1. Would you please tell us about your learning processing of woodcarving?

Master：

     Since I was a child, I had strong interest in painting. I have engaged in the industry for 43 years. I overworked almost every day. After junior high school, I passed the entrance exam to Lukang Senior High School. Since it was difficult to enter a university after graduating from a senior high school, I decided to learn a means of living. Taking consideration of my interest, I followed my teacher and started my learning of woodcarving. Master Shui-mu You's home was near to mine (No. 280, Kunghou Lane, Lukang Township) and convenient for my learning. In the past, it took three years and four months to finish one's apprenticeship. Because I worked hard and learned fast, after learning for one year, I was invited to make grids exporting to Japan at "He Ji" under the context of many working opportunities then. Besides the traditional basics taught by Master You, all the other works I learned by myself.

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2. How do you think about the inheritance of woodcarving?

Master:

    I wrote down my experience of woodcarving of figure for the reference of others. While learning how to carve figure, I started from the technique of triangle knife and to figures of Han dynasty, immortal statues, Buddha statues, and temples figures. Figure carving is the most difficult. Though every figure has five organs, they are so different. For instance, eye expression can be classified into five categories: 1. Children (moon-like eyes); 2. Girls (phoenix eyes); 3. Scholars (fish eyes); 4. Military officers (Hawk eyes); 5. Marshal or generals (tiger eyes). Special instances include Guan Gong (phoenix eyes) and the God of Fortuna (moon-like eyes). The outer corners of the eyes of the elderly tend to sag, while those of youngsters tend to rise. In terms of noses, women (long and sharp), children (small), scholars (big and sharp), and generals (thick). As for mouths, women (small), children (small and sharp), scholars (large), and generals (thick and big). Buddha ears (long, sagging, and thick). Ears of immortal (thick and sagging). Craftsmen use traditional techniques to carve figures and pursue new and breakthrough changes to make expressions vivid and perfect.

    In terms of teaching apprentice, the current two apprentices have followed me for over twenty years. Previously, I had a dozen of apprentices, but some changed their professions while the others followed other masters. They tend to follow the trend. In the past, it took three years and four months to finish one's apprenticeship, but now is different. If one apprentice leaves me in one year, I may lose profit because I give him NTD 10,000 per month. A new apprentice knows nothing, so I need to teach him how to carve and correct his works. After one year, I can give some simple tasks to him. I pay my apprentices the day they start to follow me. I believe they shall participate in creation competition and exhibition to exercise their skills so as to give full play of their competence independently. Once, I had an apprentice who was creative and competence, so I trustingly gave him NTD 100,000 and let him to start his own business independently. I applied to hold the event of "Slow Life New Lifestyle" with National Taiwan Craft Research Institute. With the form of woodcarving DIY teaching, I hope those who are interested will come here to learn traditional woodcarving of flowers and birds. Also, via this event, I hope my countrymen can have a chance to get closer to traditional woodcarving and experience its joy.

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3.What is the influence of the title of Taiwan Crafts Workshop on you?

Master：

    The title of Taiwan Crafts Workshop makes me more focus on the creation of woodcarving. I applied it in 2007 and passed the review at the beginning of 2008. National Taiwan Craft Research Institute can assist to get the certificate to apply for some subsidiary (NTD 20,000). But all the craftsmen with the title of "Taiwan Crafts Workshop" in Lukang hang on the inscribed board of the title by themselves. Comparing with them, I rank the lowest in seniority, so I cannot do the same as them. (I invited National Taiwan Craft Research Institute to arrange to hang the inscribed board of the title on site.)

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4. What is the difference between doing woodcarving now and learning it in the past?

Master：

    I learned a lot of skills from my teacher, for instance, carving tools, traditional carving techniques, woodworking, painting, and gold foil. My teacher used to make his own carving tools. Craftsmen of my generation buy tools at "Chiukunghe" ironworks and Weilitatung ironworks. In the past, when one learned traditional woodcarving, for instance, flower patterns inside and outside temples and artworks, he would also know some knowledge on woodworking and the use of paints and gold foil. Now people can do only one of them. In the past, it took one three years and four months to finish his apprenticeship. Due to the good opportunity then, I was invited to make "grid" exporting to Japan at "He Ji" after learning woodcarving for one year. In the past, there were many woodcarving craftsmen. A craftsman needed to do woodcarving very well so that people would give works to him who then could open a factory and teach apprentice. One would learn from him due to the craftsman's excellent skills. It was different from the education of school now. My teacher taught all his traditional woodcarving techniques to me so that I could create and teach others. A person from Taichung came to Lukang and wanted to learn from me. He asked, "How much he needed to pay me every day as tuition fee?" I answered, "No need. As long as you are interested, I will teach you." He has followed me for over seven years. One can understand woodcarving deeper only after doing it personally and will become aware of the difficulty of carving techniques. I teach my apprentices how to design, traditional techniques, changes of carving skills, how to use machines, and key points while grounding a knife. Even, I need to explain while correcting their works.

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5.What is your future plan for the development of Chin-fu Shih Woodcarving Workshop?

Master:

    Creation and technology coexist. In terms of process, I intend to set up an area for workmanship where I will display crafts at the price from NTD 2,000 to NTD 10,000 to promote sells so that visitors can buy their favorable works at an affordable price. I will cooperate with National Taiwan Craft Research Institute to hold Slow Life New Lifestyle and promote the spirit of "life craft" via free DIY woodcarving lessons at "Taiwan Crafts Workshop". The spirit stands for a work spirit and life attitude with hands-on experience and single-hearted devotion. Through edutainment, fellow countrymen can experience the excellent skills of traditional woodcarving of Lukang and the spirit of perseverance. We plan to focus on three topics, i.e., flowers and birds, animals, and figures to hold three sessions with 20 participants each. Also, I can cooperate with the industries of catering and interior design to plan woodcarving and decoration with Chinese style. At present, I want to paint all the traditional wall painting on the walls of Chin-fu Shih Woodcarving Workshop so as to present an antique flavor. I will put aside an area for the worship of Lu Ban with the meaning of drinking water, one should think of its source, making the workshop more complete

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6. What suggestions do you have for the development of woodcarving, government support or policies?

Master:

  We can start from the public art of Taiwan with our own characteristics. Image what foreigners will see when they come to Taiwan? What they want to see is definitely not foreign public art, but the public art with traditional Taiwanese characteristics. I will assist in the making of guideboards from expressway to Taiwan Crafts Workshop to guide visitors to visit my workshop. And I will prevent the guideboards from being removed by relevant authority. I will assist craftsmen to publish their books and hold exhibitions so as to raise their popularity and make workmanship prosperous in the future.

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