Keeping the fire of blacksmithing on the high mountains of Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - The blacksmithing profession has been passed down for generations by the Mong people, becoming a traditional profession. Currently, in the Western part of Nghe An, the Mong people are still diligently preserving the blacksmithing profession, including the family of Mr. Lau Xia Vu in Nam Can commune (Ky Son).
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Mr. Lau Xia Vu in Truong Son village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son) has been involved in the traditional blacksmithing profession for 45 years. His family owns a small blacksmith workshop. This year, Mr. Vu is 62 years old, and still works hard at blacksmithing every day. Photo: Cong Kien |
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Mr. Lau Xia Vu's blacksmith's furnace is always red hot every day. For this Mong man, every time he lights a fire, he feels a new joy and hope. Photo: Tien Hung |
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People in Truong Son village and passersby often hear the sound of hammers hitting anvils, that is when Mr. Vu starts his work of turning steel bars into tools for production and daily life. Photo: Cong Kien |
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After the steel bars are flattened, heated and shaped into tools, Mr. Vu puts them in water to create hardness and durability for each product. Photo: Tien Hung |
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When the tools (knives, hoes, shovels) are hard enough, Mr. Xia uses a rotating stone to sharpen the blades. Photo: Cong Kien |
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With knives, blacksmiths often have an additional step of sharpening with mountain stones to make the blade sharper. Photo: Tien Hung |
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The popular product he makes now is a field-clearing knife to meet the production needs of people inside and outside the area; the price fluctuates around 200,000 VND/piece. Photo: Cong Kien |
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| Along with field knives, sharp knives used for forest work and daily living are also popular items, honed by those who still maintain the daily craft of forging agricultural tools. Photo: Tien Hung |
| Clip of Mr. Lau Xia Vu forging a knife. Clip: Cong Kien - Tien Hung |
