Tatara (flute) - Tatara

Japanese: たたら(鑪∥踏鞴) - たたら

A representative ancient Japanese iron-making method. It is a primitive method in which iron sand is smelted using charcoal as fuel in a low, rectangular furnace made from clay, and tamahagane, the material used to make Japanese swords, was made using this method. Air is blown into the furnace from below to burn the charcoal, and once the temperature has risen sufficiently, charcoal and iron sand are added in alternating layers while the furnace is operated continuously for about three days and nights to reduce the iron sand. When the operation is finished, the entire furnace is demolished and the reduced iron lumps are removed. This is called "kera (鉧)."

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

日本古来の代表的な製鉄方法。粘土でつくられた高さの低い角形の炉で，木炭を燃料として砂鉄を製錬する原始的なものであるが，日本刀の素材である玉鋼（たまはがね）はこの方法でつくられていた。炉の下方から風を送って木炭を燃焼させ，十分に温度を上げてから木炭と砂鉄を交互に層状に投入しながら，連続的に3昼夜ほど操業して砂鉄を還元する。操業を終えると炉全体をこわし，還元された鉄の塊を取り出す。これを〈けら(鉧)〉という。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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