The Warmth of Traditional Handcraft – Gu Yi Zhai Mounting Studio

Every Frame from Jinyuan Is Handmade by Uncle Abei!

Gu Yi Zhai Mounting Studio is located near the Chenghuang Temple in the North District of Hsinchu City. The shop mainly specializes in artwork mounting, framing, and selling Spring Festival couplets and door couplets.

In the 1910s (late Meiji to early Taishō period), Chen Binghuang came to Hsinchu, Taiwan, from Tong’an County in Fujian Province. He initially rented a shop at the entrance of the Chenghuang Temple, making a living by painting portraits. He later moved to the current location and became known as “Master Binghuang.”

During the Japanese colonial era, Japanese-style paper sliding doors became popular. The paper on these doors was crafted using traditional mounting techniques, which is how Chen Binghuang came into contact with and began learning the art of mounting. This marked a turning point for Gu Yi Zhai, transitioning from portrait painting to a mounting studio.

In the 1960s, Chen Binghuang’s son, Chen Tiancheng, purchased the shop and began professionally running the mounting business. The Chen family’s artistic talent passed down through generations complemented their work, helping the shop quickly gain a strong reputation in Hsinchu.

Founded by Chen Binghuang, the studio has since passed through the hands of the second generation (Chen Tiancheng), the third generation (Chen Yikun), and is now run by the fourth generation, Chen Qingfeng.

Because the mounting business often intersects with the calligraphy and painting community, many renowned artists in the Hsinchu area—such as Hsiao Zhenkai and Hsu Xia-nien—frequently visit and collaborate with Chen Qingfeng of Gu Yi Zhai.

Gu Yi Zhai features a unique artwork you’ll only find in Hsinchu: the “Hundred Longevity Characters Scroll” (百壽圖). This scroll includes one hundred different versions of the Chinese character for “longevity” (壽), each written in a distinct seal script style. The complexity is immense, and each piece takes more than ten days to complete.

Among the many works displayed in the shop, the most treasured item, according to the owner, is a Taiwanese cypress wood table that has been passed down for four generations. Crafted entirely using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, the table contains no nails at all—it’s a true heirloom of Gu Yi Zhai.

If you ever visit Hsinchu, be sure to drop by and take a look!