Wang Nengjun and Liu Tieguang: One horn comb is passed down from two generations

[News Page-Taiwan Straits Network]

According to the Fuzhou Evening News on February 12, not long ago, the "five blessings" horn comb gift box specially launched for the Spring Festival became a hit, and Liu Tieguang, the manager of fuzhou Baorui horn comb, once again set off a boom in Fuzhou horn comb, and many overseas Chinese left messages to order.

In 2020, Fuzhou Baorui Horn Comb successfully applied for intangible cultural heritage of Fuzhou. Recently, the reporter interviewed Liu Tieguang and his "master fu" Wang Nengjun.

Wang Nengjun and Liu Tieguang (left) introduce the horn comb.

The first angle comb serration machine was produced

Cha Ting Street once had the grand occasion of "ten households half combing". Wang Nengjun, 98 years old this year, has been learning the art of making horn combs with his father, Wang Gaochun, a comber on the corner of the tea pavilion, since he was a teenager.

In 1951, Wang Nengjun joined the Fuzhou Horn Comb Production Cooperative (the predecessor of Fuzhou Horn Comb Factory). By 2001, the horn comb factory was dissolved, and in the past 50 years, he has made many efforts to promote and innovate the production of horn combs.

In the 1960s, Wang Nengjun took an important step towards the innovation of horn combing techniques. "I was in charge of supply and marketing in the factory at that time, and once I went to Nanchang on a business trip, I found that the workers of the Nanchang wooden comb factory clamped three wooden combs tightly when making combs, and then inserted them into the gear cutting machine head-on." Wang Nengjun said that this discovery gave him a lot of inspiration - wooden combs can be used by machines, but can horn combs also be used?

After that, Wang Nengjun took a leave of absence and went into the study of the serrated machine. He worked with the workers in the comb factory to design drawings and improve the machine. A few months later, he returned to Fuzhou with China's first angle comb sawing machine, opening up a new world of mechanized production of horn combs.

Continue to pass on the centuries-old skills

"Craftsmanship is a unique sign, but improved craftsmanship is more suitable for the long-term development of the horn comb." Wang Nengjun believes that proper machine production will not destroy the old craft, but is a new method conducive to development. "When I was young, I would go to the countryside to collect style after work, and I would meet some people who also wanted to open a horn comb workshop." Wang Nengjun recalled that in that era, the horn comb industry was once very prosperous, and many people were quite interested. In this regard, Wang Nengjun did not spare his craft, and wherever he went, he taught it.

When he was in the corner comb factory, Wang Nengjun brought many apprentices, among which Liu Yongxin inherited the mantle.

In 2002, the 21-year-old Liu Tieguang was attracted by the skill of ox horn combing, and by chance, he met the retired Liu Yongxin, and Liu Tieguang officially learned the art from his teacher. Liu Yongxin also asked his master Wang Nengjun to guide Liu Tieguang together. Liu Tieguang called Wang Nengjun a "master master".

After Liu Yongxin's death, Liu Tieguang continued his studies under the guidance of Wang Nengjun. A few years later, the original hairy boy became a seasoned craftsman, opened stores in many places, and was deeply loved by the masses.

"My two masters have always taught me that making a horn comb must ensure quality." Liu Tieguang said that in order to make the production of horn combs "live", quality is the fundamental driving force.

"The selection, polishing, and shaping of the horns must be done with great effort, and the horn comb produced in this way is tough and soft, smooth into the hair, and does not pierce people." Wang Nengjun said, pulled out a horn comb that has been used for more than 40 years, the texture is smooth and delicate, and the comb is still complete and tough. "Our family's horn comb, normal use for ten years is not a problem, broken also to repair, we have always relied on quality and integrity to attract customers."

Nowadays, Liu Tieguang and Wang Nengjun also discuss the creativity and craftsmanship of horn comb production from time to time, and from the aesthetic point of view of young people, combined with the health function of the horn comb, develop a series of beautiful and exquisite and practical horn comb products.

(Source: Fuzhou Evening News reporter Lan Xiunan/Wen Yecheng/photo)