Link of the week

Chinese Woodworker

When most people think about Asian woodworking, their thoughts turn toward traditional Japanese woodworking tools and techniques. But, on mainland Asia, the Chinese have a long and interesting history when it comes to woodworking as well. The only problem is that there is very little information out there about it.

Master Craftsman Li Sifu
Master Craftsman Li Sifu uses a traditional hatchet to dimension a board.

Today’s link of the week can serve as an excellent primer into the world of traditional Chinese woodworking. From the tools and techniques to links to books and collections of these pieces, the site offers a broad introduction to how Chinese woodworkers plied their trade. It’s definitely worth a read.

 

2 thoughts on “Link of the week”

  1. Tom :

    I lived in Taiwan on assignment 6 years back. (I was made in England, lived in Singapore for 18 years and now live in Southern CA. Ethnically, I am Chinese from 5 generations back and yes some people say I have an identity crisis problem).

    I was tickled to see a set of stores in this seaside town where they sold candy flakes made from sugar blocks. To make the flakes, the proprietor used a Chinese craftsman-made handplane to generate the flakes. Talk about flakes the thickness of a few thousandths of an inch. Yes they do exist.

    They would take these flakes and put them on ice shavings as a dessert. They also put them on ice cream.

    Tim

  2. Cool post Tom.
    You see a lot about Japanese woodworking, but not much about the Chinese woodworkers.
    This is really interesting.
    Thanks.

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