Three awarded 'National Treasure' cultural preservation titles

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Three people were awarded the title of "national treasure" for their contribution to preserving Taiwan's cultural heritage, at a ceremony held by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) in Taipei on Friday.

At the event held at the National Taiwan Museum, Lee Ching-hai (李清海), Su Ching-liang (蘇清良), and Hsu Ming-he (徐明河) were honored with the title by Culture Minister Shi Che (史哲).

Lee and Su were recognized for their expertise in traditional bricklaying techniques, which are crucial for restoring historic structures such as temples, traditional houses, and graves.

Meanwhile, Hsu was acknowledged for his clay sculpture skills and proficiency in cut-and-paste, a traditional Taiwanese handicraft. These techniques are often employed in creating or restoring decorations in temples and traditional houses.

Lee attended the ceremony, performing traditional Nanguan music to open the event, while Su's grandson and Hsu's son accepted the award on behalf of their family members who died earlier this year.

Su's grandson, who also practices traditional bricklaying, paid tribute to his late grandfather and said he would continue his legacy.

In a statement, the MOC said Lee is well-known for building roof ridges that showcase the beauty of architecture and praised him for his great contribution to restoring traditional houses on the outlying Kinmen Islands.

It added that Su was skilled in creating specific restoration tools and that he participated in several restoration projects involving Taiwan's national monuments, including the Taipei Guest House and the Shinchiku Prefecture government building, which now serves as the Hsinchu City government building.

The MOC went on to say that Hsu had mastered the cut-and-paste technique and clay sculpturing, and had dedicated his life not only to creating artwork but also to nurturing and passing down his skills to other talented people.

According to Shi, the ceremony was not simply to present the titles to the three craftsmen, but to also showcase their persistence in preserving Taiwan's cultural heritage.

"We're here to witness," Shi said.

The MOC will also be holding a special exhibition to showcase the work of the three men from Nov. 25 to Feb. 29, 2024, at the Cultural Heritage Park in Taichung.

In adherence with the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, the MOC has, since 2010, been keeping a record of important cultural heritage preservation techniques and their preservers. Currently, there are 10 techniques and 16 preservers logged.