The story of blacksmithing in Kim Lien (Nam Dan)
(Baonghean.vn) - Although not as bustling as before, the traditional blacksmithing profession in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district is still maintained and preserved by craftsmen who love their job. Along with creativity and technical improvements, they have created many new products to meet consumer tastes.
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| In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chung Cu commune (now Kim Lien commune) had many blacksmiths, such as Mr. Dien, Mr. Tieng... During the resistance war years, Kim Lien commune had a cooperative blacksmith workshop that gathered blacksmiths in the area specializing in producing agricultural tools for farmers. In the photo: Mr. Dien's forge in the Kim Lien Relic Site - a place associated with Uncle Ho's childhood. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Today, the blacksmithing profession is no longer as prosperous as it was in the 80s and 90s of the last century, but some households in Kim Lien commune still continue to light fires and maintain the profession, for example Mr. Tran Dinh Thuc. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Mr. Thuc's blacksmith workshop is located right in front of his house, consisting of two forges. In addition to familiar tools such as a charcoal stove, a plunger, anvil, hammer, etc., he also purchased many modern machines such as grinders, welders, drills, etc. He is proficient in using all the modern machines he has. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Mr. Thuc shared: The blacksmith profession is hard and difficult, having to stay up late, wake up early, and have dirty hands, feet, and faces all day long, but he still loves the profession and sticks with it until "he can't do it anymore". With the experience of a level 7 mechanic (welder, carpenter, blacksmith), in the process of working, to save time and labor, he has created and made a mechanical anvil (running a motor) to serve his profession. According to local people, Mr. Thuc has been a reputable profession in Kim Lien commune for a long time, his forged products such as knives, hoes, sickles... are durable and famous for their beauty, so his house is in the middle of the village, he doesn't bring his goods to the market to sell, but people still come to buy and order... Photo: Huy Thu |
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| According to Mr. Thuc, each product has its own technique and manufacturing secrets. To make a quality forged product, the craftsman must have techniques, experience, and skills. As simple as cutting the sickle prongs, the sickles made by Mr. Thuc will have sharp, even prongs, far different from similar products made by other craftsmen. Mr. Thuc is not only a skilled craftsman but also a rare example of persistent labor in the locality. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| In Kim Lien commune, in addition to Mr. Thuc, some other craftsmen such as Mr. Nguyen Van Luong (Sen 1 hamlet), Mr. Vo Van Hieu (Lien Son hamlet)... are still attached to the blacksmithing profession. In addition to producing traditional agricultural tools (knives, sickles, hoes, shovels...), young craftsmen also create many new products (rice rakes, straw rakes, banana tree cutting molds...) to meet people's tastes, sell well, and bring in stable income. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The blacksmithing profession in Kim Lien commune has gone through ups and downs associated with the change of the bellows furnace, from the furnace blown by 2 bamboo poles, to the hand-cranked furnace, the furnace blown by a motor... Although it is no longer as bustling as before, thanks to the love and attachment of the craftsmen to the profession, the traditional blacksmithing profession in Uncle Ho's hometown is still maintained. Currently, the products of the blacksmithing profession in Kim Lien commune are indispensable items at Cau market and many other rural markets in the region. Photo: Huy Thu |
Mr. Tran Dinh Thuc (80 years old) is still working hard at his blacksmithing job. Video: Huy Thu |
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