One by one, the gourd pyrography works are lifelike and have a unique artistic style. In Fushan Village, Gaopingsi Zhuang Town, Jincheng, Shanxi Province, a seventy year old man named Wang Caigen self-taught the technique of gourd pyrography and created vivid paintings on gourds of different sizes and shapes. Gourd pyrography is a traditional folk craft, also known as hot stamping gourds or fire drawn gourds, and is a distinctive traditional art and craft. Entering Wang Caigen's home, the gourds planted in the courtyard are lush and green. Entering the room, a fresh and elegant artistic atmosphere greets you. Wang Caigen is holding a gourd in one hand and an electric branding pen in the other, fully focused on depicting the gourd. Accompanied by wisps of green smoke, a lifelike lotus flower floated onto the gourd. Wang Caigen introduced that the entire production process of gourd pyrography is a delicate task, striving for seamless coordination between the eyes, heart, and hands. Every stroke and every line requires more patience and perseverance from the craftsman, and even a slight mistake may result in failure. When making, the first step is to conceptualize the pattern for each gourd, then use a pencil to draw the outline of the pattern on the gourd, and then use a branding pen to outline the lines and details one by one Wang Caigen said that when painting on the curved surface of a gourd, the branding pen is prone to slipping, and the temperature directly affects the depth of the handwriting color. If you walk slowly, it will become blurred, and if you walk fast, it will not be branded. So each work should be branded at least four times, which can ensure the artistic effect of the picture and preserve it for a longer time. Wang Caigen usually loves painting and has been working as a carpenter for 10 years and a painter for over 30 years. Four years ago, by chance, he came into contact with gourd pyrography and learned about its creative techniques, so he kept trying to create at home. I work as a carpenter and painter, and I need to draw auspicious paintings such as landscapes, flowers, insects, and birds on wooden boxes and wardrobes, which gives me a certain foundation in painting After coming into contact with gourd pyrography, Wang Caigen became fascinated with this traditional technique. Performing gourd pyrography, good gourds are the raw materials for creation, so Wang Caigen planted gourds in his own courtyard. After the gourd matures, it is harvested, skinned, coated with olive oil, and dried. It is then used to make gourd pyrography the following year. For Wang Caigen, gourd pyrography is a hobby that adds a touch of charm to his later life. His gourd pyrography, which includes landscapes, figures, flowers and birds, insects and fish, has rich themes, different styles, vivid and beautiful meanings, and has been recognized and loved by more and more people. Nowadays, Wang Caigen's gourd pyrography skills are constantly improving, and he has created more than 800 works. Through promotion, he has found a market and also gained some fame in the surrounding villages. My biggest wish is to make more people understand and enjoy the folk art of hulu shao hua through my own efforts, so that it can be inherited and developed Wang Caigen stated that he will learn photography and use his camera to capture the beautiful scenery of Gaoping, and then conceptualize and create more gourd pyrography with regional characteristics and cultural connotations. (New Society)