Ironware Making

Lahus believe that god created every living thing except the iron forger who makes equipment such as knives and spades for agricultural activities. So, god built “Ja Lee” to be responsible for making ironware. It is Ja Lee who fixes the broken equipments up by his own unless the equipment is quite big, in which case the owner has to help Ja Lee to repair it. In return, if the villagers get their crops from the field, they will give it to Ja Lee first. Then, Ja Lee will bless them to give the greater productivity in the following year. The villagers then help Ja Lee to plant rice and harvest it for their blessing.

	When Ja Lee is free from making agricultural materials, he will make hunting equipment such as muzzle-loading gun and knife. Moreover, if the villagers kill a big animal, it is customary to give neck-meatto to Ja Lee. A new Ja Lee is chosen once the old one dies. The new Ja Lee must have a high ability and proficiency in ironware making. This custom was inherited from the past until today.
The Benefits of Ironware Maker Making the farming equipments. Fixing the agricultural materials which is broken. The Materials use for forging iron Iron Blower Plier for catching iron Hammer Iron Polisher Base for iron beating Basin Knife (for cleaving the iron) Coal

	How to Forge Ironware Set a fire by pulling the blower. Burn the iron until it gets red in order to make it malleable. Cleave the iron in suitable size if it is too big. Burn the iron again until it gets red. Beat the iron into different kinds of equipment when it is red. Polish the equipment. Burn them again. Moisten the iron equipments to make it sharp.
Place for Making Ironware        It  can be anywhere in the village but it is more convenient if the place for making ironware is located near Ja Lee house. The place for making ironware is believed to be a holy place which cannot be insulted. If there is anyone who looks down upon it, that person will suffer disasters.
Nowadays, Lahu people still make ironware but there is no Ja Lee anymore because it is more convnient to buy from the shop. Furthermore,  the villagers have no land for planting so it is not necessary to use these equipments anymore. It has influence on the role of Ja Lee which is disappeared finally. In addition, if there are broken equipment, the villagers will fix on their own. Send this page to yours friends