After a lifetime working in the rice fields at his farm in central Taiwan, 69-year-old Lin Yuan was looking forward to his retirement five years ago. But instead of a time for rest and relaxation, the years since then have been busier than ever. For Lin has in effect taken up a new and rewarding career--chiseling stones into a variety of sculptures which are rich in tradition and primitive artistry.

The highway leading south from Puli snakes through green mountains occasionally relieved by rice fields, sugarcane plantations and fishponds. Within 30 minutes, Lin Yuan's home village of Yuchih in Nantou County comes into view. Nearby, a mountain path is lined with stone sculptures laid out beneath the shade of green trees. The path leads to Lin Yuan's house, where a huge pile of stone sculptures in the form of human figures, monkeys, turtles, turkeys, buffaloes and other shapes, can be found. A striking painting of a goat on black oilcloth is hung on the hog pens next to the house.

An old man wearing only a T-shirt, a pair of slacks rolled up to his knees and a conical bamboo hat decorated with pearls, walks through piles of golden unhulled rice across the courtyard to greet visitors. His weather-beaten skin bears testimony to a lifetime's exposure to the sun, wind, and rain.

Life story: Lin Yuan was born in a mountain village during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. As his father was a tenant farmer, the family was desperately poor. Lin Yuan lost his mother at five, his brother was bedridden through illness, and a younger brother was mentally retarded. As a result, he was forced to suspend his elementary school education to help out on the farm. Lin Yuan swore that he would go to any lengths to own the land he worked.

After the defeat of the Japanese in World War Ⅱ, Lin Yuan worked even harder to earn what little money he could. Sometimes, he walked several hours to sell goods to the aborigines in the area. Or he would earn a little extra money by helping out in other farmers' rice fields after he had finished his own work. Since his wife died several years ago, Lin Yuan has had to bring up his eight children himself.

Now that his children have grown up and started families of their own, Lin has been able to establish a prosperous lifestyle. He owns three hectares of rice fields, three hectares of bamboo garden, a one-hectare cypress plantation and four fishponds. His chief delight, however, is the houseful of grandchildren which light up his old age.

When he retired five years ago, Lin handed over the farm work to his sons, and the household chores to his daughters-in-law. Now he has time to join pilgrimages or tourist groups traveling all over Taiwan. When he returns, he always brings with him armfuls of presents such as small figurines or toy animals.

His interest in stone carving began when he happened to come across a cartload of stones which his neighbor had brought back from Shuili to construct farm walls. Lin gathered a few of the leftover stones and carved them into Buddha images, animals and human figures. In a more whimsical mood, he carved an image of a Saudi prince holding oil in his hands, to symbolize the effects of the succession of oil crises during the 1970s.

As his collection of carved stones grew, his house could no longer contain them. The "overflow" had to be put outside and along the path leading up to the house. His neighbors thought Lin had gone mad in his old age, until one day an art expert who appreciated the value of the works bought his entire collection.

World recognition. The art expert in question was Nantou County councilor, Huang Ping-sun, well known for his publication Puli Roundup, which promoted social welfare among the people of the area, and urged them to preserve ancient relics.

Huang took pictures of Lin's sculptures and sent them to Jean Dubuffet, one of the leading modern painters in France, who is known for his patronage of little-known artists. Dubuffet wrote a letter of commendation to the Museum of Primitive Art at Lausanne in Switzerland, stating that Lin's primitive works were highly original. As a result, the museum announced its interest in adding some of them to its collection.

When the Puli Roundup published this story, Lin Yuan became an instant celebrity in Yuchih village. People even rank him with another village son, Taiwan Provincial Governor Lin Yang-kang, as one of the "two great men" of Yuchih. It wasn't long before media representatives, artists and critics began to converge on the village. Included among them was famous wood carving artist Chu Ming.

Friendship. Chu Ming is one of Lin Yuan's greatest admirers who never ceases to wonder at the sculptor's creativity, which he considers to be the product of his naivete. Lin Yuan has never been influenced by the outside world, other artists' techniques or academic doctrine. He has been inspired only by his free will and natural surroundings. Although Chu Ming sent him a traveling bag and a set of 10 carving implements, he has never taught him any carving techniques, so that Lin Yuan's personal style will remain intact.

After visiting Chu Ming's studio in Taipei, Lin expressed puzzlement. "The lines are too simple. Some of the pieces I cannot understand with out an interpretation." After touring an exhibition of Picasso's pottery works, however, Lin Yuan was so moved that he stayed on at the museum until after closing time.

Accompanied by Huang Ping-sun, Lin Yuan recently visited artist Hung Tung, who is noted for his eccentricity. Hung Tung said he was not in the mood to see anybody, however, and Lin Yuan went away shaking his head.

On his return to Yuchih, Lin decided to take up painting. At first he merely used ballpoint pens to draw sketches of animals, birds, plants and Chinese characters on old calendars. Later he progressed to painting cattle pens, the fabric used to cover rice, broken glass, flour and cement bags, wooden boxes, chairs, tables and even broken pots. Eventually his house was filled with paintings and sketches. One of his most unusual works is an old tree with gnarled roots and fruit in the shape of human figures hanging from the branches. Lin said they are "longevity fruit," and only seven are produced once every 3,000 years. Anyone sniffing the fruit will live for 400 years, and anyone eating them will survive for 40,000 years, Lin explained.

Lin attributes his creativity to the hard-working and austere spirit of traditional Chinese farm life. Since childhood, Lin has used a small knife to make toys, and when he grew up, he had to mend farm implements. He also built the house where he now lives with the help of his sons, and made all the small decorations and furniture in each room. It is only natural that on his retirement from farming, he should become an artist.

[Picture Caption]

Lin Yuan skillfully wields hammer and chisel to create his stone sculptures.

1. Among the very few wood sculptures made by Lin Yuan is this interesting "old grandpa" complete with rabbit hair and tin tacks for eyes. 2. Lin Yuan has been inspired by carved stone flower vases such as this. 3. Lin Yuan carved this panda after visiting Tokyo zoo. 4. Huang Ping- sun and his wife listen as Lin tells them one of his stories. The chairs they are sitting in are made by Lin himself.

1. Broody hen. 2. An earth god made in rough and bold outline. 3. Buddha head topped by another head. Only Lin Yuan knows the story behind this piece.

Among the very few wood sculptures made by Lin Yuan is this interesting "old grandpa" complete with rabbit hair and tin tacks for eyes.

Lin Yuan has been inspired by carved stone flower vases such as this.

Lin Yuan carved this panda after visiting Tokyo zoo.

Huang Ping- sun and his wife listen as Lin tells them one of his stories. The chairs they are sitting in are made by Lin himself.

Broody hen.

An earth god made in rough and bold outline.

Buddha head topped by another head. Only Lin Yuan knows the story behind this piece.