Chinese documentary on woodcraft due out next week

A poster of a Chinese documentary on woodcraft, due to air on CCTV September 10, 2018. [Photo provided to China Plus]

A five-episode documentary that tells the stories of Chinese traditional wood workers will air on CCTV starting on Monday.

30-year old Zhang Yihong is the executive director of the new documentary.

"The structure of the delicate mortise joints in Wang Zhenhua's wooden miniatures, including China's ancient Zhaozhou Bridge and the Qiniandian, the Palace of Prayer for Good Harvests, are on display in this documentary. We hope that viewers from both at home and abroad will see how wonderful traditional Chinese woodcraft is."

Wang Zhenhua is a master of wood working in China. Now almost sixty, he is one of the 10 artisans who took part in the documentary.

"This documentary series may help to boost the development of traditional wood working in modern Chinese society. Today, few young Chinese people are knowledgeable about wood working and mortise joints. Using my wooden replicas, I want to show China's ancient techniques of mortise and tenon joints that don't use nails or glue, in the same way that Lego Toys come together."

Wood artisan Zhang Xin displays a smartphone holder he created out of wood in the shape of a TV set, Monday, September 3, 2018. [Photo: China Plus]

Zhang Xin is the youngest artisan included in the documentary. The college graduate has become something of an online celebrity for spreading knowledge about wood working through his videos, which have attracted an audience of more than 10,000 fans.

" I still want to try new things. In the future, I hope to operate and develop my own woodworking brand that enables people to realize the value of Chinese traditional woodcraft. Chinese people might get a boost in their self-confidence about their own cultural heritage, when its value is appreciated by people outside China."

By detailing the stories of the 10 craftsmen, the documentary uncovers the links between woodworking culture and traditional Chinese culture and lifestyles.