[Explanation] The iron burned red by the stove, sparks splashed under the "blessing" of the hammer, and its prototype gradually emerged. The 54-year-old Wang Haiquan was building the "Qin Sword" in the operation room. It is understood that Wang Haiquan, whose ancestors wielded iron in his family, is already the seventh-generation heir. So far, Wang Haiquan has produced more than 400 kinds of cold weapons, totaling more than 6,000 pieces.

　　When Wang Haiquan was 15 years old, he followed his father to learn the skill of ironing, and later relied on this skill to build various farm tools to support his living. As traditional farm tools are gradually replaced by mechanized production and the demand for farm tools is gradually decreasing, Wang Haiquan is facing a "transition". Since he likes martial arts, coupled with the skill of ironing, since 2012, he has been making Chinese cold weapons, seeking a "way out." Wang Haiquan told reporters that building cold weapons is an ancestor's "old business", and regaining this skill is even more of a responsibility.

　　[Concurrent] Blacksmith Wang Haiquan

　　You are like this weapon, and now I love it, and I love it, and now you are like, if we have this weapon, it would be a shame if we put it on our hands and then lose it. Because now, from my ancestors to the present, it has been more than 400 years, and it is not easy to pass it to me, I am now the seventh generation, and pass it to us.

　　[Explanation] 39 years of blacksmithing career, Wang Haiquan's hands have long been worn out. Wang Haiquan told reporters that ironing is a work of strength, and it is also a work of art. A good weapon requires repeated "tempering", which involves more than ten steps including fire, beating, bending, blade training, forming, quenching and polishing. The process can only be shaped after thousands of hard work. At the same time, the choice of iron and coal is also very important. Only high-quality iron and coal can make a good weapon.

　　Irons also need to be hard. The knives, spears, swords, halberds and other "18 weapons" made by Wang Haiquan are all exquisite. Relying on his strong blacksmith skills, in 2014, his "Dumb Wang's Handicraft Skills" was officially included in the "Fourth Batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Xi'an City".

　　[Concurrent] Wang Haiquan’s wife Liu Zhixiang

　　Ask him (husband) to fight (weapon), he said he asked me to hit him, I will hit him. I did all the housework alone, and asked him to pass on us to us, and to make this us an "intangible cultural heritage", and ask my son to pass it on to us, because I'm afraid that I (we) are getting older, so I can pass this on to us as my son.

　　[Explanation] In 2019, Wang Haiquan collaborated with others to build the "Ancient Weapons Museum", where most of his works are displayed for viewing. In addition, Wang Haiquan also "moved" the iron-making skills into the university classrooms, teaching iron-making skills to college students for free, and currently accepts more than 80 students.

　　[Concurrent] Blacksmith Wang Haiquan

　　I now want to build a bigger weapon museum, to invite all young people to enter this weapon museum to see the ancient weapon culture here, and to ask all young people to spread our ancient weapon culture.

　　[Explanation] Now, Wang Haiquan has found the "outlet" of his skills, and is using his skills to retain the Chinese cold weapon culture, opening a "door" for people to understand cold weapons. Wang Haiquan said that he will continue to persevere and pass on this skill and culture.

　　Reporting from Xi’an by reporter Mei Yilong and intern Zhao Xiaoyan

Editor in charge: [Li Yuxin]