Rhett Peterson a Canadian Sword Smithing Apprentice
【English translation:Lin Fu-jung；Photos 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。
【完整內容請見《海洋首都高雄中英文雙月刊》第20期】
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