The Inheritance of Charcoal - Smolder The Spirit of Charcoal

The Origin of Charcoal

In the 21st century, people’s first impression of charcoal is a fuel that is only used in the Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue. But what everyone doesn't know is before charcoal was replaced by natural gas, the history of charcoal can be traced back to 300,000 years ago.

1.7 to 2.0 million years ago when humans learned to control fire, it all started as the Stone Age began, when charcoal was first discovered by humans. After humans discovered how to make and control fire, people used wood to make a fire during the Stone Age. Since then, people use fire as an important part of their living, they use fire to cook, defend wild animals, keep the body warm, and also as illumination at night. It all happened at night when wild animals are attracted by fire to attack humans, they put out the fire to eliminate people’s traces. But then humans went back and found out that burned wood could be burned again. This is how charcoal was discovered.

Charcoal is a lightweight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood. Burning wood produces carbonized embers, the so-called "soft charcoal", which is naturally formed after burning wood. In the Paleolithic AgeCharcoal is an indispensable part of human history, according to the record, humans have been using charcoal since more than 40,000 years ago. Charcoal was used in the smelting of bronze ware in the Shang Dynasty in China during the day and the ironware in the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period.

We also used the moisture absorption properties of charcoal to absorb climate change and use the protective agent of the coffin. It is very widely used in ancient charcoal and we have seen it today. Early charcoal was very useful in people's living and industry. Charcoal can be dehumidified and antiseptic to preserve bodies, and it can also use moisture absorption to observe meteorological changes. Coal occupies a very important part of Taiwan's history.

Image Source: pixabay

The Decline of Charcoal Cultural

Image Source: LOVE ENERGY SAVINGS

Image Source: 편리한 NOTE'

Since the beginning of the 18th century, Taiwan’s coal reserves and becoming a replenishment station for steamships of sea power countries at that time were also one of the reasons why Spain, the Netherlands, and other countries wanted to occupy Taiwan.

During the Japanese occupation period, self-produced coal mines were even The systematic, large-scale, and large-scale electrification of mining has made the coal towns of Keelung, Ruifang, Pingxi, and other places in northern Taiwan look and feel better. The 20 years after Taiwan's recovery was the heyday of charcoal production and sales, people made life on charcoal mining businesses, sales and trade charcoal production to other countries to build up Taiwan’s economy.

In the 1950s of Taiwan, natural gas was put on the market, and charcoal slowly abdicated. Every evening, the smoke coming out of the charcoal kiln slowly disappears. The young generation born after the 1970s or 1980s only had a brief encounter with charcoal, which is only used during the Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue. In the early years, there were many charcoal kilns in Taiwan, but with the popularity of gas and import price competition, the charcoal kilns gradually fell into disuse. As time passes natural gas has replaced charcoal, and steps into a more convenient way. And yet, there is a person who keeps on his meaningful work to inherit the history of charcoal. He is Mr. Lee Yong Xing.

Charcoal Usage in Daily Life

Charcoal is closely related in our life, and charcoal largely improves the convenience in human life. Having the ability to purify chemicals and water quality, charcoal can absorb, filter, and decompose microorganisms as well as harmful substances such as chlorine and bleach. Therefore, people use its functions to treat pesticides or detergents polluted drainages, filtering out harmful substances, including the purification of rivers, groundwater and seawater, so as to maintain the cleanliness of the environment. Furthermore, since charcoal can treat sewage, people will also install charcoal on the sink, which greatly improves the quality of discharge water. Also, charcoal is often seen when cooking rice, making coffee or tea. This is because charcoal is rich in minerals. As long as it is soaked in tap water, it can not only remove the residual chlorine in the water, but also increase the content of natural minerals.

Another usage of charcoal is for deodorization and mold removal. Because charcoal is porous, the microorganisms on it can greatly decompose odor attachments. So people often place charcoal in restrooms, refrigerators, shoe cabinets and other areas for air. Supermarkets, hardware stores and grocers in Taiwan sell charcoal to customers, proving charcoal is tied to Taiwanese’s life.

The third area of charcoal application is for dehumidification. Having the function of absorbing water vapor, several companies use charcoal to develop bedding that improves sleep quality. The bedding product absorbs moisture, heat, and carbon dioxide, allowing people to fall asleep faster. And because of the far-infrared heat generated by charcoal, the temperature remains constant, with a cool feeling while maintaining a stable humidity.

Fourthly, charcoal is utilized as a harmless, natural desiccant, purifying chemical substances in the indoor environment. Charcoal has a great contribution to termite prevention and corrosion protection, and pests are afraid to approach it. Not to mention, it is also indispensable in our lives to help preserve vegetables, fruits and rice and prevent insects.

Fifth, charcoal is also used in the agriculture industry. Charcoal can retain and permeate water, therefore crops grow better in soil that contains charcoal. Minerals with iron and manganese elements can supplement soil nutrients, further providing a better growing environment for crops.

Moreover, since charcoal can decompose trihalomethanes, reduce water molecules, activate water quality, and reduce the irritation of water to human skin, it is related to bathing as well. Its properties and functions make it a great treatment for diseases such as cold syndrome.

Finally, charcoal can help neutralize and shield harmful electromagnetic waves and improve the magnetic field, so it is sometimes used on construction sites.

Looking over seven main charcoal usage in human life, one should pay more attention to the inheritance of the charcoal culture, or else the important character in our lives would be gone.

Deodorization Charcoal in Grocer
Image shot by Eric Chang

Microorganism Charcoal
Image Source: 痞客邦小李札記

The Inheritance of Charcoal Culture:

With the Lee Yong Xing, who returned to his hometown to continue their family business- Charcoal. He watched his grandfather, father and uncles make charcoal during his childhood, and he had to help his father and Grandfather when he was busy with farming. Later, with the progress of life, the charcoal kiln that had collapsed in 1999. Fortunately, the former Mayor of Baoshan Township, Lee Yong Xing, wanted to revive this traditional technique. Lee Yong Xing was not reconciled with the craftsmanship passed down for decades.

With the support of his father Lee Shenghua and the township office, he reigned the charcoal house. Charcoal used to be a must-have item, but because of the popularity of gas and price competition, charcoal kilns have gradually faded away. With a strong physique and a cheerful attitude, Lee Yong Xing lived in the days of guarding the charcoal kilns since he was a child. When the charcoal kilns were at the end of their fate, he insisted on passing on the charcoal burning technology.

He often say: "The original intention was to stick to the tradition, to keep doing it and never stop going on so that the smoke of my charcoal kiln will continue burning. This is the reason why we can still see charcoal today, the spirit of charcoal will never end."

Image Source (left): healthy food GUIDE
Image Source (right): Lee Yong Xing Facebook