[Persistence is their poetry and distance] ＂A vine＂ veteran artist

The pinnacle of woodworking skills

　　　　　　　Yuan Xianghua, who studied wood art at the age of 18, was born in a carpenter’s family. His father worked as a carpenter all his life, mainly focusing on carving.

　　　　　　　When Yuan Xianghua was determined to inherit his father’s mantle, his father told him to learn the "one vine" craft. "He told me that if you learn" a vine ",other carpentry work will not be a problem." Yuan Xianghua recalled.

　　　　　　　With the in-depth study of this technology, Yuan Xianghua really understood his father’s teaching in those days.

　　　　　　　He said that making "a vine" is very particular. The production of "one vine" is also called "soft rattan copying", and its core skill is the diversified tenon-mortise structure. There are nearly 20 kinds of tenons with included angle, semi-included angle, square included angle and flat shoulder, which can be called the complete collection of tenon and mortise structures in China.

　　　　　　　It is precisely because of this that in the industry, it is called "a vine" as "the pinnacle and classic of woodworking technology!"

　　　　　　　The so-called tenon-mortise structure is one of the main structural modes of buildings, furniture and other instruments in ancient China, and it is a connection mode of combining concave and convex parts on two components. The convex part is called tenon and the concave part is called mortise.

　　　　　　　Because a vine is made up of hundreds or even thousands of small pieces of wood, every mortise and tenon structure must be highly precise. "As long as there is an error in one (mortise and tenon), even if it is 1 mm, it will not work." Yuan Xianghua said.

　　　　　　　Tang Zhiou, a 67-year-old artist, commented that the tenon-mortise structure is ever-changing and endless, with superb woodworking skills behind it and high artistic value.

　　　　　　　In addition to the variety of mortise and tenon structure, "one vine" needs to go through 26 processes, such as proofing, material selection and ink dropping, before it can be finished.

　　　　　　　"So, it’s not what an ordinary carpenter can do. In addition to solid basic skills, he also requires artistic talent and certain creativity in painting." Tang Zhiou said.

　　　　　　　More importantly, it is necessary to be able to withstand loneliness. "One vine" takes several months from the initial drawing, material selection to production and processing. Yuan Xianghua said that his first "one vine" work was a set of furniture composed of square table, plush chair and long table, which took half a year.