Master Wang and his unfinished phoenix

When Master Wang came to Laofengxiang in 1983, he was only 18 and had graduated from Comprehensive Technical High School. His class was directly taught by Masters from Laofengxiang. Master Wang loves painting, sculpturing and has creative thoughts, which are necessary for a craftsman of Laofengxiang.

According to Master Wang, only four Masters can now do the pure handwork by themselves, the apprentices can do only a part of the process. This is really an alarming situation and also the main reason that keeps the four Masters so busy.

Every year Laofengxiang receives a lot of order forms from around the world asking for specific jewelry or decorations. Sometimes the four Masters must work together to finish one big order and it always takes a very long time, maybe more than a year. In the era where machines undertake all of the productions, this situation is rare.

It is the Masters’ hardworking that animates every piece of work. You will never find two works that are exactly the same, no one would say no to a perfect work of art which only belongs to you.

Unfortunately, with the development of technology and the increasingly fierce social competition, this wonderful craft is facing the risk of extinction.

“Learning this skill is difficult, time consuming, and less lucrative as well. So it’s not attractive to young people. They would rather have an easier life, making more money and having more chances for a promotion,” Mater Wu said. “Parents also want their children to have a bright future, so the majority of them will not let their children live like this, even though some kids have an interest.”

“Jinyinxigong is a part of our incredible culture. The four of us have the same feeling, that we should let this unparalleled craft to be broadened and pass it on,” Master Wang said. “In the free time we still keep on studying, trying to develop new products.”

With the help of two Masters, I finished my work. Mater Wang cut it down, below the sheet is a special kind of glue stock to fasten it