Chinese Violin Making: The Beijing, Shanghai, and Southern Schools
Over the past several decades, China has gone from a peripheral player in violin making to a center of it — producing makers who win at the world’s leading competitions. That rise didn’t happen uniformly. It grew out of distinct regional traditions, broadly grouped into three schools. Background Modern Chinese violin making took shape through the second half of the twentieth century, accelerating as makers gained access to international training, competitions, and tonewood. Today its leading workshops compete on equal footing with European and American makers. Understanding the regional schools helps explain the different lineages and styles you’ll encounter. ...