Old Skills Get New Life
Traditional craftsmanship takes centre stage as villages seek to restore ancient buildings
Visitors to Ye Changxian’s workshop in Anleshan Village, Songyang County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, are greeted by an intense aroma of cedar wood. The work bench is littered with tools - saws, chisels, planes, files and axes. Ye, 57, is a highly respected carpenter with nearly 40 years of experience restoring ancient buildings. Adept at mortise and tenon, a traditional woodworking technique, he can create seamless and sturdy structures without the use of a single nail.
He has been involved in the restoration of more than 160 old buildings since 2016 when the county began a programme to restore ancient buildings. “I never imagined that these old skills of mine would be of great use,” he said.
The old buildings scattered in local villages make up Songyang’s unique rural landscape. Most of them were built one or two centuries ago and have significant cultural value, although they are not classified as high-level cultural relics. Over time, many of these old buildings have fallen into disrepair.
Restoring ancient buildings requires craftspeople to have not only exceptional skills but also a deep understanding of local culture. They must choose different restoration methods based on factors such as the value of each building, the cultural environment, and its historical significance.
“We have found that the villagers have the strongest attachment to their communities, and it is the local carpenters who are most familiar with the structure of the old buildings,” said Ye Maosong, deputy director of the county’s bureau in charge of renovating ancient villages and buildings.
For the programme, Songyang has formed more than 30 traditional craftspeople teams. More than 1,000 traditional craftspeople have participated in various projects.
Reviving old skills
In Songyang, buildings were traditionally constructed with local materials, and the wisdom and craftsmanship of carpenters were crucial. As a result, carpentry was once among the most sought-after professions in the region.
Ye Changxian began learning his craft at the age of 16, apprenticing to a carpenter and becoming a journeyman three years later. Since the 1990s, however, rammed
“We preserved the memories of the old buildings while improving the living conditions of the residents,” Zeng said.
Passing the baton
The average age of the craftspeople in Ye Changxian’s team is over 50, and the youngest one is his 27-year-old son. “There are very few young people learning this trade these days. It’s a tough profession, and it takes two to three years to master it,” he said.
Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Songyang has been known as the home of skilled builders. In recent years, the local craft has been on the verge of extinction. After the launch of the old building restoration programme, traditional craftspeople of various professions, including carpenters, bricklayers, and bamboo weavers, have decided to return to their hometown. However, challenges such as a shortage of skilled technicians and a lack of successors remain.
To address these challenges, the county government has established the Songyang Craftspeople Talent Pool, which accepts a significant number of selected trainees each year. These craftspeople receive certificates after training. Currently, there are 263 people certified as trained heritage conservation professionals, representing the county’s initial success in building a talent pool of craftspeople and establishing the reputation of Songyang craftspeople.
In 2021, the county’s vocational secondary school began offering a civil engineering major specialising in the restoration and reproduction of ancient buildings.
As an experienced craftsman, Ye Changxian has been hired to teach the skills of restoring ancient buildings. He visits the school every week to teach more than 40 students. “I hope the old craft can be passed on to the next generation and then generations to come,” he said.