The meaning of traditional Chinese artisan culture

Chinese craftsmen have always made not only things, but also a philosophical spirit. This is what is meant by "the text is not according to ancient times, the craftsmanship is unique" and "the sacred craftsmanship is ready to be made in heaven". China is the most developed country in the world in terms of handicrafts. From the Tang Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, China was the world's number one exporter of handicrafts. Thanks to the excellent craftsmanship of Chinese artisans, their conscientiousness, punctuality and trustworthiness, they were able to gain a global market.

Chuang Tzu, in the chapter "Dasheng", tells a story about a carpenter: this is a carpenter from the state of Lu, named Ziqing. He "whittled wood to make instr. (This instr. ju, a pillar on either side of the rack from which the bells and drums were hung, would be carved and decorated with fierce beasts.) The king of Lu was so amazed that he summoned Ziqing and asked, "What are the wonders of making something so exquisite, sir?" Ziqing humbly said, "I am just a carpenter, how can I have any wonders? It is only that before doing the work, I dare not expend my spirit, and quietly cultivate and gather my qi, so as to calm my mind; fasting for three days, I no longer harbor thoughts of celebrating rewards, and obtaining titles and emoluments; fasting for five days, I no longer have distracting thoughts of criticism, praise, or clumsiness in my mind; and fasting for seven days, I have become so unmoved by external objects, that I seem to have forgotten my own limbs and form. Then I went into the mountains and forests, observed various kinds of wood, and chose the ones whose texture and shape were compatible with the instr. At this time, the image of the instr. was already presented before my eyes, and then I put all my heart and soul together in it, concentrated on it, carved it, and made it with my own pure nature, blending the natural natures of the wood, and the artifacts were so exquisite that they seemed to be the work of the ghosts and gods, perhaps because of all this." Ziqing do instr. first with 7 days of fasting, so that the body and spirit to achieve the best state, and then into the mountains and forests, the choice of wood has been in the mind sketched out the instr. model, carefully looking for matching wood before hands to take it, once the carving will be focused on the concentration of energy, wholeheartedly devoted to the merit, status, money, non-sense, reputation, put down, honor and disgrace, concentrate on the.

This story shocked people is his rigorous and refined attitude, is his dedication to the work, to do things carved until the pursuit of perfection, is the kind of focus on his "spirit of forgetfulness".