The history of Dongyang wood carving in China dates back to ancient times, with primitive society seeing the emergence of primitive wood carving crafts. Although these Dongyang wood carvings now appear rough and primitive, they were a groundbreaking application of human ingenuity in wood processing. With the advancement of technology and the development of human civilization, by the Warring States period, the art of Dongyang wood carving had evolved from the simple incised patterns and engraved coffins used in Shang Dynasty ceramics to the creation of three-dimensional round sculptures, marking a significant leap.

The wood carving craft from the Qin and Han dynasties, building upon the development of the wood carving art from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, experienced significant advancements and improvements. The vivid animal wood carvings unearthed from Han tombs, especially those carved from a single piece of wood, represented an innovative technique of the Han dynasty, marking a major breakthrough in the history of Chinese wood carving. From the Tang and Song dynasties to the Ming and Qing, Chinese wood carving works became increasingly perfect, with the craft reaching a high level of maturity and refinement, especially during the Ming and Qing. Themes expanded to include daily customs, mythological stories, auspicious flowers, and were widely used in architecture, furniture, and everyday items.

Two major categories soar together: wood carvings, which we often encounter in our daily lives and are used in various fields. Due to their wide range of applications, they are categorized into many types, primarily into practical and artistic ones. Practical wood carvings are mainly used for architectural and furniture decorations, usually divided into architectural and furniture wood carvings. Artistic wood carvings, on the other hand, are primarily focused on craft display wood carvings.