Bat Trang pottery village, located in Bat Trang commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi city, is one of the most attractive tourist destinations not only for visitors from afar but also as one of the most famous traditional craft villages of the capital city.
Apart from pottery and residential land, Bat Trang village has no other occupation and no other land area. Bat Trang village is a village of one craft: Bat Trang pottery.
According to oral tradition passed down through generations, after the Ly Dynasty moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La and renamed it Thang Long, with the king's permission, pottery artisans from the villages of Vinh Ninh Trang, Bo Xuyen, and Bach Bat (Thanh Hoa - Ninh Binh ) came to Bach Tho Phuong to open kilns, establish villages, and produce pottery and bricks for the feudal state.
Over the generations, the name Bach Tho Phuong has been changed to Bat Trang.
The products of Bat Trang pottery village are very rich and diverse, although they all use the same material, earthenware, with bricks and pottery being the most famous.
Bat Trang tiles were a famous brand even before pottery. Many Vietnamese folk songs have recorded this:
"Nga Son mats, Bat Trang bricks"
Nam Dinh silk fabric, Ha Dong village silk
Bat Trang bricks and ceramic products have distinctive sizes and colors that cannot be mistaken for bricks from any other craft village in the country.
These bricks are fired multiple times, resulting in a longer lifespan for construction projects and resistance to moss and mold. They are used in architectural works such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, and in communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines, lakes, and wells throughout Vietnam. They are most abundant in the Hue Imperial City and the tombs of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors.
Along with Bat Trang bricks, Bat Trang pottery is also famous both domestically and internationally. Bat Trang pottery comes in many styles, types, and sizes, classified by function as follows: religious items such as incense burners, candlesticks, candle holders, incense holders, wine jugs, jars, etc.
Household items include bowls, plates, teapots, vases, jars, and basins. Bat Trang pottery is handcrafted on a traditional potter's wheel, using a specific method, resulting in thick clay bodies. Later, techniques such as printing on wooden molds and pouring the glaze into plaster molds were adopted. Characterized by traditional glazes like blue, brown, and crackle glazes, along with decorative motifs such as flowers, leaves, vines, and birds, each suited to a specific product type, Bat Trang pottery is preserved and displayed in numerous museums both domestically and internationally. It is highly sought after by antique collectors and commands high prices in the market.
Heritage Magazine
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