An heir who sat on guqin
In the middle of last year, Lin Li-cheng started to teach a “guqin hewing experience class.” He demonstrates every step in the process of making a guqin, from selecting the materials, cutting out the rough components, and planing them into shape, to applying the varnish and lacquer, inlaying the harmonic position markers, and stringing the instrument. The class is one on 13, and Lin admits, “It’s exhausting for this old codger.” Fortunately he has Lin Fa and a group of apprentices as his teaching assistants, helping to guide the students and attend to their needs.
Lin Fa, Lin Li-cheng’s second son, is the only one of four brothers to go into the family business. Lin Li-cheng says that from the time when Lin Fa was small he followed his father around while he was working and did odd jobs for him, and he has acquired a solid grasp of guqin making. In the past, Lin Li-cheng had no clamps for making guqin, so he would tell his son to sit on the instruments to press the parts together. Lin Fa grew up this way—sitting on guqin.
Lin figured that his son would end up making guqin for a living, and, afraid that Lin Fa would be disparaged if he was not able to play the instrument himself, coaxed and tricked him into going for lessons. Little did he expect that Lin Fa would develop a genuine interest as he learned, and he eventually graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with a major in guqin performance, followed by further study in the Department of Traditional Music at Taipei National University of the Arts. He is now a professional guqin performer.
During our visit to Lin’s workshop, one of his apprentices takes out wood for two guqin to test the sound. This step, coming before the parts are assembled, uses a tool to simulate the situation after the instrument is strung, to listen to the tone of the wood. If there is anything wrong, it can still be corrected.
We watch as Lin Fa deftly attaches the sound testing tool and his fingers rapidly press and pluck the strings as he listens to the tone. Afterwards he flips the piece of wood over and, with a felt-tip pen, marks several locations that need to be shaved a little thinner to get better tone. Standing off to one side, Lin Li-cheng explains: “Now we are testing the sound, which I leave completely in his hands. No one is better than him at judging tone. He has been listening since he was small, and has formally studied performance. Academic professors have no contact with the making of guqin, so no-one has as deep an appreciation as he does.” These remarks reveal Lin’s pride in his son and his joy that the craft to which he has dedicated his life is being passed on.
Lin’s Zizuofang workshop, where they have just completed an exhibition on guqin making, is a mess. Lin pulls out a guqin from who knows where; this is a Qing-Dynasty instrument that he received in mainland China back in the day. Lin says, “When this guqin is repaired, the sound will be amazing.” Hearing this, his apprentices are thrilled, and succinctly discuss the matter, after which they surround Lin and say, “Master, let’s repair it! Let’s repair it together!”
Facing a group of excited apprentices, Lin Li-cheng, his face wreathed in smiles, says, “OK, let’s repair it together.”
From choosing materials and parts to the process of constructing the guqin, Lin Li-cheng does everything personally, without farming out the work to anyone else.
Lin Li-cheng instructs a student from Hong Kong in “hewing guqin.” His reputation for craftsmanship has spread abroad.
The inlaid corner ornaments at the end of this guqin have fallen off. Lin Li-cheng takes up his chisel to carefully repair the instrument, while his son Lin Fa helps by pressing down on it to hold it steady. Lin Fa grew up in just this way—sitting on guqin to press them down. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)
The inlaid corner ornaments at the end of this guqin have fallen off. Lin Li-cheng takes up his chisel to carefully repair the instrument.
Lin has collected a roomful of old wood for the purpose of “hewing” good guqin and seeking beautiful tone.
Lin Fa has followed Lin Li-cheng in making guqin since he was a child. He is his father’s helper, his soulmate, and the heir to his craft.
Lin’s inscription and stamp on the inside face of the soundboard are the marks of a high-quality guqin.