The unique blacksmithing craft of the Mong people in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - The blacksmithing craft of the Mong ethnic group has a long history, closely linked to their life and farming activities in the highlands. In Nghe An, the blacksmithing craft was brought by the Mong people from the North long ago.
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| While the Thai ethnic group is famous for its vibrant brocade fabrics, the Hmong ethnic group is widely known for its traditional blacksmithing. The Hmong blacksmithing craft has a long history, closely linked to their lives and farming practices in the highlands. (Photo: Thanh Cuong) |
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| In the past, almost every Hmong family had its own blacksmith's forge to make agricultural tools and household items. However, not everyone could forge durable, beautiful, and exquisite products. A skilled Hmong blacksmith could tell the quality of a knife just by lightly tapping it. Skilled blacksmiths were usually born into families with a long tradition of blacksmithing, and their forging secrets were passed down through generations. (Photo: Duc Anh) |
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| The blacksmith's forge of Mr. Mua Va Phia's family (born in 1959) in Phu Kha 2 village, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son district, has been rekindled after many years of neglect. Mr. Mua Va Phia said: He inherited the trade from his father when he was young. As he grew up, he became busy with countless tasks and didn't have time for forging. Later, when he had more free time and missed the craft, he returned. He does it for fun, but still earns a few million dong each month. Mong farming tools, especially knives, are very popular... Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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Mr. Tho Chu Sung (born in 1962), originally from Pa Khom village and now a blacksmith in Minh Chau village, Tri Le commune, Que Phong district, said: "In the past, all the Mong people in Pa Khom knew how to blacksmith. They made their own knives, machetes, hoes... and even gun barrels for their own use. Previously, some even forged bolts and screws to replace parts on Minsk motorcycles. Back then, everything was done manually; one knife took 2-3 days to make. Nowadays, thanks to electricity and machinery, they can make 3 knives a day, priced from 120,000 to 300,000 dong depending on the type." (Photo: Duc Anh) |
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| Mr. Tho Chu Sung shared: Besides the experience of tempering steel, there are many other secrets such as choosing good steel, suitable for each product. To have a knife with sharpness and durability, it is best to use car springs for forging. For charcoal, we don't use coal but rather charcoal from trees that are difficult to burn and burn slowly, to ensure sufficient heat. During forging, if the steel is not tempered to the right temperature, it will be soft and won't last long, while if it is over-tempered, it will break easily. The quality of a forged product depends on the experience of each craftsman, and that experience is very difficult to describe in words. (Photo: Duc Anh) |
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| Mr. Tho Chu Sung added: "Nowadays, in some stages of blacksmithing, the Hmong people use machinery, such as furnace blowers and grinding machines. Thanks to modern machinery, Hmong blacksmiths can work faster and produce better results. This speed, coupled with the fact that young people are leaving to work far away, means that not many people still practice the craft..." Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| For the Hmong people: The continued existence of blacksmithing today not only contributes practically to their working lives and production, but also helps maintain the unique traditional culture of their ethnic group. Each forged product has a soul, a real life of its own. These products all bear the strong character of their people: durable and resilient. When hoe blades or knife blades hit rocks or hard objects during farming, they only chip into small pieces and do not bend completely... Photo: Thanh Cuong |
