There is a craft village on the Cai River.

In my old memories, every time the days before Tet came, my village would be bustling with red-hot furnaces day and night. That was when people prepared the Kitchen God stove...

Perhaps not many people know that in the middle of Nha Trang city, bustling with tourists, vehicles and luxurious restaurants and hotels, there is a hundred-year-old Lu Cam pottery village, once famous, located on the peaceful Cai River (in Ngoc Hiep ward). No one remembers exactly when the profession began, only knowing that since birth and growing up, many generations of families have been attached to the land, from the land they make pots, pans, bowls, jars, vases, etc. Those items, following busy boats upstream to sunny and windy Phan Rang and Phan Thiet, downstream to peaceful Phu Yen , then spread to all regions.

Land preparation stage. (Photo taken in 2012)

My grandmother told me that during the golden age, among Lu Cam ceramic products, the most produced item was the Kitchen God stove, especially near Tet, every day the whole Lu Cam village made thousands of stoves, so many people still called this "Kitchen God village". On this occasion, when worshiping to send Kitchen God to heaven, it is also the time when people prepare to replace the old stove, so that in the new year, when Kitchen God returns, they will have a new house, celebrate Tet with their family, and pray for a year of warmth and prosperity for the family.

Grandma said, making a stove seems simple, but to create a complete “Mr. Tao” requires more than ten steps, from choosing the soil, kneading the soil, to shaping, molding, making the grate, drying in the sun, firing… The soil to make the stove must be soft, smooth, and kneaded clay. Then, through the skillful hands of the craftsman, the stove is shaped, the stove door is made, the grate is made, and three legs are attached - representing the three Kitchen Gods, this is considered an important step to create the shape of the “Mr. Tao”. Next is the sun drying step, then the stove is put in the kiln for about 20 hours… Every step is done by hand, so it requires meticulousness and perseverance of the craftsman.

A villager of Lu Cam pottery village is shaping a kiln. (Photo taken in 2012)

I remember, every December, when the whole village was busy making the Kitchen God's kitchen, it was also when buyers from all over came, including local people and traders, so the hustle and bustle never stopped. As for us, we were very excited because we were about to have a break from school, excited because Tet was coming, we could eat cakes and candies, and dress up nicely. At that time, there weren't many games like now, so every time my father and uncles made the Kitchen God's kitchen, my siblings and I often went over to get the pre-kneaded clay to play games. Sometimes we would mold it into all kinds of shapes, sometimes we would imitate making firecrackers. After playing, everyone's face and clothes were covered in clay. In my memories of the old days, there was the crisp laughter of the children, the sound of adults calling each other, hurriedly preparing for the stoves and the offering trays for my grandmother's Kitchen God. At that time, next to the neat tray of food was a brand new stove placed in the kitchen with a blazing fire. Waiting for the ceremony to be completed, my grandmother took the old stove to the riverbank, silently giving thanks for a peaceful year.

Finished kilns are brought out to dry in preparation for firing. (Photo taken in 2012)

Nowadays, in modern life, gas stoves and electric stoves have become familiar in every family's kitchen. People occasionally see stoves in sidewalk stalls or sometimes use them to grill some seafood, meat, etc. in families. Unable to compete with products from other provinces and cities, the pottery profession in my hometown has also become deserted. Only a few families still keep the kilns and make a few products when tourists visit. However, every year-end and Tet comes, deep down, my grandmother, my mother, etc., who have lived their whole lives with the pottery profession, always have a hope that one day, the pottery profession of the village will revive.

Mini ceramic products made by Ms. Do Thi Hoa to serve tourists visiting the craft village.

Mr. Le Van Chuong, one of the oldest potters in Lu Cam village today.

My mother often said that as long as the hometown still exists, the profession still exists. And my grandmother, at her "rare" age, every time Tet comes, she does not forget to remind her children and grandchildren to clean the kitchen, prepare the food tray and the new house for the Kitchen Gods. In the minds of my grandmother, father, mother and the pottery villagers, the image of the "Kitchen God" made of red clay on Tet is as important as banh chung and pickled onions; without it, the taste of Tet will be lacking.

ARTICLE: NGUYEN PHUONG - PHOTO: MANH HUNG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/nhung-vung-ky-uc/202402/co-mot-lang-nghe-ben-dong-song-cai-fd45bad/