Yin Zhaozhen measures a steelyard.

Yin Zhaozhen identifies his own steelyards.

A steelyard made in the Minguo Period.

It means every steelyard mark stands for conscience. Take it seriously.

Yin Zhaozhen drills holes on a steelyard: a skillful technique.

Yin Zhaozhen makes a steelyard.

Vanishing traditional techniques leave us a rich historic and cultural heritage. Yin Zhaozhen is a 58-years-old steelyard craftsmnan, who lives in an old street of Zaozhuang city, Shandong province.

Yin was born into a family of steelyard craftsmen in Weishan county. He began to learn this skill from his grandfather at the age of 11 and started up his own business in Lincheng township when he was 19. Since then he has been wed to steelyards and these days he is the only person who makes steelyards in Zaozhuang city.

When he was young, Yin enjoyed a prosperous business, selling five or six steelyards a day. However, with the popularity of electronic scales, steelyards grew less popular. Steelyard making was sophisticated work including material selection and polishing, which no longer makes money, said Yin. But he has a special affection and enjoys the process of their manufacture and can’t give it up. He has always lived by the principle of doing an honest day’s work and being a sincere person for 40 years.

Yin topped others in a municipal steelyards making competition in the 1980s. Nowadays, he and his wife lead a happy life in this old street.