According to local accounts, the founder of the blacksmithing trade in Trung Luong ward was Mr. Dung, dating back to the Ly Dynasty. Elderly people from the mountains came up to ask for young men from the village to learn the trade. Mr. Dung established a blacksmithing village here, passing on the craft to the villagers and people from many other regions.

Legend has it that in the past, there were six skilled blacksmiths named Tu Hau, Tu Cung, Pham Nguyet, Do Bao, Nguyen Than, and Nguyen Nga in Hoa Chang commune, Trung Luong district, Duc Tho prefecture, Ha Tinh province. They were instrumental in establishing blacksmith workshops to supply agricultural tools to the people, and many people followed their craft.

Every spring, the people of Trung Luong are bustling with preparations for the most important festival of the year: the ceremony honoring the patron saint of blacksmithing and the opening ceremony on the 7th day of the first lunar month. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Huu (73 years old), the caretaker of the Van Chang blacksmiths' shrine, shared: “The opening ceremony is held according to our ancestors' customs with three solemn rounds of wine offerings. This is an opportunity for the villagers to express their gratitude to the patron saints who contributed to building the blacksmithing industry and to educate the younger generation about their roots.”

A ritual honoring the patron saint of blacksmithing in Ha Tinh province.

Throughout the nation's history, the blacksmiths at the foot of Hong Linh Mountain have become a "military weapons factory." From the time of the Lam Son Uprising, the blacksmiths of this region invented cannons (command tubes). During the resistance against French colonialism, they forged weapons for the resistance forces of Phan Dinh Phung and Cao Thang. Notably, these craftsmen supplied the military of Military Region 4 with tens of thousands of flintlock rifles and thousands of barbed wire cutters, making a significant contribution to the victory of the resistance war.

For hundreds of years, the blacksmithing craft has been maintained and developed, not only in quantity but also in quality, with a wide variety of products serving agriculture, handicrafts, household tools, weapons, and ceremonial objects. Trung Luong blacksmithing products are found throughout the country and are favored by many. Today, Trung Luong blacksmithing products have established their brand thanks to their exquisite craftsmanship and durability. However, the greatest value this region has preserved is the community's awareness of heritage preservation.

At the ceremony honoring the patron saint of blacksmithing, Mr. Le Ba Khanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Hong Linh Ward, expressed gratitude to the organizations and individuals who have joined hands in preserving the local traditional craft. The government hopes that the site will continue to develop, becoming a "red address" that meets the cultural and spiritual needs of the people and tourists, and at the same time serves as a place to educate future generations about the traditions of studiousness and diligence.

The resonant sound of temple bells blends with the rhythmic hammering from distant blacksmiths' workshops, affirming that the flame of our ancestors' craft continues to burn brightly. At the foot of Hong Linh Mountain , this heritage is not just a memory, but is being further refined to become one of the key resources for the local economy .

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/giu-nghe-ren-do-lua-duoi-chan-nui-hong-linh-1028549