Forged by fire in Uncle Ho's homeland.
In Lien Son hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district – where blacksmithing once flourished – only a few families remain dedicated to the craft. This connection binds the values of the past and present, and the flame of the forge, like a love of labor, burns brightly for many years.
In Lien Son hamlet, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district – where blacksmithing once flourished – only a few families remain dedicated to the craft. This connection binds the values of the past and present, and the flame of the forge, like a love of labor, burns brightly for many years.
PASSION FOR THE PROFESSION
I visited the blacksmith's workshop of Mr. Vo Van Hieu (born in 1979) on a scorching May afternoon. Although my shirt was drenched in sweat from the summer heat, I still felt the temperature inside was surprisingly "cool" compared to the temperature inside the workshop.blacksmithIt's Mr. Hieu's workshop. Almost every corner radiates heat, whether from coal, electricity, welding machines, or grinding machines. To withstand the year-round heat of the forge, Mr. Hieu's passion for his craft must be higher than anyone else's.
Mr. Hieu's blacksmith workshop mainly produces agricultural tools such as sickles, knives, hoes, plows, and vegetable and livestock knives. It's harvest season, and farmers need sickles a lot, so the workshop has many of these items. On average, it takes him 1.5 to 2 hours to complete one sickle, involving many steps.
First, you have to choose the material, cut it into pieces according to the appropriate shape. Then, you heat it until it's red-hot to soften the sickle, and use a hammer to adjust the shape to the correct angle and bevel. Next, you sharpen the sickle to the desired sharpness and trim the prongs. Finally, you temper the sickle by heating it sufficiently in a charcoal furnace, dipping it in water, and sharpening it one more time. A complete sickle sells for 25,000 dong.”
Mr. Vo Van Hieu
Of all the steps Mr. Hieu listed, cutting the scythe's teeth and tempering the sickle were perhaps the most skill-intensive. Just a few minutes after turning on the charcoal furnace to heat the sickle until it glowed red, sweat streamed down Mr. Hieu's face, darkening his already tanned complexion. Not only was it hot, but the charcoal dust blown up from the furnace was also suffocating.
The blacksmiths' workshops in Kim Lien no longer feature the old bellows and rotary furnaces; instead, they are equipped with blast furnaces and a wealth of modern machinery. The traditional blacksmiths have been passing on their skills to the next generation. However, some elderly individuals remain dedicated and committed to the craft.
About 400 meters from Mr. Hieu's house is the blacksmith workshop of Mr. Tran Dinh Thuc (born in 1941). At his advanced age, Mr. Thuc's forge still fires up every day and is a reputable address for the local people.SkillAnd Mr. Thuc's dedication to his craft was so high that customers from near and far proactively sought him out to place orders directly at his home, without needing to go to the market or supply him to any shops.
To be a blacksmith, besides physical strength and skill, one also needs a strong mindset. For me, each step takes time; it takes time to get the temperature right, to sharpen the knife properly, to temper it to the correct degree… If a customer keeps standing next to me urging me to hurry, I won't accept the job.”
Mr. Tran Dinh Thuc
It's not difficult to confirm his mental fortitude. His face remained calm amidst the deafening, ear-splitting sounds of the 30kg anvil, the stifling heat, and the flames threatening to erupt in the furnace. Mr. Thuc's reputation was further demonstrated by his meticulousness in selecting materials and his superb steel tempering skills, evident in his ability to discern the color of the heated steel. His products typically last 10-20 years, or even longer. Because of this, each product he sells commands a price many times higher than the market rate.
In the unique working environment of a blacksmith's workshop, no matter how skillful or careful the workers are, there is always a chance of encountering occupational accidents. For them, cuts, bleeding, and burns are commonplace. As a result, their hands become calloused and cracked over the years, and the thickened skin on their palms becomes a distinctive identifying feature.
With their strength, experience, skillful hands, keen eyes, and perseverance, Mr. Thuc and Mr. Hieu's blacksmith workshop has been supplying iron and steel agricultural tools to the local people for many years. Despite the dirt and hard work, they still love and want to stay with the profession for the long term.
CONTINUING THE OLD VALUES
In the past, Kim Lien commune had so many blacksmiths that they even formed a cooperative. Most of them were apprentices of the late Dien and the late Tieng – figures closely associated with President Ho Chi Minh's childhood. With the development of society, the number of blacksmiths has dwindled. Will the forge fire continue to burn forever?
Having followed his father to work as a blacksmith since the age of 12, Mr. Thuc joined the resistance when he reached the age to enlist in the army. In 1977, upon returning to his hometown, he went back to the blacksmith shop of his grandfather and father.
My grandfather was an apprentice blacksmith, learning from the late Mr. Dien. He passed the trade down to my father, and my father passed it down to me. I love my craft and will continue doing it until I can no longer. It's just a pity that none of my sons have followed in my footsteps as blacksmiths…
Mr. Tran Dinh Thuc
Since none of his children followed in his footsteps as blacksmiths, Mr. Thuc decided to pass the trade on to those willing to learn. For many years, he has trained numerous apprentices, each receiving three months to master all the skills. Before parting ways, he always gives his students a set of tools as a good luck gift. His most successful apprentice is now the owner of a renowned blacksmith workshop at Tho Son intersection (Tan Ky).
Sharing his sentiments about preserving the blacksmithing craft, Mr. Hieu confided: "I don't remember exactly when I started working as a blacksmith. I only know that I spent my childhood surrounded by the forge. Then, I helped my father forge and grew up to become a blacksmith like him. For me, blacksmithing is both a means of livelihood and a way to continue and preserve the craft."
The value that Mr. Hieu mentioned is the creation of new products that meet customer needs, alongside traditional products. These include rice rakes, straw rakes, and vegetable cutters for livestock feed… He produces these products with high quality, at reasonable prices, and sells them wholesale to many stores in the wholesale market.
