The “dashuhua” used to be the “poor man’s fireworks.” In the past, only the wealthy residents of Nuanquan could afford firecrackers during the festivals. So the town’s blacksmiths noticed sparks flew out when they poured on the molten iron, which inspired them to create the “dashuhua” performance.

 

铁不磨生锈，水不流发臭
Iron becomes rusty without whetting, and water turns nasty without running.
The proverb indicates that one should make constant progress instead of being satisfied with old practices.

 

铁罐莫说锅粘灰，鲫鱼莫说鲤驼背
An iron jar mustn’t call a cauldron sticky with soot; a crucian mustn’t call a carp hunchbacked.
Crucian are a particularly unsightly form of carp. The proverb is a critique of hypocrisy, with the English counterpart being “Pot calling the kettle black.”

 

铁怕落炉，人怕落套
The worst that can happen to iron is to fall into the furnace; the worst that can happen to a person is to fall into a trap.
The proverb warns that people should stay vigilant to avoid being caught in traps.

 

火烧芭蕉心不死
The banana tree is burnt but its core remains.
It is used with reference to a person who does not easily give up or is unwilling to accept defeat.

 

火要空心，人要忠心
Fire should be hollow-hearted; man true-hearted.
The proverb is metaphorically used to mean that people cannot be so selfish or hide too many of their personal interests in their hearts.