Traditional Woodworking in China
Chris Scholz
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A few weeks ago I had the distinct honor to meet a traditional Chinese woodworker. From outside it looks like just another garage shop, inside you find a workbench, stashes of wood sticks (think frame and panel), various furniture components in pre- half- and semi-finished stage, hand-tools, neatly arranged in a wooden toolbox and, last but not least, Liu Shifu (Shifu: respectful title for Master craftsman, Liu: last name).
When we entered the shop Master Liu was busy pounding mortises into a rail that was soon to become a yigui (yi: cloth, gui: cabinet).
Liu Shifu was so kind to open his toolbox and spread the contents on his workbench, All tools were made by Liu Shifu himself, whatever was needed for a specific project. Liu Shifu explained the use of various planes for various purposes, the importance of different bedding angles; he demonstrated his collection of hollows and rounds, molding planes, chisels, amazing stuff, indeed
Folks, it is a fact, Chinese planes are pushed and not pulled. In fact, Chinese woodworkers are highly trained professionals, who went through many years of apprenticeship. Position of the feet relative to the board and workbench, position of the hand on the plane body, pressure distribution of the hands during the planing motion, all of this this all seems to be arbitrary at first sight but is highly trained. If you ever get the opportunity to see two Shifu work next to each other, no doubt, the motions will be exactly the same. (An interesting contrast to our own whatever works approach).
Thank you for listening.
Chris Scholz, Arlington, TX
www.Galoot-Tools.com