[Explanation] In front of the table full of tools, Wang Daowu is making an erhu wearing reading glasses.
He carefully drilled holes and kept comparing them, for fear of a slight flaw.
This is a scene that the reporter saw in the old Tianhua Musical Instrument Shop in Taijiang District, Fuzhou City a few days ago.
Wang Daowu is the provincial non-genetic inheritor of Lao Tianhua's musical instrument making skills.
Today, the old business of making traditional musical instruments is gradually disappearing, but Wang Daowu and his children are still sticking to it.
[Concurrent] Lao Tianhua's musical instrument making skills, provincial non-genetic inheritor Wang Daowu
It has a very crisp sound like this. The materials we make are generally higher-end, and we are afraid of breaking the high-end ones, which is a pity, because we don’t have this material if we make it.
We are very serious about selecting materials and cherish them very much.
(You have to polish it again and again) Slowly.
The side should be neat, and the gap should not be too large. It is too big to look at, so we said we have to stay together.
[Explanation] "Lao Tianhua" was originally called "Tianhua Zhai". It was founded in the sixth year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1801 AD). In the late Qing Dynasty, it won a silver medal at the Panama International Musical Instrument Exhibition.
At that time, it was prosperous in Fuzhou, and it was well-known at home and abroad.
Wang Daowu told reporters that in the old days, the traditional and authentic musical instruments used in Fuzhou Chating Shifan music performances were all made by Laotianhua Musical Instruments Store.
[Explanation] As the fifth-generation inheritor, Wang Daowu has always adhered to the skills of musical instrument making, and improved the Fuzhou Shifan musical instruments such as flute and Yehu to improve their timbre, pitch, and volume to a better level.
[Concurrent] Lao Tianhua's musical instrument making skills, provincial non-genetic inheritor Wang Daowu
We must carry forward the time-honored brand and pass it on, because I am from a time-honored family, and I know that our family is from the erhu family, and we are from the erhu national musical instrument. We will do everything.
I don’t know how long you said to do, but we have to go through a process before we make it.
[Explanation] In Laotianhua Musical Instruments Store, in addition to Shifan instruments such as Douguan, Sanxian, Nanhu, Yehu, and Flute, Yueqin, Shuangqing, Liuxian, Qixian and other Fujian operas, as well as musical instruments commonly used in song and dance, and folk art circles are also available. Among them, all kinds of musical instruments are dazzling.
In 2006, Wang Zengxin, the son of Wang Daowu, officially took over the business and became the new head of "Lao Tianhua".
Wang Zengxin often discusses the improvement and innovation of musical instrument craftsmanship with his father.
[Concurrent] Wang Zengxin, son of Wang Daowu
Our family was originally a very big family. Now I am the only one in my generation who is engaged in this industry. There is no one, so it is already very difficult.
Our primary task now is to inherit.
On the premise of not changing the original tone of traditional musical instruments, we have to get closer to it in terms of intonation and portability of scales, so this is also an aspect of our usual production process that is in line with modern times.
We will improve it little by little to make it more suitable for the needs of modern society without changing the original traditional model and traditional tone.
[Explanation] In recent years, Wang Zengxin has often walked into primary and secondary schools to provide students with Fuzhou traditional musical instrument training and the popularization and promotion of intangible cultural heritage projects.
In June 2019, Laotianhua Musical Instruments Shop was set as a training base by the Art Charity Class of Fuzhou Mass Art Museum.
Students can learn instrumental music and musical instruments at Laotianhua Musical Instruments Store.
In Wang Zengxin's view, the inheritance and development of intangible cultural heritage requires more fans to join.
[Concurrent] Wang Zengxin, son of Wang Daowu
If we develop this, children can’t do it, because it needs to use so many various tools with a certain degree of danger, then you need a long time to be familiar with it, and there is also a process of experience, so this development will have A little bit difficult.
You need to devote yourself to doing it, and you also need to persevere to hold this position first.
If you want to learn this thing or want this, you can come over.
Reporter Wu Shengwei reports from Fuzhou, Fujian
Editor in charge: [Ye Pan]