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H-ASIA April 26, 2007 [ed note: From Dr. Cooper's description of the apprenticeship, this sounds like a great topic for a novel or film! I wonder if any films, short stories, or novels about the traditional crafts apprenticeship in China exist? The closest thing that comes to my mind is _Farewell my Concubine_ (ba wang bie ji) about the training process for Peking Opera.] Taiwan Specified time period for traditional apprenticeship (response) ****************************************************************** From: Eugene Cooper <eugeneco@usc.edu> Dear Dr. Alberts et al, Craft apprenticeships throughout China have traditionally been reckoned to last three years and a festival, i.e. three years and four months (as related to you). It has nothing to do with government, but rather is an artifact of traditional guild regulations, and applies to most crafts throughout the country, not limited to Minnan or Taiwan. I can't tell you why three years and a festival is deemed sufficient time to learn a craft. In most professions, after holding a banquet to "bai" (pay respects to) one's "shifu" (master) to be, a contract is drawn up, with a guarantor signing on to be responsible for the apprentice's behavior. The guarantor undertakes to reimburse the master should the apprentice steal anything, or compensate the master for his troubles should the apprentice not complete his term. In most instances, the apprentice learns very little in the first year, being nothing more than a house servant to his master, washing his clothes, carrying his tools, fetching water, etc. The apprentice was often subject to considerable hardship, even brutality throughout, often beaten to instill discipline and obedience. After three years and a festival, another banquet is held to celebrate the apprentice's completion of his term, "man shi", after which he is deemed worthy to practice as a journeyman craftsman, and actually earn a wage. In general apprenticeships are about guaranteeing the value of the labor power of skilled artisans; to make it difficult to enter a trade; to prevent just anyone from hanging out a sign and practicing an occupation. Guild regulations were the means by which apprenticeships were enforced. There is considerable information on the subject in my two books: The Woodcarvers of Hong Kong (Cambridge) The Artisans and Entrepreneurs of Dongyang County (M.E. Sharpe) Best of luck, Gene Cooper ****************************************************************** To post to H-ASIA simply send your message to: <H-ASIA@h-net.msu.edu> For holidays or short absences send post to: <listserv@h-net.msu.edu> with message: SET H-ASIA NOMAIL Upon return, send post with message SET H-ASIA MAIL H-ASIA WEB HOMEPAGE URL: http://h-net.msu.edu/~asia/
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