The 'fire keeper' of the traditional blacksmithing profession of the Mong people

Khanh Ly-Quynh An• February 13, 2024 07:01

(Baonghean.vn) - As the third generation in a Mong family involved in the traditional blacksmithing profession, Mr. Va Tong De (Tuong Duong) works every day to create countless tools for his people. The blacksmith not only supports his family but is also a place to preserve the traditional profession of the Mong people.

Mr. Va Tong De in Tham Tham village (Nhon Mai commune, Tuong Duong district) has been involved in the traditional blacksmithing profession for nearly 40 years. From the age of 14-15, Va Tong De helped his relatives forge tools for labor and production. He watched his grandfather, father and uncles work and then followed suit, gradually gaining experience to become a famous blacksmith in the area. This job not only helps increase income but also inherits family traditions. Photo: Khanh Ly

Va Tong De's blacksmith shop is located right on the small slope at the beginning of Tham Tham village (Nhon Mai commune, Tuong Duong district). Every day, the blacksmith shop starts to light up at 3 or 4 am. If he doesn't have to go to the fields, Va Tong De will be at the blacksmith shop all day, and when he's busy, he works in the evening. The sound of the fan blowing the furnace, the sound of cutting steel, sharpening knives and the sound of hammering have been deeply ingrained in his family's lifestyle. Photo: An Quynh

Một số vật dụng như bàn đe, đập và lò rèn thủ công đều được truyền từ thế hệ trước và đã được anh Và Tồng Dê sửa đổi thêm để phù hợp với cách làm hiện nay. Ảnh: An Quỳnh. — Some tools such as the anvil, hammer and manual forge were passed down from previous generations and were modified and supplemented by Mr. Va Tong De to suit the current way of working. Photo: An Quynh

Người Mông thường sinh sống ở địa hình vùng núi cao nên đời sống họ tự cung, tự cấp.Bởi vậy, người Mông việc gì cũng giỏi từ rèn dao, rèn cuốc, xẻng,…Anh Và Tồng Dê cho biết để làm ra một sản phẩm giỏi, người thợ rèn phải trải qua nhiều công đoạn, từ cắt sắt tạo hình, nung, đập, nhúng nước, rồi lại nung, đập, tới khi định hình được sản phẩm thì mài cho sắc, làm tay cầm. Ảnh: An Quỳnh. — The Mong people often live in mountainous terrain, so their lives are mainly self-sufficient. Therefore, they are also very good at creating tools for production such as knives, hoes, shovels, etc. Mr. Va Tong De said that to make a product, the blacksmith must go through many stages, from cutting iron to shape, heating, hammering, dipping in water, then heating, hammering, until the product is shaped, then sharpening, then making handles and shafts. Photo: An Quynh

Previously, all steps were done completely manually, but now there are additional machines to support the process, so it's faster, for example, grinders, sanders, fans... Photo: Khanh Ly

Một khâu không thể thiếu trong việc làm nên sản phẩm tốt chính là mài. Khi công cụ (dao, cuốc, xẻng) đảm bảo độ cứng, anh Và Tồng Dê sẽ dùng đá quay để mài lưỡi và xoa cho mịn bề mặt dụng cụ. Ảnh: An Quỳnh. — An indispensable step to create good products is grinding. When the products (knives, hoes, shovels...) are shaped and ensure hardness, Mr. Va Tong De will use a rotating stone to sharpen the blade and smooth the surface of the tool. Photo: An Quynh

Clip of the fiery forge of Mr. Va Tong De, Tham Tham village, Nhon Mai commune, Tuong Duong. Clip: Khanh Ly

Next is the manual hand-sharpening process using natural stones selected in the slot (water-sharpening) to make the blade sharper. Photo: An Quynh- Khanh Ly

Not only focusing on the durability and sharpness of the product, blacksmith Va Tong De also pays attention to the appearance, for example, for knives, the handle is usually made of buffalo horn, the sheath is made of wood dried for at least 1 week because using fresh wood will cause the knife to rust. Photo: Khanh Ly

On average, blacksmith Va Tong De makes 2-3 products per day. In the border commune of Nhon Mai (Tuong Duong), only his forge is still regularly lit and his skills are high, so the products are not only sold to people in the village, in the commune, and neighboring areas, but also to Laos at prices ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 VND depending on the type. Photo: An Quynh

In addition to forging tools for production and farming such as knives, hoes, shovels, sickles, spades... Mr. Va Tong De also repairs farming tools for local people. For those in difficulty, he helps repair them without taking money, sometimes even giving away new tools. Because the products are of good quality, according to Mr. Va Tong De, "there are times when he cannot forge them in time to sell them." Photo: Khanh Ly

As a prestigious person of Tham Tham village, Nhon Mai commune (Tuong Duong), Mr. Va Tong De is always a pioneer in all activities of the village and in economic development. Besides opening a blacksmith's workshop, he also farms, grows cassava, and raises 20 buffaloes and cows. He shared that each time he lights a fire, he has more joy, because he not only serves the needs of the people but also contributes to preserving the traditional blacksmithing profession of the Mong ethnic group. Photo: Khanh Ly

Khanh Ly-Quynh An