Question about 彫刻 - sculpture

Japanese Language
1

I recently learned the compound kanji for “sculpture,” 彫刻.

WaniKani only lists “sculpture” as its meaning, even though both kanji in the compound mean “carve.” On the other hand, Jisho includes both “carving” and “sculpture” as meanings for 彫刻.

I’m wondering if WaniKani avoids using “carving” so we don’t mistakenly apply it to flat engravings or carvings. Am I correct in thinking that 彫刻 generally refers to any three-dimensional sculpted or carved object? When I asked ChatGPT (an infallible source of information, I know) if a log carved into an object would be considered 彫刻, it said yes.

Anyone have any insights on the nuance of this word? Thanks!

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2

Daijisen’s definition is

［名］(スル)木・石・金属などに文字や絵・模様を彫り込むこと。また、木・石・金属などを彫り刻んで立体的な像につくり上げること。また、その作品。「大理石に—する」「仏像—」

So it leads off with “carving letters, pictures, designs into wood, stone, etc” and then adds “carving into wood etc to produce a 3D shape”.

The Wikipedia article seems to me to imply that the definition has also become broad enough to incorporate sculptures created by building them up from clay and the like, though it suggests those might more precisely be termed 塑造（モデリング）.

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