Foundry is the same as the so-called casting. In a traditional casting factory, there will be a huge stove. By burning charcoals, the stove is heated to 1,000 degree Celsius and pig-copper is melted into liquid. (Photographer: Guo-Lin Zhuang. Date and place photos were taken: 2009; Wuchieh Township, Yilan County.)

In the darkened factory, the 1,000℃ liquid copper shone like volcanic lava. It is the time workers have to concentrate to pour the copper into the prepared mold. (Photographer: Guo-Lin Zhuang. Date and place photos were taken: 2009; Wuchieh Township, Yilan County.)

No matter if they have excellent skills, the government still cannot secure their rights to work. This is the day that they worked on the very last order the factory received. Through this picture, their frustration and helplessness can be felt. (Photographer: Guo-Lin Zhuang. Date and place photos were taken: 2009; Wuchieh Township, Yilan County.)

Molds on the floor were filled with 1,000℃ liquid copper and shine like rows of lamps. They function as guiding light in the dim factory and symbolically become the “life light” for the workers to somehow sustain their families. (Photographer: Guo-Lin Zhuang. Date and place photos were taken: 2009; Wuchieh Township, Yilan County.)

This is the bird’s-eye view of the last casting task in the 30-year-old “Jing Qing Foundry” in Wuchieh Township of Yilan county. (Photographer: Guo-Lin Zhuang. Date and place photos were taken: 2009; Wuchieh Township, Yilan County.)

The old master carefully performs preliminary work. This is a job, or rather an art, which highly values experiences. In Japan, old masters would be treated as National Treasure artisans. (Photographer: Guo-Lin Zhuang. Date and place photos were taken: 2009; Wuchieh Township, Yilan County.)