One fine day 66-year-old Lin Yuan of Nantou County suddenly thought he ought to do some carving, so he went down to the creek to look for some rocks and set to work.
What to carve? That wasn't a problem. Figures from history and legend, like the King of Chu, Kuan Yin, the Monkey King. . . monkeys, dinosaurs, sheep, and lions. . . anything goes, was his attitude; it was purely for fun. His neighbors thought he was a little nuts at first, until people from the city began dropping in to buy them. Then they thought there must be something to it.
Lin Yuan, who is completely illiterate, was taught the characters for his name by his grandson because "you've got to put your name on your work, don't you?"
When called a "primitivist sculpture," Lin Yuan stares and shakes his head, saying, "You got me!" He just keeps pounding away, full of energy and interest, and doesn't give a hoot what he's called.
Lin Yuan, now 74, just keeps on "having fun."