When it comes to firefighting jackets, people think of thick and heavy long-sleeved coats assembled from various functional fabrics. However, back in the 19th century, when fire protection technology was only the most primitive era of splashing water with a bucket, people Although you can only fight physically, you can still boost morale and courage through certain methods, and that is these beautiful art paintings.
Based on the style, the fire jackets at that time were quite similar to modern firefighting suits. They were both thick coats. When firefighters went on a mission, they would soak the cloth in water to absorb the water. This is used to resist the heat of the flames. Of course, these fire-fighting suits themselves do not have any fire-resistant technology at all, so it is very rare for them to survive fire-fighting missions again and again, and to appear safely in museums for people to appreciate after many years.
In the Edo period of Japan, the houses on the streets were still wooden houses. Once a fire spread, the losses would be very heavy. The task of firefighters at that time was to prevent the spread of fire as much as possible. In addition to extinguishing the fire, in order to block As the fire spreads, it is often necessary to demolish the houses that cannot be saved to prevent them from spreading to the surrounding areas.
Thick cloth saturated with water can play a role in preventing flames at this time, reducing the heat wave impact that firefighters encounter when demolishing a house. If the task is successfully completed, the firefighters will take off their coats and hold them high. Showing the drawings inside to everyone symbolizes the blessed courage and strength that led the group of firefighters to successfully save the city.
The patterns that are rich in meaning come from historical legends or heroic deeds. They are sewn by professional masters. Each layer of fabric is stitched with "thorn embroidery" to strengthen the stitching, and then through The "tube drawing" method is used to draw the totem that brings courage. Each piece of fire-proof clothing takes several weeks to complete, but not every piece can be completely preserved.
Looking at these fire-fighting suits that have experienced life and death, I think about how they were threatened by Zhu Rong time and time again, and how the people who wore them tried to suppress their fear to face fire-fighting tasks of all sizes. Such ancient relics are often the most It is emotional and can most arouse peoples deep respect in addition to appreciating art.
