noun
blacksmithing; forging; smithery
The craft or trade of a blacksmith; heating and hammering metal to shape tools, weapons, or other objects.
祖父は若い頃、鍛冶の仕事をしていた。
My grandfather worked as a blacksmith when he was young.
この地域は昔から鍛冶が盛んだ。
This area has long been known for blacksmithing.
noun
The person who practices blacksmithing; often used in historical or traditional contexts.
村の鍛冶が鎌を直してくれた。
The village blacksmith repaired my sickle.
彼は刀鍛冶として有名だ。
He is famous as a swordsmith.
Irregular kanji variant; 治 is a common replacement for 冶 but is not standard for this word.
The reading かじ is a jukujikun (special kanji reading) for 鍛冶. The historical derivation is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb 鍛える (きたえる, 'to forge/temper'). The reading たんや is a regular on'yomi reading of the kanji, and かぬち is an older native reading.