China News Service, Quanzhou, February 4 (Wu Guanbiao) "Ancient buildings are our roots, and every brick and tile carries nostalgia." Jiang Qinquan, the national representative inheritor of traditional folk house construction skills in southern Fujian, is willing to "teach and preach" People", showing more people the unique charm of traditional architecture in southern Fujian.
When it comes to traditional architecture in southern Fujian, Jiang Qinquan talks endlessly. In his eyes, the red bricks and white stones, flying swallow ridges, carvings and paintings of traditional southern Fujian architecture are unique among traditional Chinese architecture. The construction techniques fully reflect the traditional Chinese patriarchal ritual and music system and humanistic spirit, and have profound aesthetic taste and cultural connotation. .
Jiang Qinquan, who was born in a stone carving family in Quanzhou, Fujian, is the sixth generation descendant of the famous "Jiang Yuancheng Shipu" in Fujian during the Qing Dynasty. He learned stone carving skills from his ancestors at the age of 13. He once worked as a key worker in a state-owned stone carving factory, and even founded his own stone carving factory after the reform and opening up.
Jiang Qinquan is teaching his disciples the traditional folk house construction skills of southern Fujian. (Information photo) Photo by Huang Cuilan
“In the past, when practicing stone-breaking, we often had to rest until our hands hurt.” Jiang Qinquan said that stone carving is one of the important components of traditional architecture in southern Fujian. The “boy skills” he learned when he was young not only inspired his interest in traditional architecture in southern Fujian, but also It also laid a good foundation for him to delve deeply into the restoration of ancient buildings.
In the 1990s, Jiang Qinquan began to "promote" from the stone carving world to the ancient architecture world. He studied under Zhang Youfang, Du Xianzhou, Luo Zhewen and other famous craftsmen, and studied until he became proficient in various ancient building construction techniques. He was especially good at antique building construction and Renovation of heritage buildings.
"At that time, when Quanzhou East Street was being widened and renovated, we took over the task of rebuilding the 'Zhixiu Chengen' Arch. We were required to restore the original style of the arch while embedding 22 remnants of the Ming and Qing Dynasty arch." Over the past twenty years, Jiang Qinquan still has fresh memories of this restoration case. "The craftsmanship of restoring stone archways is very difficult. It requires a good understanding of the shape, structure, artistic and cultural connotations of ancient archways. For this reason, I spent a lot of time searching for information, asking masters to determine the restoration plan, and looking for suitable old components. Filling and patching.”
Hard work paid off. With Jiang Qinquan's efforts, the ancient "Zhixiu Cheng'en" archway was rebuilt. The mortise and tenon joints were tightly joined and antique. It still stands in Nanjun Lane, Quanzhou. In the following more than 20 years, he also presided over the renovation of Quanzhou's Anping Bridge, Chongwu Ancient City, Yang Amiao's Former Residence, Shi Lang's Former Residence and other buildings, allowing the unique southern Fujian traditional architecture to continue its "life" and leave a witness to history.
In 2018, Jiang Qinquan was directing the renovation of the ancient residence of the Jinguo Nian family in Taikui Lane, West Street, Quanzhou. (Information photo) Photo by Zhang Zichang
In addition, in order to better demonstrate the charm of traditional architecture in southern Fujian, Jiang Qinquan moved to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and even went abroad to build a large number of temples, palaces, pavilions, towers and other construction projects in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, which were well received.
"On the roofs of the traditional Minnan buildings in Quanzhou are the flying swallow-tail ridges, like swallows returning to their nests, and the southern Fujian tourists who go out to do business will also build traditional Minnan buildings in their places of residence to remember their homeland." Jiang Qinquan said with emotion, the traditional Minnan architecture Carrying the nostalgia of countless people, the craftsmanship of construction should be passed down from generation to generation.
In July 2023, UNESCO's new pilot activity of "New Voices of Ancient Houses" was launched in Quanzhou, selecting traditional folk house construction techniques in southern Fujian as the focus of the project, and exploring cultural heritage protection from a new perspective.
Jiang Qinquan has been committed to the inheritance of traditional folk house construction techniques in southern Fujian. He personally teaches classes and participates in activities such as exhibitions and explanations of ancient architectural components. He also built a training center for traditional folk house construction skills in southern Fujian in his hometown. He passed on the skills through various means such as displaying physical examples and teaching and studying. He compiled what he had learned, thought, researched and decades of experience into "Southern Fujian". "Traditional Architectural Construction Techniques" is for reference and learning by students in colleges and universities and architectural colleagues.
On the evening of January 28, Jiang Qinquan talked about his academic experience at the online theme event "Why China? Xianghai Quanzhou". Photo courtesy of Quanzhou Radio and Television Station
In Jiang Qinquan's place, there are no rules and regulations that say traditional skills are "not enough for outsiders", only the teacher training of "the class members practice their axes diligently and are determined to catch up with the public losers". "I am also planning to open a training class on traditional architecture in southern Fujian to plant a seed in the hearts of more young people. Even if one person in a thousand people can engage in this industry in the future, it is also a manifestation of inheritance."
"No matter when and where I am, I always keep in mind that I am a craftsman, and I approach every creation with ingenuity and 'carve' every apprentice." Jiang Qinquan said that passing on the fire from generation to generation is the biggest driving force for the sustainable development of the industry. "Craftsman" Although the road is difficult and long, he will continue to walk. (over)