Qufu Kai wood carving has a history of more than 2,400 years. Its raw materials come from the rare plant Kai tree unique to Qufu Konglin. According to historical records, Confucius' disciple Zigong was the founder of Kai carving. He carved two round statues of his teacher Confucius and his teacher's wife Qi Guanshi with Kai wood. They have become treasures handed down from generation to generation and are now preserved in the Confucius Museum. The "Zigong Hand-planted Kai" in Konglin is a precious historical relic. According to legend, after Confucius passed away, his disciple Zigong stayed in his teacher's tomb for six years and moved strange trees from other places to plant beside the tomb to express his grief. Later generations regarded Zigong as a model of respecting teachers. Kai tree is a rare tree species. The tree is more than a thousand years old. This wood is hard, fine, and golden, so it has the reputation of "soft gold" and "Southern sandalwood and northern Kai"! Qufu Kai wood carving has formed a unique artistic style through the hard work of generations of artists. It is authentic, both in form and spirit, and the knife method is simple and simple, thick and delicate. The techniques of Kai carving are divided into round carving, relief carving, openwork carving and hollow carving. There are more than a dozen processes for the production of Kai carving. Kai wood carving products have also developed from the original "longevity stick" and "Ruyi" varieties to nearly 100 varieties such as Confucius statues, various figures, flowers, birds, animals and stationery. Ruyi patterns include dragons, phoenixes, bats, deer, cranes, eight immortals, three stars and other themes, implying good luck, happiness and auspiciousness. The head is in the shape of Ganoderma lucidum and auspicious clouds, and many carving techniques such as carving, relief carving, openwork carving and hollow carving are used crosswise. The works are endowed with verve, natural, noble and elegant. Historically, Qufu Kai carving has always been a symbol of good luck and good fortune for the Confucius Mansion. Its superior works are tributes from the Confucius Mansion to emperors of successive dynasties and gifts for dignitaries. In the 17th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, Zhang Rumei, the governor of Shandong, presented two Ruyis to the Empress Dowager as birthday gifts: one Ruyi was engraved with eight immortals celebrating her birthday, and the immortals were different and lifelike; the other was engraved with hundreds of children celebrating her birthday, and the details were as fine as hair, and the expressions were amiable, and it was called extinct. After the founding of New China, the best Kai carvings participated in national and world arts and crafts exhibitions for many times, and all won awards. In 1984, the Kai carving "Eight Immortals Ruyi" was selected by the State Foreign Affairs Department as a gift for the main leaders of the country to visit abroad, winning glory for the country. Qufu Kai carvings have become a symbol of dignity, elegance, auspiciousness and harmony. All tourists who come to Qufu often buy some Kai carvings, either for collection and appreciation, or as gifts. Qufu Kai carvings have been widely praised by the Chinese people and people from all over the world. All these fully reflect and prove that Qufu Kai carvings have important historical value, cultural value, artistic value and social value. Qufu Kai carving, a rare flower in the oriental art garden, has a long history, rich ideological connotations, distinct national characteristics and unique artistic charm, showing a tenacious artistic vitality.