Rhett Peterson a Canadian Sword Smithing Apprentice／鑄劍學徒 石川的打鐵熱情
Rhett Peterson a Canadian Sword Smithing Apprentice
◎English translation: Lin Fu-jung
◎Photo by Huang Ching-wen
Rhett Peterson is a Canadian who is currently living in the Hsingda Harbor area. He moved to Kaohsiung to learn sword making from the famous master sword smith, Kuo Chang-hsi. He located the master in Kaohsiung's northernmost coastal district while on vacation, touring Taiwan. Every day, he comes ready to work. He always carries two notebooks, in which he jots down the skills he learns and sword making terminology. Rhett hopes one day he too will be able to open his own blacksmith shop.
Rhett recalls, when he was four years old he was captivated by the sword making scene in the movie Conan and the Barbarian. Since then, he has always wanted to become a sword smith. He found that there weren't many master sword makers in Canada however, so he travelled to many different countries searching for the perfect teacher. While on vacation in Taiwan, he prepared a speech to fully explain why he would like to be taken on as an apprentice. To his surprise, Master Kuo agreed and told him, "Just come to the shop tomorrow and we can get started." Rhett began his apprenticeship right away.
Kuo Chang-hsi explains one of the most basic skills in sword making is grinding. A sword smith must learn how to grind a sword before they can learn how to forge the blade. So Rhett spends most of his time practicing grinding. Every day he follows and observes the master who has 57 years' experience. Master Kuo is a fast, precise and smooth sword smith. He is so familiar with the process that he often doesn't use any measuring tools.
Every day Rhett walks through the local fish market on his way to work. He has immersed himself into the local culture of the fishing town and has been warmly welcomed by locals and colleagues. When Rhett first arrived, he already knew some basic sword smithing skills. He is glad he now gets a chance to apply what he has learned and everyday gets a chance to refine his technique. When he has a lot of repetitive tasks to perform, he reminds himself that this is the kind of practice that will make him more skilled in the future. He feels that he is already making progress.
Master Kuo's wife often prepares homemade dishes for lunch. They always have lunch together, like a family. Rhett said that he has gained weight and wants to buy a bicycle to commute and get more exercise. While he is in Taiwan, he is also planning on learning Tai-Chi.
Rhett remembers his mother was sad when he told her he was going abroad; however, she supported his ambitions. He also mentioned his parents may come out to visit him in Kaohsiung this fall.
鑄劍學徒 石川的打鐵熱情
◎文／侯雅婷
◎攝影／黃敬文
實踐夢想需要投注多大的熱情？來自加拿大的石川是熙來攘往興達港漁市裏的新面孔，他是鑄劍學徒，隨身攜帶2本筆記本，一本記載習得的技巧，另一本記載鑄劍專有名詞，期盼有朝一日開間打鐵鋪。
4歲時，電影Conan the Barbarian鑄劍師打鐵的畫面烙印他腦中，他非常嚮往鑄劍工作，可是加拿大並沒有許多頂尖鑄劍師，為了習得鑄劍工藝，他旅行至許多國家，遍尋最頂尖的鑄劍師，在台環島旅行時，打探到高雄興達港有位頂尖的鑄劍大師郭常喜，於是就騎著自行車來到「興達刀鋪」向郭老師拜師學藝。原以為得解釋許多原因，出乎意料之外，郭老師爽快答應：「想學，那從明天開始就到店裏學吧。」
郭常喜表示，磨是入門基本功，磨平、磨順，再來打劍。於是石川從「磨」開始學習，打鐵間裏，石川仔細觀察郭老師累積57年功力，打鐵動作又快又精準，流暢地延續著每個動作，純熟到有時憑目測而不必丈量。有鑄劍底子的他得把學的和書上閱讀到、乃至於在這實作的互相驗證，體會到原來這個技術是要這般運用。石川表示，當他察覺自己對於眼前打磨的動作感到乏味時，他立刻提醒自己，練習是他所需要的，在看似重覆的打磨動作中，他感覺到自己進步了。
用餐時間郭師母為大家烹煮了滿桌的家常菜，大夥像家人般一起享用，度過溫馨的午餐時光，他拍拍肚子說變胖了，打算買輛自行車代步、健身，還計畫學太極拳。石川談起儘管母親不捨他遠赴異鄉，但支持他在高雄學習最熱愛的鑄劍，也許今年秋天，父母親就會造訪高雄。
Pianist Li Shang-hsuan
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photo by Pao Chung-hui
Li Shang-hsuan is an excellent and expressive pianist who creates beautiful melodies with just his fingertips. Shang-hsuan is also a certified street performer and is often heard on the streets of Kaohsiung. He also voluntarily plays piano for patients at E-Da Hospital and preforms for elementary and high schools around the city. During his leisure time, Shang-hsuan practices a variety of instruments, including mastering his electronic piano, which he hopes will add diversity to his performances.
When Shang-hsuan began kindergarten, he could not focus in class and had trouble staying in the classroom. It was found that he suffered from ADHD syndrome. However, he excelled at music and piano. It was observed that he was particularly focused in singing class and in piano. He would mimic the teacher's finger movements when playing melodies. His mother, Chan Chun-hsia, wondered why a child with ADHD could have the patience to learn piano. It became apparent that piano was helping Shang-hsuan dealing with ADHD.
He began playing piano at the tender age of four and right away his musical talents were apparent. He started by playing simple songs that he had only heard once. When he moved on to classics, he only takes a few times to practice, then he would master them. His piano teacher felt he picked up piano skills extremely fast. In 2013, after 21 years of piano classes, Shang-hsuan participated in the International Piano Festival for People with Disabilities in Vienna. The contest takes place only once, every four years. Shang-hsuan defeated 48 other pianists from 18 countries and won a gold medal in the autism category.
Shang-hsuan has a supportive family and often travels with his mother to performances. His family hopes his opportunities to perform will increase and that his musical talents will continue to develop. She is proud of Shang-hsuan and praises him for always making it to performances even when there is bad weather or he is not feeling well. Shang-hsuan is truly passionate about his music. His mother hopes the public will get a greater understanding about people with the syndrome. If those live with ADHD could discover and cultivate their talents, they too could excel in their professions, just as Shang-hsuan is excelling in the music industry.
鋼琴演奏家 李尚軒
◎文／侯雅婷
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
患有過動型自閉症的李尚軒是出色的鋼琴演奏家，演奏時，指間流洩出動人的樂聲，富感染力的音樂引人駐足聆聽。
尚軒唸幼稚園時，總沒辦法待在教室上課，只有唱遊課能吸引他，園長發現他的手指會隨著老師彈琴的手舞動著，母親詹春霞女士不免感到狐疑，像他這樣過動的孩子如何能坐得住學琴？但詹春霞思索，也許彈琴能改善過動的學習情況，意外開啟尚軒的音樂之路。從4歲開始學琴，尚軒只要聽到簡單的樂曲即能彈奏出來，而練習數回古典樂曲，即可背誦。鋼琴老師指出，尚軒對於彈琴技巧學得很快。歷經21載持續耕耘琴藝，去(2013)年，尚軒赴維也納參加4年一度的國際身障者鋼琴大賽，擊敗來自18個國家48名選手，以音樂實力獲得自閉症組冠軍。
幸運的是，尚軒的家人全力支持他，詹春霞陪著兒子四處表演，尋求演出機會，期藉由音樂讓兒子持續與外界交流，引導他朝音樂天賦發展，他考取街頭藝人，悠然飄揚的樂聲在城市各個角落響起，他也在義大醫院擔任志工，以音樂鼓舞病友，乃至於巡迴高雄市國中、小演出，為學子們上一堂生命教育的課程。空閒時，他學習演奏不同樂器，如電子琴，期使演出更豐富多元。
詹春霞透露，有時天候不好或是身體狀況不佳，尚軒仍會按排定的行程去表演，可見對演出的執著與敬業。詹春霞希望社會接納自閉症患者，盼大家給予關注，多給空間和包容。就像尚軒一樣，善用天賦，在音樂領域上發光發亮。