"Professor" may be too lofty - a title for a carpenter, in the opinion of common people, including my friends; yet to me, it means trust and responsibility."

--- He Xirui

He Xirui, a 59-year-old carpenter from Rongchang, Chongqing, was appointed a guest professor at the College of Arts and Media, Southwest Jiaotong University, at its opening ceremony on June 16, 2004. The news immediately called wide attention and generated controversy.

He Xirui sounded so friendly, optimistic, patient and professional that was of a great help to me for having my first interview on a telephone line. However, the deeper conversation I was in with him, the more I wished that I could have met him in person and taken a close look at those exquisite violins produced in his famous 1000-square-meter-house in baroque style designed and built by himself. Sure, as a village carpenter, He Xirui has been struggling against his fate, hardship and difficulties. He has really performed a miracle with his diligence, wisdom, persistence and creativity.

A review of his family - "I came from the very bottom of the society."

The legendary experiences of He Xirui are intimately connected with his special family background. In 1957, his father, a graduate of Jinling University, was on the black list of "the Right". No doubt, hee, who was then only 12, began to suffer from all the hardship we can imagine at that time. Unable to go to high school, he started his career as a carpenter when he was 16. Even as a teenager, he was good at observing and thinking. In his eyes, every farm implement was actually a "record" of thoughts, reflecting the ideas of producers and demands of employers. As a result, the tools he made were especially popular among the local farmers.

A story of his violin - "The violin is a vast learning."

Perhaps being influenced by his mother who used to be a vocalist and pianist. He Xirui has a profound love for music. In 1965, he made his first musical instrument for a local factory. He even carved a dragonhead on its top. Having gained enough confidence, he began to make violins in the early period of the "Cultural Revolution".

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