Listening to non-legacy stories ｜ Youth, brilliant in the Millennium ＂while the iron is hot＂
    Xinhua News Agency, Zhengzhou, May 4 th: Youth is brilliant in the Millennium.
    Xinhua News Agency reporter Shi Linjing
   On May 3, the Qingming Shangheyuan Scenic Area performed a performance of playing iron flowers. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Yuan Hang)
    The molten iron at 1600℃ turns into starlight all over the sky, and like the spring breeze blows away thousands of silver flowers … During the May Day period, in Shangheyuan Scenic Area, Qingming, Kaifeng, Henan Province, Pang Fei, a blacksmith after "90", scooped up the molten iron from the furnace and lifted it. Zhang Bao, a partner on the side, raised his paddle high and struck hard, which was thrilling and wonderful in an instant, attracting tourists to cheer.
    As one of the representative projects of national intangible cultural heritage, "Tie Tie Hua" is a folk cultural performance skill discovered by ancient craftsmen in the process of casting utensils, which is mostly spread in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, especially in Henan and Shanxi, and has a history of more than a thousand years.
    This Chinese romance, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is also called "the game of the brave". Liu Xiaosong, a 45-year-old representative inheritor of the "Bianliang Tiehua Liu" in Kaifeng, Henan Province, was deeply involved. "In my impression, every year during the Chinese New Year or Lantern Festival, almost every household will burn some molten iron as fireworks." Liu Xiaosong said. Watching the elders play while the iron is hot makes young Liu Xiaosong obsessed with it. "With the development of society, fireworks have also become popular, and the technical requirements for playing iron flowers are very high. This skill has been interrupted in the village for more than ten years."
    In 2008, Tie Tie Hua was included in the list of representative projects of national intangible cultural heritage. Liu Xiaosong began to pursue the unique skill of striking while the iron is hot, and learned from teachers, visited and discussed with peers … In the process, more and more young people joined in. Pang Fei and Zhang Bao are a group of "post-90 s" who joined earlier. The reason why they decided to learn to play iron flower is very similar: it is bitter, but it is cool. "From an early age, I watched the older generation play iron flowers. Every time I heard the exclamation of the onlookers after the first iron flower was scattered in the air, I wanted to pass it on." Pang Fei said.
   On May 3rd, "post-90s" Pang Fei and Zhang Bao performed iron flowers in Shangheyuan Scenic Spot in Qingming Festival. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Yuan Hang)
    Although there is love, the high temperature of 1600℃ is always the most sad level for the blacksmith.
    Playing iron flowers usually begins with drawing water. Water is very similar to molten iron. Apprentices are qualified from the first one meter, three meters, to five meters until they hit the water to more than ten meters.
    We should not only train hard, but also practice accuracy. "Put the iron in the pottery furnace and keep burning carbon until the iron melts into water. The temperature of the molten iron just scooped out is very high, so performers need to be extra cautious when grasping the strike. If the strike position is inaccurate or the strength is not enough, the iron flower can’t reach a certain angle and height, and it is easy to burn. " Pang Fei said that it is common to practice being burned at first, and you will learn it when you are full of scalds.
    As an art form with unique Chinese charm, there is an increasing demand for the performance of Tie Hua. "Now all kinds of cultural exhibitions, art festivals, folk activities, etc. can see the shadow of the iron flower. We perform more than 1,000 performances every year on average." Liu Xiaosong said that in the Qingming Shangheyuan scenic spot in Kaifeng, there are nearly 10,000 people watching a show.
   On May 3, the Qingming Shangheyuan Scenic Area performed a performance of playing iron flowers. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Yuan Hang)
    While inheriting the ancient skills, Liu Xiaosong also innovated the performance content and form of Tiehua, incorporating folk elements such as dragon dancing and scientific and technological elements such as sound and photoelectricity. "In terms of raw materials, we have developed a new type of raw materials with large flowers, high brightness and flame retardant properties, which will die when it hits the ground, with strong environmental protection and high safety." Liu Xiaosong said.
    Today, Liu Xiaosong’s team is growing, and many post-90s and post-00s have joined the ranks. "If there is anything I want to learn, I will not refuse. Looking at these children, I feel that the iron flower can be passed down from generation to generation." Liu Xiaosong said.
    On the morning of May 4th Youth Day, Liu Xiaosong and his disciples came to Shangheyuan Scenic Area in Qingming Festival to prepare for the evening performance. Working in pairs, breaking carbon, catching fire and melting iron … "After 00", Zhai Xinzhuo looked at the skilled operation of his brothers and envied them. This is his second week of learning to play iron flower. At present, the height of drawing water has reached 10 meters.
    Zhai Xinzhuo’s eyes shone brightly when his brothers skillfully scooped up the hot molten iron and kicked it into the air with a paddle.