**Interview with Wang Wenwang, Director of the Beijing Wenwang Pavilion Woodworking Museum**
**Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in woodworking?**
A: I was born into a family of carpenters in a rural area of Wuyi County, Hebei. At first, I thought learning a craft was just a necessary means to make a living. However, once I picked up tools like the large saw, hand saw, and chisel, I couldn’t put them down. I started as an unpaid apprentice and gradually built my reputation in the industry, eventually becoming an entrepreneur and now the director of a folk museum dedicated to woodworking. My years of experience have allowed me to pass down and elevate traditional Chinese woodworking skills and culture.
**Q: In today’s world dominated by machinery, how do you believe woodworking skills can be preserved?**
A: I’ve spent nearly 40 years exploring this question. I’ve come to realize that understanding the craft is the first step to loving it, and diving deep into the details is key to mastery. Initially, I viewed carpentry as a tough and low-status job, but the more I learned, the more I believed that “there are no crooked pieces of wood, only crooked carpenters.” This realization drove me to hone my skills diligently, even to the point of developing blisters on my hands while practicing wood shavings. I dedicated myself to restoring ancient buildings, meticulously crafting varying sizes of “wormholes” to create an authentic aged appearance. As machinery advanced, I sought mentorship to learn how to master the fine details that machines couldn’t replicate. My persistent efforts not only honed my craftsmanship but also paved a remarkable path in my life.
**Q: Woodworking seems to encompass more than just a skill—it has deep roots in history and culture. Can you elaborate on that?**
A: Indeed, woodworking is far more than a mere trade. Techniques like mortise and tenon joints, line drawing with ropes, and measuring with rods reflect the wisdom of our ancestors and embody rich cultural history. After years spent in the field, I recognized the urgent need to promote woodworking culture. I took a break from my business to gather almost extinct wooden artifacts and create this museum. To share these stories, I developed over a hundred labor skills courses. Our interactive classes—including sawing, planing, and assembling small stools—have attracted many visitors, allowing them to experience and appreciate the underlying culture of woodworking firsthand. This small, specialized private museum has emerged as a grassroots effort to preserve and promote woodworking culture, contributing to historical memory preservation and enhancing public cultural services.
**Q: How important is public participation in the transmission of traditional Chinese culture?**
A: It’s absolutely vital. Many artisans dedicate their lives to mastering their craft, driven by passion and commitment to passing down their skills. For instance, Han Hongyuan, a master of Yimeng face sculpture, is bringing intangible cultural heritage into schools through special education classes. Zhang Deming, a bamboo weaving master, innovated a technique that combines bamboo and porcelain, creating a new form of art recognized worldwide. Yang Huazhen, a practitioner of Tibetan and Qiang embroidery, incorporates ethnic elements into product designs, collaborating with over 20 brands to showcase this art globally. These diverse skills have thrived through generational transmission and innovation, gaining enduring significance and impact.
**Q: What do you think is needed for the ongoing development of traditional culture?**
A: The transmission and development of traditional culture is a long-term endeavor that requires systematic planning and strong support. Recent government documents emphasize enhancing the protection of intangible cultural heritage, leading to the establishment of various regulations. Our nation’s system for protecting this heritage has been gradually improved, with increased efforts in talent cultivation and funding support breathing new life into ancient cultures. With a solid foundation strengthened by strategic policies, the consensus on preserving traditional Chinese culture is becoming more unified, and collective efforts are growing stronger.
**Q: What is your vision for the future of woodworking and cultural heritage in China?**
A: The pursuit of craftsmanship is a commitment to carrying on our heritage. As more people embrace a craftsman’s spirit in their efforts to innovate and preserve our culture, the river of cultural legacy will flow onward, ever vigorous and forward-moving.
