Silver forging skills (Miao silver forging skills)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Silver forging technology (Miao silver forging technology)

Applicant: Taijiang County, Guizhou Province

Project No.: 390

Project No.: VIII - 40

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guizhou Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Taijiang County, Guizhou Province

Protection unit: Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center of Taijiang County

Introduction to silver forging technology (Miao silver forging technology)

Applicant: Taijiang County, Guizhou Province

Miao silver ornaments, like Miao embroidery, brocade, batik and other ornaments, are the important characteristics of Miao branches. The Miao silver ornaments in Taijiang county are rare in Miao Society for their gorgeous patterns and various styles. Taijiang Miao silver ornaments are divided into Shidong type, Balahe type and Huangping type. Shidong type silver decoration area, with Shidong town as the central area; Balahe type silver decoration area, accounts for most of the area in Taijiang; Huangping type silver decoration area, has a township in Taijiang. Taijiang county has basically concentrated the essence of Miao silver ornaments, and is one of the important representatives of Qiandongnan Miao silver ornaments.

Taijiang Miao silver ornaments mainly include silver horn, silver sparrow, silver hairpin, silver comb, silver head girth, silver head flower, silver feather, ear post, earring, collar, silver chain, chest lock, chest treasure, bracelet, silver piece, silver bubble, etc. Covering the coat with pieces of silver, it is known as "silver coat", weighing up to 1200 Liang. Miao villagers combine beauty with wealth. Unmarried women hope to get the favor of the opposite sex through silver ornaments. If you have a difficult family, you can reduce it, but you can't do without it.

In the concept of Miao villagers, silver also has the function of exorcism, is the mascot of body protection. Miao silver production skills, can be described as perfect. The materials used were silver ingot and silver grain at the beginning, and silver yuan was widely used since the late Qing Dynasty. The main processing techniques are: casting, embossing, engraving, drawing, winding, carving, welding and so on. The welding process is extremely exquisite. The flame of kerosene lamp is blown into oxygen with a thin copper blowing pipe to melt and weld the joint of relevant parts without leaving any trace.