Because his basic skills are extremely solid and he is full of enthusiasm for pursuing more realistic carvings of statues, when faced with the market impact caused by the influx of a large number of low-priced goods after the opening of the trade with Mainland China, Master A-fa's works could stand out and be favored by customers. His Buddhist paraphernalia shop has become one of the few Buddhist paraphernalia shops that could survive. He even received the attention of the national government and the praise of all parties in the literary and art circles. He was listed on the National Cultural Heritage Network and awarded the Intangible Assets Preserver Certification.
Master A-fa said: “In the previous master-apprenticeship system, the apprentice had to watch and learn, slowly explore and understand, and accumulate experiences step by step.” The tradition of master-apprenticeship is rarely seen at present. The life of an apprentice is indeed difficult and challenging. Many apprentices could even persist to the end. However, Master A-fa was not afraid of difficulties and was even willing to spend twice as much time as others to enrich himself, which shaped Master A-fa’s future works. His works reflect the lifelike charm of the statues, and his miraculous skills in repairing the statues to make them look as they used to be before are truly amazing!
A Childhood Immersed in Craftsmanship
Apprenticeship to Learn the Craft
Becoming a Master After Seven Years of Apprenticeship
Difficulties and Challenges in Starting a Business
The posture and facial expression of the statue
Master A-fa statue sprucing Video
Preparations before the Interview
Go to Nanyao Temple for on-site video shooting
A Visit to Master A-fa’s Buddhist paraphernalia shop
Lacquer thread carving experience
Sweetness and bitterness experienced in statue sprucing
Questionnaire statistical analysis