Tibetan metal forging skills (Tibetan copper forging skills)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Tibetan metal forging skills (Tibetan copper forging skills)

Applicant: Nanmulin County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Project No.: 903

Project No.: VIII - 120

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Tibet Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Nanmulin County, Tibet Autonomous Region

Protection unit: culture and Tourism Bureau of Nanmulin County

Brief introduction of Tibetan metal forging technology (Tibetan copper forging technology)

Applicant: Nanmulin County, Tibet Autonomous Region

There are many kinds of products produced by Tibetan metal forging techniques, such as Buddha statues, all kinds of magic tools (such as runner, Tantric Vajra pestle), incense burner, etc., especially Tibetan knives.

The Tibetan waist knife has a clean surface and extremely sharp blade. The handle is made of ox horn and hardwood (such as jujube wood) and wrapped with copper wire and silver wire. The top is covered with copper leather and inlaid with brass or carved patterns. Scabbard is also very particular, engraved dragon and Phoenix, tiger and lion, flowers, birds and other patterns, some also decorated with gems and agate, the style is gorgeous. Tibetan knife is not only a necessity of Tibetan people's life, but also a famous Tibetan handicraft, which is deeply loved by art collectors and connoisseurs.

The Tibetan bronze forging skill is mainly spread in Nanmulin County of Tibet Autonomous Region, and its origin can be traced back to the tenth Dalai Lama period, which has a history of more than 100 years. Forging copper is mainly used for casting Buddha statues. It has exquisite craftsmanship and unique artistic style, showing the excellent tradition of craftsmanship in Nanmulin area. There are many steps in the whole copper forging production process, and the production is rigorous. The materials used are different in texture, and the processes are also different. The forging materials are mainly red copper, brass and white copper, and sometimes gold and silver are also used. However, bronze and iron are rarely selected because they are hard and brittle and lack of ductility, which is not conducive to molding and forging. Before use, metal materials should be melted in a crucible made of clay, cooled naturally into metal ingots, and then forged into metal plates. After welding, gilding, polishing and reddening, the solemn and graceful Buddha statues were finally forged.