Chinese Name: 林立正
Born: 1944
Birthplace: Shandong Province, China
Did You Know That…?
Although Lin Li-cheng has never received formal training in guqin (古琴) making or playing, he mastered the craft and became the first craftsman officially recognized as a preserver of the heritage by the Taipei City Government.
Born in 1944 in Shandong, China, Lin moved to Taiwan with his family in 1949. Growing up in poverty, he dropped out from Fuxing High School (復興高中) to earn a living. He worked as a boat captain for a long time, leading sailors across the seas. A chance encounter with the guqin sparked his deep fascination with the instrument, inspiring him to pursue a career as a guqin maker. His dedication to the craft has spanned more than fifty years.
Having been played since ancient times, the guqin is a plucked string Chinese musical instrument. As early as the time of Confucius, the musical instrument has been closely related to the lives of scholars and literati.
Due to his family’s involvement in construction and renovation, Lin grew up learning carpentry from a young age, which fostered his understanding of wood quality. In 1972, he began researching traditional methods of guqin making at the request of a friend. One day, while purchasing strings for the instrument, he met guqin maestro Sun Yu-qin (孫毓芹), who became his mentor in the craft. Lin frequently sought Sun’s guidance on evaluating and making guqin, deepening his study and refining his skills. After Sun’s passing in 1990, Lin carried forward his mentor’s legacy in promoting the art of the guqin. He later became a pioneer, significantly influencing cultural exchanges in the guqin making across the Taiwan Strait.
Historical artifacts, such as pottery figurines and ancient paintings, indicate that the guqin has maintained its form since the Han and Jin dynasties. Remaining true to this thousand-year-old tradition, modern guqin makers, including Lin, continue to follow the same model in crafting their instruments.
In 2009, guqin was recognized as a traditional art by the Taipei City Government, and Lin was selected as one of the preservers of cultural heritage techniques in Taipei City. This honor made him the first person in the country to receive such recognition in the field of guqin making. Beyond this, Lin also specializes in restoring ancient instruments from various historical periods, including the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
More than just a guqin maker and restorer, Lin is a connoisseur of the craft. For over two decades, he has dedicated himself to preserving and passing down guqin-making techniques, striving to nurture young talent in the field. His efforts have led to the training of more than twenty disciples, now spread across different parts of the world. Lin has established himself as one of the most influential contributors to the guqin tradition in Taiwan, leaving a profound mark on the contemporary history of guqin making.