Preserving the essence of Khmer culture

Driven by a passion for making Buddha statues and a desire to preserve the essence of Khmer culture, Mr. Ly Phuong, residing in Bung Long hamlet, Long Phu commune (Can Tho city), started his business crafting Buddha statues. To date, his workshop not only spreads positive cultural values ​​but also provides a stable income for his family and creates jobs for many local workers.

The craftsmen meticulously carve every detail on the statue at Mr. Ly Phuong's workshop.

Born into a Khmer family with a long tradition of connection to temples, Mr. Phuong was familiar with the image of Buddha statues and the sacred space of worship from a young age. During his long time studying at the temple, Mr. Phuong frequently observed artisans crafting Buddha statues. Initially, he was merely curious, but then his love and passion for statue making grew deeper and deeper into his mind.

So he diligently studied the styles of statues in Khmer culture, from posture and proportions to symbolic details and patterns... For Mr. Phuong, a statue not only needs to be beautiful but also must express a divine aura, exuding serenity and compassion in the spirit of Buddhism.

Recognizing the growing demand for Buddha statues, while the number of people practicing the traditional craft was dwindling, Mr. Phuong pondered the situation and decided to start his own business. Over the past 20 years, he has faced numerous difficulties in the early days: lack of capital, limited experience; many products did not meet requirements and required many revisions... but through perseverance, continuous learning from experienced artisans, research, and accumulation of experience, Mr. Phuong's Buddha statue workshop is now operating stably. His works are increasingly sophisticated, exuding the spirit and distinctive characteristics of Khmer art, and are trusted by many temples both within and outside the province to produce them.

A highlight of the statues crafted by Mr. Phuong's workshop is the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. Mr. Phuong respects the distinctive sculptural standards of Khmer culture for Buddha statues, from the meditating posture and benevolent facial expressions to the symbolic decorative motifs, in his creations. At the same time, he boldly applies new techniques in material processing, painting, and finishing, resulting in statues that are both beautiful and durable, suitable for long-term use.

Mr. Ly Phuong shared: “Having worked in this profession for over 20 years, and established my workshop for 10 years, I have accumulated a lot of experience in crafting. Currently, the workshop provides regular employment for 8 local workers, mainly young Khmer people, with an income of 400,000-500,000 VND per person per day. My family's annual income is approximately 360 million VND.”

Mr. Phuong did not hesitate to pass on all his professional skills to local youth, especially disadvantaged Khmer people, so that they could gradually master the craft.

Besides sculpting statues, Mr. Phuong also participates in painting and decorating many Khmer temples and traditional boats. "Every time I participate in painting boats or decorating temples, I feel very proud to contribute to preserving the cultural beauty of my people. Those experiences also help me create Buddha statues with more soul," Mr. Phuong further shared.

Text and photos: KIM NGỌC

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/gin-giu-hon-cot-van-hoa-khmer-a204357.html