jiang.

Learning from his cousin, Jiang Shiwen developed an interest for Chinese art later in life.

However, the cousins still found it hard to complete the work, as they had to carve the intricate figures, houses, boats, trees, bridges and other details on exceptionally thin material.

"We must be very careful with the knife, since a wrong cut would definitely destroy the previous work," explains Jiang Shiwen. He reveals that on six occasions they nearly completed the work but failed due to what they believed to be "trivial" mistakes.

However, the cousins never stopped their knives. "The passion for Chinese art drove us forward," said Jiang Shiwen.

This June amid high emotions and tears, they finally completed the work.

Their final version measures 190 centimeters long and 45 centimeters wide and contains more than 750 characters.

After the completion of their work, a businessman from Australia proposed to buy it with 300,000 yuan (US$36,200) upon first sight.

They declined. "We have completed a great piece of work for Chinese art and we will not let it go abroad," said Jiang Shiwen.

Experts have acclaimed the work and say the technique is a first for carving art history.

"To date, there is no such means of paper carving in relief style by integrating three traditional techniques in China's art history," said Liu Yuheng, a Guangzhou-based Chinese artist.

According to Liu, wood-carving, paper cutting and traditional painting are only used separately in Chinese art history.

"This given, the Jiangs have contributed much to the country's art development by using this new means of paper carving in relief style," said Liu.

(China Daily August 26, 2004)