150 Days of Making! Lucuo's Grandest Wangchuan Ever!

Recently, Lucuo Community in Xike Street, Tong'an District celebrated its quadrennial cultural event of Wangchuan (King Vessel) Ceremony. Numerous clan members and believers gathered for this intangible cultural heritage celebration, where they carried the handcrafted Wangchuan to the seaside for ritual burning and worship, praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests.

Who crafted this year's Wangchuan? How does it differ from previous ones? How long did it take to build?

Answers to these questions were uncovered during a visit to the Wangchuan Ceremony held at Huazang Temple in Lucuo Community. Chen Yagen, a recognized representative inheritor of Tong'an's traditional Wangchuan-making craftsmanship, shared the stories behind the Wangchuan creation and revealed the wealth of experience he has accumulated over his lifetime in shipbuilding.

Crafting a Wangchuan for the First Time: 150 Days of Meticulous Work

On the event day, the reporter accompanied Chen Yagen to Huazang Temple in Lucuo Community to witness an exquisitely crafted, impressively large Wangchuan that immediately caught the eye.

The vessel's body was adorned with intricate carvings and colorful paintings featuring the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, peonies, and the Eight Immortals' magical treasures. It also housed a "royal chamber" (the deity's office), modeled after the architectural style of southern Fujian temple pavilions. With its sails raised high, the Wangchuan appeared to be braving the waves.

"In previous Wangchuan Ceremonies, my elder brother Chen Yasheng was responsible for building the Wangchuan. After his passing, the responsibility has fallen to me this year, " Chen explained.

In early June of the lunar calendar, the Management Committee of Huazang Temple in Lucuo Community visited Chen's home, specifically requesting him to undertake the Wangchuan building. Taking on this crucial task, the 74-year-old craftsman approached the project with utmost dedication. From selecting the timber to completing the final touches, he devoted himself entirely to the project, carefully refining every detail over 150 days.

The Wangchuan crafted by Chen this year measures 11.3 meters in length, 2.8 meters in width, and approximately 3.8 meters in height, making it the largest Wangchuan in Lucuo's history, which was crafted entirely by hand.

"This year's Wangchuan incorporates innovative modifications to the traditional design, presenting a more elegant and imposing appearance. The overall dimensions are larger, with the keel reaching 12.7 chi (equivalent to approximately 4 meters). The total wood consumption amounted to 8.5 cubic meters," Chen noted.

For Chen Yagen, a first-time Wangchuan craftsman, this task carried considerable pressure. He spent over a month painstakingly drafting the design drawings and personally accompanied the temple committee to Longmen Town in Anxi County to select appropriate fir wood.

The process of crafting the Wangchuan involves several stages, including measuring and marking, woodworking, carving, painting, color decorating, and adorning, with woodworking serving as the foundation. To ensure completion before the Wangchuan Ceremony, Chen and his team worked overtime to prepare the vessel's ribs in advance. After officially starting to build the Wangchuan on the 20th day of the eighth lunar month, the team intensified their efforts, working day and night.

Each step, from setting the keel to securing the hull and shaping the stern, matters. "A ship is like a human body—true beauty lies in its proportions," he added, striving for perfection in every procedure. Each day, he climbed up and down the nearly four-meter-high structure. Whether it was applying varnish, supervising relief work, or overseeing painting, he insisted on being present, ensuring that no aspect was overlooked.

Looking at the completed masterpiece, Chen's face lit up with satisfaction.

"Throughout the construction process, knowing that this Wangchuan carries the wishes and hopes of so many residents and believers gave me boundless energy. I was determined to achieve absolute perfection. Now, seeing everyone's satisfaction and hearing their praise brings me immense joy. I feel I've lived up to their expectations," said Chen.

Mastering Ships Since He was 16: A Shipwright's Half-century Journey

Chen Yagen's success in building his first Wangchuan stems from his extensive shipbuilding experience spanning over five decades.

Born in Bingzhou, Tong'an, Chen was a true "child of the seaside" - fishing vessels were as familiar to him as his own backyard, marking the beginning of what would become a lifelong connection with ships.

"Life was tough back then. At 16, I decided to learn a trade to earn a living. So I apprenticed under a village master craftsman alongside my brother. After one to two years of training, I was able to build ships independently," Chen recalled.

In 1969, as Chen explained to the reporter, the Bingzhou Shipyard selected him and several other skilled craftsmen to study at the Xiamen Fisheries Shipyard, where they assisted in renovating ocean-going fishing vessels for the Xiamen Fishing and Harvesting Company. There, he learned advanced techniques in vessel design, construction, and innovative technologies from experienced professionals. Upon returning to Bingzhou, he began designing and building fishing boats on his own.

In 1975, Chen was recruited by Xiamen Ferry Company to oversee the renovation and maintenance of motorized passenger vessels and handle technical issues related to maritime incidents. As his shipbuilding expertise grew, he was once promoted to Deputy Engineer, earning a monthly salary of 100 yuan --- a significant sum at the time. In 1980, he returned to Bingzhou, where he managed oyster farming while helping villagers repair their fishing boats.

Now at 74, despite his advanced age, Chen's shipbuilding skills remain sharp. Since 2006, inspired by his grandson's interest in vessels, Chen has been crafting various ship models using wood.

"To preserve the historical and cultural heritage of wooden sailing vessels, I've made over 20 ship models over the years, including fishing boats and dragon boats, all precisely scaled-down replicas," Chen shared.