CANADIAN APPRENTICE TO TAIWAN SWORDSMITH|鑄劍大師郭常喜 收外籍學徒傳承技藝

Taiwanese swordsmith Kuo Chang-shi has been in this industry for over 50 years, but he could not find anyone to learn from him, as it is a tough profession. Now Kuo has a new apprentice, from Canada, and he promised to pass the torch to him. This Canadian man is learning to sharpen knives and hammer. His name is Rhett Peterson, a Canadian. He is the new apprentice of the famous Taiwan blacksmith Kuo Chang-shi. Rhett Peterson has learned for two years and Mr. Kuo has been training him to become his successor. ==KUO CHANG-SHI, Blacksmith== After learning for quite a while, some disciples find it is arduous to learn this skill. They felt they couldn't succeed and left. Kuo has been working as a blacksmith for over 50 years. He made the swords for the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." He used to have over 30 apprentices including from overseas, but they all left. Two years ago Rhett Peterson expressed his determination to learn and moved Kuo Chang-shi. Kuo said he would teach Pteterson everything he knows. ==RHETT PETERSON, Canadian disciple== Several Japanese blacksmiths came with me to learn from Master Kuo, but it looked as if he didn't want to have overseas apprentices. The skills needed to hammer iron are rare. Kuo was glad to have a foreigner come to learn from him, and he will keep on looking for anyone who is interested in learning his skills. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 國內知名鑄劍大師郭常喜，現在他收了一名加拿大籍學徒，學習成果相當好，雖然郭常喜講台語、學徒講國語，但郭常喜認為這個外國學徒很有天份。 不管是磨刀，還是跟著師傅打鐵煉鋼，這名叫做石川的加拿大籍男子，都有模有樣。他是國內知名鑄劍大師郭常喜新收的徒弟，跟著師傅學鑄劍兩年，已經有製作基本刀具的功力，也是郭常喜要全力扶植的接班人。 ==鑄劍大師 郭常喜== 有的人學一段時間之後 他會覺得說 喔 這個打鐵要學到會 比較辛苦 對不對 比較沒辦法學 就半途都離開 郭常喜鑽研鑄劍技術五十幾年，曾經替電影「臥虎藏龍」打造青冥劍，陸續收過30幾名徒弟，還包括外國人，但大多因為產業沒落加上工作辛苦，徒弟幾乎走光，兩年前，石川透過朋友找上郭常喜，表明願意長時間留在台灣學鑄劍，打動郭常喜，直說只要石川願意，他可以傳授全部的技術。 ==加拿大籍學徒 石川== 我跟幾個 幾個(日本)師傅講(要拜師) 但是看起來 他們不要外國人的學徒 古技藝在國內找不到傳承的下一代，郭常喜慶幸有外國學徒願意學習，也說不會放棄繼續尋找有意願的學徒，希望這門古技藝開枝散葉，不會到他這一代就凋零。 記者 王柔婷 陳顯坤 高雄報導