——Preface·]—
["Unauthorized transportation is prohibited, and offenders will be investigated"].
Recently, I have been swiped by the ** of "Iron Flower".Several blacksmiths surrounded the blazing furnace and struck the molten iron with wooden planks, and thousands of sparks instantly scattered and spilled into the air.
In the dark night, the sparks bloom like bright fireworks, presenting a beautiful and romantic picture for countless audiences.
But it should be noted that the beauty and danger of striking iron flowers coexist, after all, the temperature of molten iron is as high as 1600 degrees, so why are craftsmen not afraid of burns?
There are different opinions on the Internet about the origin of the iron flower, but one thing can be clearThe iron flower first appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty and prevailed in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its emergence is closely related to the ironmaking industry and folk beliefs in ancient China.
It is said that the iron flower was first used in the military, and in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, some people sprinkled the enemy with high-temperature iron juice to kill or scare off the enemy.
The hot sparks that burst out can instantly form a sea of fire on the haystack, and can also boost the morale of the army.
In the process of passing,The iron flower gradually changed from military use to folk entertainment, and became a kind of folk fireworksThe performers have also changed from soldiers to blacksmiths, and they have used their skills and experience to continuously improve and innovate the art of iron-making to make it more enjoyable.
During the Lantern Festival in the Ming Dynasty, there were some blacksmith shops that splashed molten iron with iron-making in the airThe spark was formed, which was spectacular, and it also contained people's wishes for a better life.
Later, the traditional skill of striking iron began to spread throughout the countryIt is mainly prevalent in Henan, Shanxi, Shandong and other provincesAmong them:Queshan County, Henan Province and Zezhou County, Shanxi ProvinceThe iron flower is the most famous.
As early as June 2008, Queshan County will be included in the list of intangible cultural heritage, the scale and skills of the local performance have reached a very high level, every year the Lantern Festival, will attract many tourists to come**.
With the progress of science and technology and social changes, there have been many innovations in the form and content of the performance, such as the venue has been moved from the street to the square and scenic spots, and the scale of the performance has also expanded from a few people to a dozen.
In the process of native circulation,The iron flower is also cleverly combined with artistic elements such as music, lion dance, and dragon lantern playing, and gradually forms a very distinctive performance styleIt makes the iron flower more suitable for the aesthetics of modern people, and can also better spread the traditional folk skills.
In my opinion, the iron flower is not only a folk art, but also a folk belief, an expression of people's love for life, and also contains the expectation of a better life in the future.
During the performance, it is not difficult for us to find those craftsmen, basicallyShirtless iron1600 degrees of molten iron will definitely fall on them,Could it be that they have cultivated a body that is not broken?
The performance of striking iron flowers looks very dangerous, because the blacksmiths have to use ultra-high temperature molten iron and splash it in the air to create the effect of fireworksIf these molten iron are not handled properly and come into contact with the human body, they are likely to cause serious burns.
However, the blacksmiths were able to perform topless and fearlessly, which actually contained certain scientific principles and safety measures.
If you look closely, you will find that the craftsmen are striking iron flowersHe will use the wooden board in his hand to hit the thrown molten iron hard, hitting it very high, and it will also scatter the molten iron.
These scattered small molten iron will undergo subtle oxidation in the air, so what is presented in everyone's eyes is a lot of sparks.
As the spark lands, the temperature drops rapidly, reducing the risk of burns, which is used:Metals are characterized by fast thermal conductivity and fast cooling.
In addition, the iron flower performance is usually held in winter, and the cold temperature will make the molten iron heat disappear faster, but if the iron flower is played indoors, the staff often have to wear thick protective clothing to ensure the safety of the human body.
At this point, someone may ask,Why do craftsmen have to be shirtless? Isn't it safer to wear clothes? Not really.
In the course of the performance,Striking iron flowers will produce many fine iron filings, some of which may remain warm and cause burns to clothesIf you are bare-chested, you can quickly shake these iron filings off and reduce the damage they cause.
Moreover, being shirtless is also conducive to the movement of craftsmen, and it can also better complete the action of striking iron flowers, presenting a better ** experience for the audience.
Although the work of striking iron flowers seems very simple, just hit the molten iron hard, but it's okayIn fact, it requires a very high level of craftsmanship and skill in striking iron.
A lot of people don't know thatThe spoon used to hold the molten iron is actually made of wood, and most of them are made of fresh willow woodAfter soaking them in water for a few days, they can have a good thermal insulation effect and are not easy to react with molten iron.
The tools used to hit the flowers are often made of special wooden boards, so the selection of iron flower tools is also very particular.
In addition, the performers of the iron flower have higher physical fitness and psychological endurance than ordinary people, after all, during the performance, there may be unexpected situations, and then it is necessary to adjust the angle and strength of the flower, and not to be too panicked.
Beginners often have a timid mentalityIf you miss the molten iron thrown by your teammates or if the force is too small, you may cause physical damage.
If you want to play the most colorful effect, you need the performer to flexibly adjust their movements according to the state of the molten iron, as well as the wind, wind direction and distance.
As an intangible cultural heritage with a long history,Iron flower was on the verge of extinction in the early yearsFortunately, people have picked up this precious folk art again, and it is also constantly inheriting and promoting.
Whenever I see the gorgeous and colorful iron flowers, many people always have an indescribable emotion in their heartsIt not only showcases the exquisite skills of the craftsmen, but also entrusts people's blessings for a better life.
The explosion of the Chinese comic "Painting the Rivers and Lakes of Tiangang" a while ago brought the iron flower to a new climax, and also let more people understand this great art.
In the future, I believe that there will be more excellent intangible cultural heritage in the eyes of everyoneI also hope that we can protect these cultures, they are all treasures of China.
Isn't this about the New Year, I hope everyone can be happy every day, happy forever, let us work together to protect the folk art of striking iron, so that it can continue to light up our night sky and illuminate our hearts.