MasterOfCrafts | Guqin maker in east China's Jiangxi-Xinhua

NANCHANG, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Guqin, a plucked seven-string traditional Chinese instrument, boasts a history of over 3,000 years.

Feng Yihua plays Guqin at a Guqin studio in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

A Guqin is hung on the wall of a Guqin studio in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

Feng Yihua, a 38-year-old Guqin maker, hails from Yihuang County in east China's Jiangxi Province. Influenced by his family, Feng began studying the Guqin at age 18. He later moved to Shanghai to be an apprentice under a master in the craft of Guqin-making. "Creating a Guqin by hand requires raw lacquer, which initially caused skin allergies. I even cut my thumb while carving the holes," Feng recalled his apprenticeship.

Feng Yihua chooses tools for making Guqin at his Guqin studio in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Sui Shangjun)

Feng Yihua prepares lacquer for making Guqin at his Guqin studio in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

Through years of perseverance, Feng has honed his skills in both playing and crafting the Guqin. In 2014, he returned to his hometown to establish a Guqin studio, dedicating himself to this sophisticated profession.

The process of hand-making a Guqin spans at least three years, involving around 100 procedures. This lengthy process tests the patience and resilience of a maker.

Feng Yihua plays Guqin at a park in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Nov. 25, 2022. (Xinhua)

Feng Yihua plays Guqin at a Guqin studio in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

Feng Yihua bores holes on the body of a Guqin at his Guqin studio in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, March 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)

Feng Yihua plays Guqin at a reservoir in Yihuang County, east China's Jiangxi Province, Feb. 18, 2023. (Xinhua)

In addition to crafting Guqin, Feng also teach people how to play the traditional musical instrument. "In my 20 years within this profession, I've discovered that the Guqin imparts significant life philosophy that guides people in their daily lives," Feng shared. "I hope more people will come to appreciate this traditional art and experience the allure of traditional Chinese culture.