Yong'an Drum Craft Workshop Introduction
Street temple fairs and Mazu pilgrimages are occasions where the sounds of drums and gongs can be heard in religious contexts. In Yong'an Drum Manufacturing Workshop located in Xianxi Township, Changhua County, the traditional craft of handmade drum making has been preserved, and it is now in the hands of the third-generation owner, Huang Chengfeng. With the advancement of technology, many traditional crafts have gradually been replaced by machinery, leading to a decrease in the number of skilled artisans, often referred to as "masters." In the early days, when there were no machines, craftsmen honed their skills through repeated learning and exploration, creating value through handmade items, utilizing the warmth of their hands for each product. This historically rich drum factory still preserves the most traditional craftsmanship, involving numerous intricate steps such as drying cowhide, soaking it in water, peeling, and shaping, making it an indispensable part of traditional craftsmanship.
Making drums takes almost a month and involves about twenty steps. The owner is also a drumming expert, and his persistence and passion for drums deeply move travelers! The process of making drums is quite complex, but it does not diminish Boss Huang's commitment to the Yong'an Drum Craft Workshop.
Using sunlight to completely dry cowhide, the most feared situation when drying cowhide is encountering the plum rain season. When the sky turns dark, it is necessary to quickly bring the cowhide indoors to avoid rain. However, during the drying process, wet and cold weather can cause the cowhide to continuously emit an unpleasant odor. Although the action of drying seems simple, it requires proper control of weather conditions.
