Araki Center for Art Introduction
The Tongxiao Araki Art Garden was established in 1966, originally known as the Eastern Wood Carving Art Creation Society, and was renamed Araki Art Garden in 1969. It is a long-standing wood carving factory in Tongxiao that witnessed the prosperous wood carving industry of the 1960s and is one of the few wood carving factories still operating today. In 1994, Araki Art Garden established an art center to introduce traditional Chinese woodwork and carving techniques, showcasing wooden Buddha statues, root carvings,透雕 (透雕:透雕 means "through carving"), and handcrafted wooden items, along with guided visits to wood carving workshops and DIY carving activities, making it a well-known cultural and artistic destination in the area. In the wood carving exhibition area, there are solemn statue depictions of deities and numerous handcrafted works, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship that is eye-opening. The factory operation area retains complete production equipment, basic woodworking tools, wooden carving molds, and carving tools, providing insight into the wood carving process. For those wanting to try their hand at wood carving, there is also a DIY area where visitors can carve items such as pencil holders, bookshelves, and the Five-Way Wealth God face masks. It can be said that the Araki Art Center elevates a traditional wood carving factory into a Buddhist art center and serves as a hall of cultural heritage.
