ZHENG ZEXIN: Keeping Rattan Craftsmanship Alive in Kuala Lumpur
17 Dec
Author：Gao ZiHan
Editor：Wu WenYu
PETALING JAYA，17 Dec - The air in Zheng Zexin's new rattan workshop
carries the fresh scent of plants. At sixty-three, he has spent most of his life working with these remarkably resilient vines. Each day, as sunlight streams into the narrow workshop, he settles onto his well-worn wooden stool. His nimble hands deftly weave through the strands of rattan, commencing another day's labour.
（Photograph by Gao Zihan: Zheng Zexin at work weaving）
The shop is filled with rattan chairs of various sizes and intricately woven baskets. Zheng Zexin's fingers are coarse and calloused, marks left by years of selecting, heating, and bending rattan. To him, rattan weaving is a slow craft demanding immense patience. From processing the raw material to the final form, any shortcut in the process will show in the finished piece. This reverence for the craft has been his guiding principle for half a lifetime.
This dedication now lives on within the Zheng family. Zheng Zexin's son has also taken up the craft, spending his days in the shop mastering this ancient technique. In a modern city driven by efficiency, the young man's willingness to embrace this humble, laborious work brings Zheng Zexin profound comfort. Father and son sit side by side; though they speak little, the rustling sound of bamboo rubbing together becomes the most tacit dialogue between the two generations. His son has not only mastered the techniques at his fingertips but also grasped the virtue his father speaks of: the ability to endure solitude.
Zheng Zexin remarked, ‘Bamboo weaving is a craft that cannot be rushed; each step demands patience to complete.’ When I inquired about the challenges he faced in this craft, he replied, ‘Preservation. Fewer and fewer people are familiar with this craft, and fewer still are willing to learn and carry it forward.’
（Photograph by Gao Zihan）
Even as cheap industrial goods flood the market, Zheng Zexin remains steadfast in his commitment to entirely handcrafted production. He believes handwoven objects possess a life of their own—that cool, skin-friendly feel and solid texture cannot be replicated by cold, impersonal production lines. He meticulously checks each joint on every chair, ensuring smoothness and durability to withstand decades of use.
As Kuala Lumpur marches towards modernity, the surrounding landscape shifts with each passing generation. Zheng Zexin and his rattan workshop stand like a steadfast rock amidst the torrent of time. Watching his son wield tools with practiced ease, his gaze holds unwavering resolve. As long as this craft continues to be passed down, the rustic charm of the old street will never fade amidst the clamour of the city.