林天生

The Beauty of Wood Carving

Lin, Tien-Sheng

Wood carving refers to the traditional decorative wood sculpture technique. Traditional Chinese wooden furniture and temple architecture have showcased the life aesthetics and art value through the elaborate carving of artisans. Most Chinese furniture craftsmen who came to Taiwan during Qing Dynasty reign had mastered all techniques, including planning, cutting, drilling, jointing, carving, lacquer painting, and lock installing. During the Japanese colonial period, the woodworking industry in Daxi had diversified in areas of expertise that worked together for mass production. The crafts of wood carving, lacquer painting, and furniture making had prospered and matured respectively, and were passed down through apprenticeship seperately. At the heyday of Daxi's wood industry, wood carving became a top career choice.

After graduating from junior high school, Lin, Tien-Sheng took apprenticeship under master Huang, Chi-Jung. After becoming a master himself, Lin worked as a wood carver, first at Lao Chao Yang, and later at Hsieh-Ta Woodcraft Shop. He established his own studio at the age of 25. During the years when Daxi's woodworking and Chinese altar table industry went into decay, Lin also manufactured other wooden products, but never left the wood carving profession. He specializes in carving plants, flowers, dragons, phoenixes, and human figures. In Daxi's Chinese and Red wood furniture industry, Lin, Tien-Sheng is widely recognized as the grand master of wood carving.

In 2010, Lin's wood carving art craft was registered as Taoyuan's cultural heritage. The wood carving master of the time was honored yet again for his spectacular techniques and precious legacy.

鑿花是傳統的細木雕刻，傳統漢式木傢俱、廟宇建築透過鑿花匠司的精湛雕琢，呈現生活美學與藝術價值。清治時期來臺的唐山細木師傅大都精擅所有技法，包括刨削、裁切、鑽孔、打榫、鑿花、塗漆、安鎖片等。日治時期，大溪木業開始分工合作的量產時代，鑿花、塗漆、木器製作鼎足而立，也逐漸形成專精一門的師承。在大溪木產業盛極一時的年代，鑿花也就成為優選的學藝之路。