Yeh Ken-chuang (Chinese: 葉根壯; pinyin: Yè Gēnzhuàng, 31 July 1932 – 23 July 2014) was a Taiwanese master carpenter, woodcarver, and expert in traditional Taiwanese architecture from Magong.[1] He was known as "Master Chuang" within the carpentry community in Taiwan.[2][3] Yeh spent over a decade learning the craft from his uncle Yeh Teh-ling [zh] before working for himself.[4]

Yeh Ken-chuang
葉根壯
Born(1932-07-31)31 July 1932
Died23 July 2014(2014-07-23) (aged 81)
NationalityRepublic of China
OccupationArchitect
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese葉根壯
Simplified Chinese叶根壮
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYè Gēnzhuàng
Southern Min
Hokkien POJIa̍p Kun-tsòng

Yeh specialized in large traditional wooden architectural structures, including temples and other buildings.[2] His notable works included the Long Men Kuanyin Temple and the Wang An Wu Fu Temple, both located in the Penghu Islands.[2] In 2010, the government of Penghu County certified Yeh as a preservationist of traditional timber framing techniques.[2] He was scheduled to be named as a candidate for "Living National Treasure" of Taiwan on 22 July 2014, at the time of his death.[2]

He died in the TransAsia Airways Flight 222 crash near Magong Airport on 23 July 2014 at the age of 81.[2] President Ma Ying-jeou announced that the Bureau of Cultural Heritage would preserve Yeh's records and documents on his timber framing techniques.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Wang, Hannah (24 July 2014). 復興空難/人間國寶葉根壯 在墜毀班機名單內. Nownews (in Chinese). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Shan, Shelley (2014-07-25). "Victims include master carpenter, firefighter, families". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2014-08-17.
  3. ^ Chen, Christie; Wang, Ching-yi; Cheng, Chi-feng; Wang, Shu-feng (2014-07-24). "Carpentry master, firefighter among TransAsia crash victims". Taiwan News. Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-08-17. Alt URL
  4. ^ Han Cheung (16 July 2023). "Taiwan in Time: Building shrines in changing times". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 July 2023.