##百年毛笔老店：转型与坚持，书写时代变迁
中新社台北8月22日电 题：百年毛笔老店的转型与坚持
台北市中山北路一段的骑楼中，一家名为“郭家毛笔”的店铺格外引人注目。橱窗内悬挂着大型毛笔，仿佛在诉说着这家百年老店的传奇故事。
郭家毛笔起步于台南，如今在台北、高雄、嘉义、新竹等县市均有店铺。老板郭穗霖向记者讲述了家族经营毛笔生意百余年的故事。他的曾祖父早年在台南开杂货店，因福建制笔师傅来台贩售毛笔时住在他家，郭家人学了制笔手艺，逐渐转为经营毛笔生意。
毛笔制作全靠手工，工序繁杂。郭穗霖说，业界通常认为制笔有108道工序，取毛料、卷笔毛、绑线、上胶、定型等都有讲究。以往整理毛锋时，通常以牛骨梳将多余的绒毛刷掉，但牛骨梳的刷头非常锋利，易刺得满手鲜血，即便老师傅也难免被刺中。
百余年来，郭家毛笔的原料主要从大陆采购。两岸通航前，原料经香港周转来台；直航后，物流成本得以下降。郭家曾制作数支超过一米甚至长达三米的大型毛笔，在知名综艺节目中书写，受到两岸书法爱好者关注。两岸开启交流以来，不时有大陆游客光顾郭家毛笔，还有书法团体前来交流。
然而，随着圆珠笔逐渐取代毛笔，这家坚持传统工艺的老店也面临流失顾客的挑战。视中华文化为珍宝的郭家人，三十多年前探索转型，推出“人之初三宝”产品——胎毛笔、脐带章、出生脚印木盒。
据介绍，依照古礼，婴儿出生满24天或30天时，要举行剃头礼。将毛发做成胎毛笔，日后家人可带去文昌庙祭拜，以祈求考试顺利；印章是台湾民众常用工具，可将脐带置入其中；最后，婴儿出生足印被印在收藏胎毛笔及印章的木盒上，“人之初三宝”便完成。
近年来，台湾民众生育意愿总体下降，新生儿越来越少，这项业务也受到影响，店里制笔师仅剩两三位。但郭穗霖相信，融入传统文化的产品在现代社会仍有立足之地。
早年，郭穗霖的祖父骑着自行车到各地贩售毛笔，如今，晚辈则上门收取制笔原料——到月子中心为婴儿理发。记者采访时，就有新北市三重区的居民前来咨询胎毛笔业务。
这项家族产业特别依赖人力。60岁的郭穗霖多年来一直想到大陆了解相关手艺，但每天都在忙碌，还未能成行。不过，通过短视频平台，他注意到大陆已可使用机械臂写出赏心悦目的毛笔书法。
尽管如今更重纪念意义的胎毛笔、脐带章等成为主要产品，但郭家仍在制作传统毛笔。郭穗霖说：“这是我们的根。”就像先辈制作大型毛笔也不只是为了展示，都要具备书写功能。令他欣慰的是，台湾有些青少年在课外兴趣班学习书法；逢年过节，不少民众在宫庙等场合书写对联或福字。
郭家毛笔的故事，折射出百年来台湾社会的发展变迁。这家老店在传承传统工艺的同时，也积极拥抱时代变化，不断寻求新的发展方向。相信在郭穗霖和家族成员的努力下，郭家毛笔将继续书写属于自己的时代篇章。
英语如下：
##A Century-Old Brush Shop: A Story of Transformation and Perseverance
**Keywords:** Century-old shop, transformation, perseverance, brush making tradition
**Content:**
## A Century-Old Brush Shop: Transformation and Perseverance, Writing the Story of Time
Taipei, August 22 (CNS) – Inthe arcade of Taipei’s Zhongshan North Road Section 1, a shop named “Guo Family Brushes” stands out. Large brushes hang in the window,telling the legendary story of this century-old shop.
Guo Family Brushes started in Tainan and now has shops in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Hsinchu and other counties and cities. The owner, Guo Suilin, told reporters the story of his family’s brush business spanning over a century. His great-grandfather opened a grocery store in Tainan. When a brush maker from Fujian came to Taiwan to sell brushes and stayed at his house, the Guo family learned the art of brush making and gradually transitioned to running a brush business.
Brush making is entirely done by hand and involves complex procedures. Guo Suilin said that the industry generally believes there are 108 steps in brush making, from selecting the hair, rolling the brush hair, tying thethread, applying glue, and shaping, each with its own requirements. In the past, when trimming the brush tips, a cow bone comb was usually used to brush away excess fluff. However, the brush head of the cow bone comb was very sharp and easily pierced the skin, leaving the hands covered in blood. Evenexperienced craftsmen were often pricked.
For over a century, the raw materials for Guo Family Brushes have been mainly sourced from mainland China. Before cross-strait navigation, the materials were shipped via Hong Kong. After direct flights, logistics costs have decreased. Guo Family has produced several brushes over a meter long, someeven reaching three meters, which were used in famous variety shows for calligraphy, attracting the attention of calligraphy enthusiasts across the Taiwan Strait. Since the opening of cross-strait exchanges, mainland tourists have frequently visited Guo Family Brushes, and calligraphy groups have come for exchanges.
However, as ballpoint pens gradually replaced brushes,this old shop, adhering to traditional craftsmanship, has also faced the challenge of losing customers. The Guo family, who cherish Chinese culture, explored transformation over 30 years ago, launching the “Three Treasures of the Beginning of Life” products: baby hair brush, umbilical cord seal, and birth footprint wooden box.
According to tradition, a baby’s head is shaved on the 24th or 30th day after birth. The hair is made into a baby hair brush, which the family can later take to the Wenchang Temple to worship, praying for good exam results. Seals are commonly used tools in Taiwan,and the umbilical cord can be placed inside. Finally, the baby’s footprint is imprinted on the wooden box that holds the baby hair brush and seal, completing the “Three Treasures of the Beginning of Life.”
In recent years, the overall birth rate in Taiwan has declined, and the number of newborns has decreased,affecting this business. The shop now has only two or three brush makers left. However, Guo Suilin believes that products infused with traditional culture still have a place in modern society.
In the early days, Guo Suilin’s grandfather rode a bicycle to sell brushes in different places. Now, the younger generation goesdoor-to-door to collect brush-making materials, going to maternity centers to shave babies’ hair. During the interview, a resident from Sanchong District, New Taipei City, came to inquire about the baby hair brush service.
This family business relies heavily on manpower. Guo Suilin, 60,has long wanted to go to mainland China to learn about related crafts, but he is busy every day and hasn’t been able to go yet. However, through short video platforms, he has noticed that mainland China has already developed robotic arms that can write beautiful calligraphy with brushes.
Although the more commemorative baby hair brushes, umbilical cord seals, etc., have become the main products, Guo Family still makes traditional brushes. Guo Suilin said: “This is our root.” Just like the large brushes made by their ancestors were not just for display, they were all functional for writing. He is relieved that some Taiwanese teenagers are learning calligraphy inextracurricular classes, and many people write couplets or auspicious characters during festivals in temples and other places.
The story of Guo Family Brushes reflects the development and changes of Taiwanese society over the past century. While inheriting traditional craftsmanship, this old shop has actively embraced the changes of the times and constantly sought new directions for development. With the efforts of Guo Suilin and his family members, Guo Family Brushes will continue to write its own chapter in history.
【来源】http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2024/08-22/10272791.shtml
Views: 6