Editor's note: Standing up and cultivating morality, leading the civilization of the new era; scrupulously fulfilling their duties, full of family and country feelings; not forgetting the original heart, inheriting traditional Chinese skills... Looking back on 2021, a group of role models recognized by the masses and called by the society have led the social trend of Mingde Weixin, condensed the powerful force of upward goodness, and composed a magnificent new era of praise. The Jiangsu channel of the Central Broadcasting Network launched a special plan "Role Models Around" to spread the power of role models and show their responsibility.
Central Broadcasting Network Nantong January 25 news (reporter Zheng Chuyu) in Nantong, there is a "Wang Luban". Immersed in wood incense for nearly 40 years, he has used his accumulation bit by bit to restore and retain the skills of tongzuo furniture making, turning his love of traditional skills into a huge driving force for the protection of intangible cultural heritage. He is Wang Jinxiang, senior arts and crafts artist, director of China Tongzuo Furniture Research Center, and director of Nantong Tongzuo Furniture Museum.
The original intention is always in the true color of the craftsman
At the same time, Wang Jinxiang is also the winner of the 2019 "National May Day Labor Medal"; a member of the China Folk Writers Association, vice chairman of the Nantong Civic Writers Association, vice president of the Nantong Arts and Crafts Industry Association; jiangsu provincial arts and crafts celebrities, the fifth batch of Jiangsu province (nantong city's first batch) intangible cultural heritage (tongzuo furniture making skills) representative inheritor, Jiangsu province local talent "three belts" celebrities, Jiangsu province enterprise chief technician.
However, under the many auras, Wang Jinxiang has always maintained a simple craftsman's true color.
When we met Wang Jinxiang, he had just come out of the studio, wearing a slightly faded gray overalls. "I have to work in the studio every day, and it is more convenient to wear it for so many years." Wang Jinxiang told reporters that his biggest hobby is these ancient furniture, even if he has opened a factory now, he still insists on personally selecting ingredients and ingredients, and carefully doing a good job of each piece of furniture.
"In the past, carpentry worked with these machines, and they were all made by hand with tools." Wang Jinxiang spent 5 years in the past to restore and reproduce the woodworking tools that were on the verge of being lost, making a total of more than 600 pieces, "There are many things that are about to be lost, and I want to get them back one by one." ”
Restored and reproduced woodworking tools (Photo by Zheng Chuyu, reporter of the Central Broadcasting Network)
Exploration and study originates from the folk and returns to the public
Speaking of the opportunity to study carpentry, Wang Jinxiang frankly said that at the end of the 1980s, a large number of ancient furniture in Nantong flowed overseas, and he was distressed and had the desire to collect ancient furniture. Despite the economic difficulties at that time, Wang Jinxiang still saved money and used the money saved to buy furniture. "He is such a person, he is usually not willing to spend money, he likes to collect these ancient furniture, one by one to collect at home," said his wife Chen Yun, "for more than 20 years, he has collected 558 pieces of ancient furniture with Nantong characteristics." "Wang Jinxiang's main collection is the ancient furniture Nantong hazelnut furniture with the characteristics of Nantong.
"On September 23, 2019, the two of us donated all 558 pieces of the collection under our personal names at the Nantong Municipal Notary Office and founded the Nantong Tongzuo Furniture Museum." Speaking of the donation at that time, his wife Chen Yun still remembers it vividly, "We also thought about it for a while, and finally decided to leave the things of the people of Nantong to the people of Nantong." ”
Today's Nantong Tongzuo Furniture Museum specializes in collecting, exhibiting and researching Tongzuo hazelnut furniture, and is also committed to protecting and inheriting Tongzuo furniture making skills, mahogany small pieces making techniques and large lacquer decoration techniques. After Wang Jinxiang opened the Nantong Tongzuo Furniture Museum, it was opened to the public free of charge, in order to protect and inherit the cultural symbols of Tongzuo furniture in this way.
Inheriting the past and opening up the future, the core of non-genetic inheritance is "people"
Referring to the difficulties encountered in the inheritance of Tongzuo furniture production process, Wang Jinxiang was deeply touched.
"It's all human problems, it's all human problems."
Nowadays, in Wang Jinxiang's own general furniture production factory, the most lacking is the talent in carpentry making skills. "Designers are good, but there are too few people who know carpentry skills." We are now trying to go on campus and bring in talent from colleges and universities. But it is still too difficult, and everyone misunderstands carpentry too deeply. Wang Jinxiang said frankly that many people's understanding of carpentry is still stuck in the stage of "learning carpentry without ability", so it takes a long time to reverse this concept.
At present, Wang Jinxiang uses the resources of nantong tongzuo furniture museum to actively link up with primary and secondary schools, teach children to understand various wood and mortise structures through practical classes, and cultivate children's interest. In addition, Wang Jinxiang also cooperated with universities to establish the Tongzuo Furniture Research Institute of Nantong University and the Postgraduate Practice Base of Nanjing Forestry University, compiled the Tongzuo Furniture Syllabus, and used the inheritance base and the Tongzuo Furniture Museum for on-site teaching. In 2021, Wang Jinxiang was also hired by Nanjing Forestry University as an "industry professor" to develop a number of research courses and provide research assistance for college students.
Wang Jinxiang explains the tenon structure for the children (Courtesy of Chen Lin, issued by the Central Broadcasting Network)
A few years ago, Wang Jinxiang drew hundreds of illustrations of the Tongzuo Crutches Pattern Square Table that he had devoted himself to researching, and officially released ""Great Instrument Wancheng" - An Analysis of a Tongzuo Hazel Square Table" by hand, and in 2020, he also studied and published "A Xi Qi Dream", a golden silk Nanmu pick-up eaves shelf bed with a history of more than 400 years.
When asked: "Is there any concern about sharing patented skills without compensation that it will affect the development of your own factory?" ”
Wang Jinxiang smiled and said: "It is to let everyone learn, and the more people I learn, the happier I am." ”