Smelting and casting technology of pig iron in Yangcheng

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Yangcheng pig iron smelting and casting technology

Applicant: Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province

Project No.: 385

Project No.: VIII - 35

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Shanxi Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province

Protection unit: Yangcheng County Cultural Center

Brief introduction of Yangcheng pig iron smelting and casting technology:

Applicant: Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province

In the 6th century BC, pig iron smelting and casting was born in China, which was at least 16 centuries earlier than that in Europe. From then on, China gradually formed a system of iron and steel smelting technology which was quite different from that in the west, creating a glorious iron age and iron and steel civilization.

Yangcheng, located in Zhongtiao Mountain area, Shanxi Province, is an important place for pig iron smelting and casting in China. Yangcheng is rich in iron ore, which is shallow from the surface. During smelting and casting, the ore is crushed first, then roasted at high temperature to remove sulfur, and then put into the furnace. The plough furnace is a Chinese style shaft furnace, which is composed of hearth, furnace chamber, furnace body and support. Its inner chamber is curved, with the advantages of smooth air flow and favorable furnace condition. The charcoal fired from local jiangmu and other high-quality wood is used as raw material and reducing agent for smelting. There is a complete set of mature smelting process. Based on years of experience, the masters skillfully master the furnace condition, fire condition and quality of molten iron by watching the fire color and distinguishing molten iron, and properly grasp the chemical composition and temperature of molten iron. The method of distinguishing molten iron is a unique skill. The smelter scoops out a small scoop of molten iron from the tap hole, and observes the color and surface pattern changes to determine its fineness. Plough mirror is a famous brand product of Yangcheng, which is an important accessory of walking plough. Yangcheng plough mirror is made of molten iron, which is very rare in the world. The mold is made of gray iron and clay mold. A pair of iron molds can be used thousands of times. The molds are durable and labor-saving, and are popular with farmers. At its peak, it produced more than 700000 pieces a year and exported to Nepal, Vietnam, North Korea and other countries.

In the 1960s, Taiyuan University of technology made field investigation and physical and chemical analysis on the smelting and casting technology of Yangcheng pig iron. Since the 1980s, with the transformation of social economy and the promotion of mechanized farming, the production of Yangcheng plow mirror has gradually shrunk. By the late 1990s, the smelting and casting workshops have all stopped production, and the artists and casting equipment have been seriously lost, which is in urgent need of rescue and protection.