After the first conversation, we had deeply understood about Master Guo, we have lot of question had been solved while the interview, But we still want to see thing in a different perspective so we have get in contact with his friend and his wife.
But it is almost at the dead line so we decided to split into two teams, one went for making the web and others went for the interview by car pool with teacher .
We arrived there at noon time, we took some pictures and walked around the store as some customers were shopping around. Fortunately we had learned the expression of Master Guo forging iron ,and Master Guo’s wife_Mrs. Shih Jean Cheng introduced the two apprentices Mr. Jia Ren Tong and Chan Shih to have the interview.
Mrs. Shih Jean Cheng category:
Q1: Did you support Master Guo’s determination of promotion?
A: I did support and agree with this decision so far, but I objected to establish the Museum.
Q2: What make you turns your attitude on it?
A: Honestly speaking, Museum does not make money, therefore this store should earn for the Museum, Master Guo is no longer young, I really don’t want to see the financial deficit happened in our rest of life.
Q3: So your objection is based on the life economic consideration?
A: I have to say, the life is cruel, we have to earn for ourselves! The Museum is definitely can not make money.
Q4: But establishing a museum is Guo’s dream, do you really want to make him give up?
A: Of course! In the beginning I was fully support with his decision, but he has to plan for the future. Anyway, Master Guo has leaded the Museum to cultural aspect,Both of them are on the same boat with Museum director heading in the same direction.
Q5: Now the efficiency caused by Mater Guo’s continuously insist, can I say that?
A: In order to lasting the ancient intelligent longer to present, more and more people can learned from the museum, it can be possible without Master Guo’s insist.
Taiwanese Mr. Jia Ren Tong category:
Q1: How many years to be with Master Guo?
A: just a little bit less than 6 year
Q2: why do you want to learn forging iron?
A: it’s a dream since I’m a boy
Q3: Do you study intensively for a long time?
A: no, I was a chef before this, and starting as apprentice here after eliminated some impact.
Q4: So you are really into swards?
A: Actually I am in addicted to artificial swards’
Q5: Does Master Guo give you any demanding on your work or study?
A: Of course, like being on time. And for the most part we all will go with the mind of master Guo, after work you have to search for some video to improve your skills.
Q6: do you use video to improve your knowledge, and take that knowledge to the shop to practice?
A: yes, there is some skill that we have to go research because that some of those techniques isn’t in Taiwan. And of course some order needs these skills.
Q7: so some clients want different knife or swards? Is it difficult to make?
A: yes, for the most part is the artistic sward that’s requested. For difficulty, it’s put into different category by the client’s requirement. But we would like the client to draw a picture so that we won’t miss understand their quest.
Q8: do you feel frustrated while working?
A: there’s definitely frustration! Especially when I just begin to learn, can’t do as good as the master. Whenever there is lot of orders, you can get shout at by the master.
Q9: did you learn a lot by doing this for so long?
A: yes, forging iron and making swards are something you need to practice every day to get familiar with, for example the basic sward, it has some angularity, and this takes practice in order to mill the perfect angle.
Q10: what do you deal with the failed product?
A: most of the time we changed the shape or the size because we don’t want to waste the material. Like when client order one knife, we’ll often make two to three, so that we don’t have to worry about it deforming, unlike the machine-made swards that.
Q11: does this make hand-made swards more precious?
A: of course the time you spend on it is like day and night, with machine you can make a thousand sward without any problem, but by hands it can take half a day just to get the blade done.
Q12: how do you think about master Guo promoting the artifact museum?
A: I think of it as a good thing, because that this way more people can understand each of the different swards in different century.
Q13: how do you feel when finishing the first sward?
A: it’s a complicated feeling, because in every stage is a different feeling. In the first stage, milling. When you can control it the sense of achievement is merging.
Q14: Is there a product that will make you proud?
A: Yes, but it isn’t in the shop any more. This sward has four angles with a copper ring that can rotate in the middle. The bottom part is decorated with several pieces of steel that is band into the shape of flower petal.
Canadian Apprenticeship Ishikawa:
Q1: why doesn’t your name sound like Canadians?
A: Because I used to teach English in Japan, so I kept using the Japanese name till now.
Q2: why do you want to learn to be a blacksmith?
A: because that I’m into swards.
Q3: have you ever tried this before?
A: while I’m in Canada I did learn it, but Canada treated this kind of industry as an interest, on the other hand Taiwan regards it as a profession.
Q4: Before coming to Taiwan, did you go to learn it elsewhere?
A: I wanted to learn it while I’m in Japan, but you’ll have to stay there for at least 5 year before they teach you.
Q5: why do you choose Taiwan to learn this technique?
A: Because that Taiwan is regarded as profession on blacksmithing. Plus Taiwanese are very enthusiastic.
Q6: how long did you stay beside master Guo as an apprentice?
A: After February is officially a year
Q7: Did your family supported with your decision?
A: Although my parents think it’s a little bit strange, but they’re fully supported with my choice.
Q8: do you have any feedback by learning from master Guo?
A: admire the ability to master Guo, who in addition to doing other than knives but also do arts sword, I’m also very grateful that he is willing to teach me the skills.
| Team member | Experience to share |
Team leader: |
The second visit is decided in a rush, originally we are just going to collect some information, but unexpectedly master Guo explain it aging. Later that day went to the Museum, the last to see any connection with the exhibition to see the show is not the same, and we saw if you post on facebook you get a small gift, and the gift is "Guo Chang Xi Museum brochure”, this manual is very helpful for us, hoping to complete page Get out! |
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