Playing with fire, preserving history

A young woman in South China is holding onto an ancient form of firework art, sending streaks of white-hot iron high into the sky, Meng Wenjie reports.

You might have seen fireworks displays, but you may not have seen this captivating spectacle — fireworks made of molten iron.

In the vast expanse of the desert's nighttime sky, streams of scorching molten iron, reaching temperatures as high as 1,600 degrees Celsius, ascend into the air, resembling a dazzling shower of stars. In the middle of a gathering of male artisans skillfully manipulating the molten iron, there is a delicate young woman, vigorously striking a wooden stick to launch the molten iron high up into the sky.

This remarkable performance is known as Datiehua, which literally means to spray molten iron. And the woman is Jiang Xunqian (pseudonym), a video blogger and the sole female "firework-sprayer" among these performers.

In one of her videos, Jiang captures her journey as she masters the technique of performing Datiehua, attracting over 16 million views on Chinese video site Bilibili.

Jiang's venture into this unique world began as she transitioned from her previous role as an animator for video games, which eventually left her uninspired. "I yearned for a new direction in life," she said.

In 2019, this Hunan native took a bold step by resigning from her job and beginning her freelance animation career in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province.

"During that time, my mother was always concerned about whether I was eating well since I cooked for myself at home," she said. To reassure her mother, Jiang began filming her cooking sessions and sharing them online.

To her surprise, these videos rapidly gained attention, leading her to gradually pivot toward becoming a food vlogger. Initially, her videos revolved around various cuisines, ranging from simple egg fried rice to delectable desserts, captivating an ever-expanding audience.

However, after Jiang made a video about "sugar painting" — a fusion of food and folk art — she shifted her focus toward traditional culture and craftsmanship. "I've held a deep fascination for traditional Chinese culture since I was little, dedicating six years to studying Peking Opera," said Jiang, explaining her motivation for showcasing ancient techniques in her videos.

"As I grew older, I realized that many of the activities I enjoyed as a child are now rare, such as sugar painting," she added. "And when I finally had the opportunity to experience it again, I discovered that it had been preserved as intangible cultural heritage."

And so has Datiehua, which is an ancient Chinese folk art originally developed and practised by ironsmiths. Jiang specifically learned Queshan Tiehua, a variation that originated during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and thrived during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). In 2008, Queshan Tiehua was recognized as a form of national intangible cultural heritage.

To master this traditional folk art, Jiang sought out Yang Jianjun, the representative inheritor of Queshan Tiehua. Initially, Yang held reservations about Jiang's interest because it had been centuries, if ever, since a woman had learned this skill. In ancient times, Jiang explained, blacksmithing was predominantly a male pursuit, given its physically demanding nature.

During a Datiehua performance, a group of six or seven people stand in line, continuously spraying molten iron for nearly 20 minutes, an incredibly strenuous task.

"Moreover, those who are stronger can propel the molten iron higher into the sky, not just for aesthetic reasons but also for the safety of the performers," she said.

According to Jiang, Datiehua is a delicate art that often leaves those who dedicate years to mastering it with numerous burns. Therefore, as a novice, Jiang approached the endeavor with anxiety. "We even researched the location of the nearest hospital, which was about 40 kilometers away," she said.

After a few performances, Jiang discovered that she had sustained injuries as well. "Some sparks landed on my clothes, causing painful burns," she said. "Upon returning home, I also realized that I had lost several handfuls of hair."

According to Jiang, even for experienced performers, such burns are quite common. But she remains unfazed. "I didn't think much about it before attempting it. In my opinion, the most challenging aspect of Datiehua is overcoming fear," she said. "And when it comes to courage, gender makes no difference."

In the videos Jiang creates, she explains the cultural significance of the crafts she features. For instance, in her video demonstrating the process of crafting Chinese classic wedding candles adorned with intricately carved dragon and phoenix patterns, she meticulously reenacts a Chinese wedding. Similarly, in a video showcasing the Miao ethnic group's silver head adornments, she dons traditional Miao attire and dances around a campfire with Miao girls.

"Many of these videos require at least a month to create," she said.

According to Jiang, when she approached the inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, they were delighted to share their expertise and contribute to the broader dissemination of their skills.

"Many of them were willing to teach me without charge, but I chose to purchase materials from them," Jiang said. "Once they realized I was documenting the learning process through videos, they gave more support. They have also appreciated seeing these crafts reach a wider audience."

Jiang has come across articles and reports that suggest a declining interest among Chinese young people in traditional culture. She firmly disagrees with this perspective. According to her, a significant portion of her audience consists of young people, and she has received substantial feedback from them. They said they were previously unfamiliar with certain crafts until they watched her videos.

"This suggests that they do have an appreciation for traditional culture, but the only obstacle they face is a lack of opportunities to learn about it," she said. "The younger generation plays a pivotal role in preserving intangible cultural heritage. My goal is to use my videos to foster a deeper understanding of our traditional cultural treasures among more young people."

The phrase Jiang most frequently uses is "follow your instincts". At the time of this interview, Jiang was preparing to recreate clothing worn by the Taoist goddess Magu, inspired by the painting Ma Gu Xian Shou Tu (Magu Offers Longevity). This ambitious project involves incorporating intangible cultural heritage crafts and wire stunts, allowing her to perform as a flying goddess.

"From the ancient Chinese magnetic compass called Sinan to the modern Beidou Satellite Navigation System, our innovations have transformed the mythical abilities of gods into tangible reality," Jiang wrote in the comment section of this video. "In this age, we possess the power to fearlessly pursue our dreams and achieve whatever we desire."

Contact the writer at mengwenjie@i21st.cn