Wang Zhongyu never thought that an old root he picked up 12 years ago could change his life -- from a farmer to a recognized craftsman. He also never imagined that he would be able to transform some gnarled old roots into unique artworks, despite never receiving any formal training.

But he made it all come together after 12 years of hard work. He now boasts of having created more than 100 different works.

"The root looked like a crane when I first set my sights on it," said Wang, 51, a farmer from Chenpu Village of Fengquan District in suburban Xinxiang City of Central China's Henan Province. In 1992, he used to transport coal from North China's Shanxi Province, to his hometown when he need not to do the farm work in winter. One day, he stopped by the roadside to have a rest, and found his first root -- the crane-shaped root.

"Fascinated by its unique shape I picked it up and took it home," Wang recalled.

With a small knife for pencil sharpening, he tried to carve it and make it more like a crane.

"Whoever saw it agreed that it was the image of a crane," he said.

His first effort encouraged him greatly. Since then, Wang has kept his eyes wide open wherever he has been. He picks up dry roots and leaves them in piles in his courtyard back home.

With only three years of schooling, Wang has learned carving all by himself, with a unique talent for art. He has bought a number of art books and carving tools, and studied solid geometry, portion and structure. During the past 12 years, he has also spent more than 200,000 yuan (US$24,154) on his hobby.

"I like the works of Leonardo da Vinci, which help me learn about a flat plane appearing as a body in relief," Wang said.

Meanwhile, watching animal world programs on TV has been another of Wang's hobbies.

"Seeing those flying birds and running tigers gave me a better understanding of their way of life. Their movements in particular are useful for my carving," Wang said.

Wang has also bought a large number of picture books depicting all kinds of animals.

"I could scrutinize a single root for a whole morning, seeing what it looks like and how to make it better fit its image," Wang said.

Wang is often seen sitting in front of his roots with a picture book on his knees.

"He has been addicted to those ugly old dry roots," said his wife, who understands and supports his passion.

Wang had no regular teachers nor well-known artists to help him.

"But everyone I met on my way collecting roots could be my teacher," Wang recalled.

Craftsmen in mountain villages, carpenters and stoneworkers have also given him a lot of guidance.

"I believe the carving techniques are somehow related, no matter if it is a stone or a wood carving," Wang said.

To look for unusual roots, Wang usually spends one or two months every year in the Tanghang Mountains, some 100 kilometers away from his home. He has also traveled around the country during the past 10 years collecting unusual roots.

Whenever he has heard of something new, he would spare no effort to get it. The one he is now working on cost him 2,000 yuan (US$240) to move from Gushi County, in Xinyang City, some 500 kilometers away from his courtyard.

The huge root is roughly 2.5 meters in height and 70 centimeters in width, and was once encircled with iron wires by Japanese invaders during the "War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-45)".

After 67 years, when the huge 100-year-old Chinese scholar tree died, the iron wires were still visible inside the trunk.

It is actually a complex root carving, consisting of three parts -- a white marble as its base, the huge root with the iron wires as the major part and a flying eagle on the top.

"It is a symbol to never to forget history, and it also calls for world peace" Wang said of his artwork, which he has named "The Soul of the Chinese."

"I want to make these dull roots come alive," he said.

Wang left his farmland and quit his business 10 years ago, leaving it to his two sons. Although neither has followed Wang in his carving pursuits, they support him a great deal. They have helped him move his roots. They also encourage Wang to hold exhibitions.

There are 21 big wooden trunks in Wang's home, which have kept him busy working over the past decade. He has never sold a single work.

"I have two dreams," Wang said. "To open my sole exhibition in Beijing, and another one abroad."

(China Daily March 8, 2004)