8 PEOPLE Tuesday 27 April 2021 Xi breathes new life into ancient pagodas Yu Hong he renovated Nanxiang Twin Pagodas on Nanxiang Old Street a re open to the public now, as the Trepair project starting in March finished last week. Made of bricks, the pagodas have weathered seriously since the last repair in 1985. Xi Jianzhong, a staffer with the first construction project management team in Shanghai Zhuzong Group Construc- tion Development Co, is the technical director of the renovation project, and he is familiar with pagodas. He took part in the last repair work when he was 29. Over the years, he has grown from an apprentice to a senior repairer with abundant experience in the protection of ancient architecture, gaining renown in the relics protection area. Xi, now 65, was a bricklayer before becoming a restorer of ancient archi- tecture. After the launch of reform Repairing ancient and opening-up in China, Shanghai government paid a lot of attention to relics takes time in restoration and gathered a team of 20 learning. You have to to start an urgent protection project. Xi was selected as one of the members of remember each word the team because of his experience as a bricklayer. that your mentor tells “In the 1980s, the restoration industry you. People may think had limited talent, most of whom were over 70 years old. Under this situation, my job is tedious, but the government gathered 10 of those to me, I enjoy every who were masters at restoration and 10 youngsters to make up the gap, aiming second of it. to develop young talent and inject new energy to this area,” Xi recalled. Xi Jianzhong His first project was the renovation of Director of the Nanxiang Twin the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai’s Pagodas renovation project Putuo District, and he has put down his roots in this industry ever since. After that he participated in several projects came from Zhejiang and Jiangsu prov- across Shanghai including the repair inces, so he was reluctant to use any of Longhua Temple in Xuhui District, from other areas such as Hunan and Jing’an Temple in Jing’an District and Jiangxi provinces. Located on Nanxiang Old Street, the Nanxiang Twin Pagodas, made of bricks, have Confucius Temple and Qiuxia Garden in “As the old Chinese saying goes, ‘local seriously weathered since they were last repaired in 1985. — Yu Hong Jiading District. water and soil raise local people.’ So the “Repairing ancient relics takes time clay produced in different areas varies Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in only because of the limited numbers of in learning. You have to remember each from one place to another after being Dujiangyan which was hit severely dur- people interested, but also because of a word your mentor tells you so that you burned,” said Xi. ing the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. lack of necessary skills. can learn something and grow. If you’re He adheres to the concept of repairing The project cost him more than a year. “To be honest, most graduates have a mindless like watering off a duck’s back, the old structures as they would have In 2012, he was invited to repair sound theoretical basis through books it is a waste of time to work here, as it’s been constructed originally. national-level ancient architecture in- with less practical skills, and some can’t not easy,” said Xi. “What I do is to restore instead of re- cluding the administration bulding, the bear hardships or stand the hard work. He remembers how dedicated his building a structure, so I have to follow We need to make more efforts to culti- mentor was even at the age of 81 when the original materials and, of course, the library, the former residences of Premier vate the new generation and get them he asked two mentees to lift him up local culture. If you just use something Zhou Enlai and Chiang Kai-shek, most involved in the repair of ancient archi- through a 15-meter-high scaffolding at will, it is irresponsible.” of which were originally built during tecture,” Xi said. so he could sit on a platform to inspect In 1999, Xi took part in repair work on the Republic of Ch ina (1912-1949) period Xi is about to start his next project the work and give instructions in per- the Bell and Drum Tower in Yunxiang and on the national cultural heritage list, — renovation of Sijing Old Town in son despite of his old age and in such Temple which is close to the Nanxiang at Wuhan University in Hubei Province, Songjiang District, the oldest town in dangerous conditions. This set a good Twin Pagodas. a task that took seven years. Shanghai. example for Xi. After planning a blueprint, he and his “I’m not boasting about myself. I “The houses are all made of wood with Under the guidance of such a strict team mapped it and created the model think my team can rank first in Shang- tiles on the roof and have suffered great through machines. Then they used hai. There were other companies doing and excellent mentor, Xi worked hard damages. Residents are being required and rapidly developed his skills. a truck to send it to Yixing for firing. projects sometimes, and the comparison with each other was obvious in the eyes to relocate for the renovation project Before the actual work begins, Xi has Every one was excited when seeing the which may take several years,” said Xi. to carry out an onsite inspection and finished product. of the investors,” said Xi. “Once I found the provided renovation designs not “I hope every one will give a thumbs-up draw up plans. Xi assembled his own team in 2006, to the classic beauty after the renovation ideal, not fitting the culture background Four months ago, Xi started to look and the former residences of Zhang Wen- when they return.” for bricks and clay that would be suit- tian and Du Yuesheng were among the of the architecture, I would discuss with able for the Nanxiang Twin Pagodas. The first batch that they renovated. the designers because I have to be re- bricks, tiles and dougong, which is also Some facelift projects take years to sponsible for every detail and the whole called corbel arch, were specially made finish. For example, it took Xi six years project. What a shame if professionals in Jiashan in neighboring Zhejiang Prov- to complete the Jade Buddha Temple and come to visit and find the renovated ince during the first renovation, but he four years for the Confucius Temple (in- parts are wrong according to history found that the kiln that had been used cluding Qiuxia Garden). and original style.” before was shut down. In fact, all the “People may think my job is tedious, Known for his serious attitude to bet- kilns had been removed for env iron men- but to me, I enjoy every second of it,” ter protect rel ics a nd heritage, X i has won tal reasons. said Xi. many reputations and recognitions. To find the same clay, he finally found His knowledge and expertise are in Since the documentary “Masters in a kiln in Yixing in Jiangsu that can great demand from his team members, Forbidden City” triggered a huge inter- customize the bricks and accessories and his zeal has bolstered the team’s est in ancient relics in 2016, many people that match the unique materials of the reputation. have become fascinated with the past. The detail of one of the pagodas before pagodas. Xi was assigned by the company to However, recruiting fresh blood in archi- renovation shows that it has weathered As for the clay, the one used before help rebuild the Huangdi Memorial tectural protection is still a problem, not seriously. — Chen Chen.