Iron smelting

Iron smelting

　　 A time-honored family skill of the Zhou family in Huzha. Originating during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, "Zhou Family Iron Smelting" became famous across the region. Among the cast iron incense burners they produced, those crafted by Zhou Dezhu were the most exquisite. Standing over three meters tall, the burner features a square base, lotus petal-shaped feet, and a five-tiered pagoda shape. The lower belly of the first tier depicts two dragons playing with a pearl, while the four corners of the upper four tiers feature four dragons holding pearls in their mouths. Below their chins hang inverted bells, with lions crawling upside down beneath them, and the top is crowned with a lion perched atop a gourd. The gourd holds three arrows, and in its body are exquisitely cast figures representing the "Eight Immortals of Water and Land" as well as scenes from the "Three Kingdoms." When incense is lit inside the burner, smoke billows from the lion’s mouth at the top and from the mouths of the sixteen dragons, while their bodies sway and their heads turn with the rising wisps of smoke.