Along with Quan Ho folk songs, Bac Ninh also possesses a unique and distinctive cultural heritage - Dong Ho folk paintings. From woodblocks, artisan Song Ho (Thuan Thanh town) skillfully breathed life into the handmade paintings, using completely natural materials.
Each painting on diep paper becomes a work of art imbued with the identity of Bac Ninh-Kinh Bac, reflecting the Vietnamese soul with its philosophy of life and profound humanistic aspirations. Overcoming difficulties and hardships in the process of preserving the craft, Dong Ho folk paintings have reached out to the world .
Natural beauty with cultural depth
According to Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Dang Che (Song Ho Ward, Thuan Thanh Town), the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings has existed for a long time. The genealogy of the Nguyen Dang family in Dong Ho village records that the craft of making paintings existed since the 16th century and flourished in the 1940s.
After 1945, the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings was in danger of disappearing, with no one coming to buy the paintings. Therefore, families switched to making votive offerings. Currently, Dong Ho village only has two families making paintings: Nguyen Huu and Nguyen Dang, with three dedicated families still sticking with the craft.
Dong Ho is a unique genre of painting, bearing the mark of traditional culture with cheerful, innocent images and containing dreams of a prosperous and happy life. These are paintings depicting the eternal dream of working people about a harmonious, prosperous, happy family life, a fair and good society.
The everlasting beauty of Dong Ho paintings is not simply a product of visual perception, but when looking at the paintings, people can feel the depth of spiritual culture that the artisan conveys.
For example, paintings of pigs, mother hens and chicks, babies holding chickens... express the desire for reproduction and prosperity. Paintings of teachings with toad teachers... are humorous yet profound.
Social satirical paintings of mouse weddings, coconut gathering... both gently satirize and contain thoughts about justice and social order. Dong Ho paintings are a mirror reflecting the daily life of ancient Vietnamese people.
It is this authenticity, closeness and simplicity that makes Dong Ho paintings different from other folk paintings in the world. Perhaps, few paintings can express the rustic beauty and profound harmony with nature like Dong Ho paintings.
Along with woodcuts, Dong Ho paintings are also expressed by artisans through strokes with different themes. Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh said that all the colors in the paintings are created from completely natural materials such as: Black from coal ash, red from red pebbles, yellow from pagoda flowers, green from indigo leaves. Each layer of color is printed by hand, overlapping each other, creating bright, vibrant colors that are still rustic and natural...
To preserve this precious painting, her family of three generations has worked together to preserve it. She is also the only recognized female artist of this painting genre. In addition to woodcuts, she also creates and draws new painting themes.
Not elaborate, not flashy or glossy, Dong Ho paintings impress with the simplicity of shapes and composition, creating harmony, reflecting the spiritual and cultural life and aspirations of the ancients.
Bringing Dong Ho folk paintings to the world
Through the struggles to protect the Fatherland, the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings faced many challenges and was at risk of fading away, and people who made paintings switched to making votive offerings.
Currently, Song Ho only has 3 families: Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Dang Che, Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh and Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Huu Qua.
In that context, the craft of making Dong Ho paintings has received special attention from all levels, sectors and the community. Bac Ninh has implemented many action programs to preserve and promote the value of heritage; from promoting communication, training young artisans, restoring traditional techniques to encouraging the creation of products applied in contemporary life to create new vitality for the heritage.
In recent years, the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center has been put into operation, creating a space for visitors to learn, experience and have fun. In particular, the province has built free tours , making the Center an ideal and attractive tourist destination.
In particular, today, in receptions of guests from Bac Ninh province and international diplomatic delegations in the Central region, Dong Ho paintings have been chosen as national gifts.
Dong Ho paintings continuously appear in exhibitions and cultural events in many countries such as France, Japan, Korea, the United States... becoming a bridge connecting international friends with Vietnamese culture.
Recently, on the evening of April 7, Bac Ninh province coordinated with the Vietnam Cultural Center in France to organize "Vietnamese Cultural Night - Quintessence of Kinh Bac Heritage" to introduce to international friends and the Vietnamese community in France Dong Ho folk paintings and Quan Ho folk songs - typical heritages that make up the cultural soul of Kinh Bac land.
From 5:30 p.m., the reception area was elaborately decorated with artisans and artists from Bac Ninh province in traditional costumes such as Ao Tu Than, Non Quai Thao, and Turban. In particular, guests were able to directly experience the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings, writing calligraphy, and making to he figurines under the guidance of artisans.
Mr. Nguyen Dang Tam (son of Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Dang Che) - a family with a long tradition of making Dong Ho paintings, said that he was honored to represent the craft village to promote the painting genre. Here, he enthusiastically introduced to visitors how to make Dong Ho folk paintings, printing techniques and materials; shared about the meaning and uniqueness of this folk painting genre.
Seeing that Vietnamese people in the country, overseas Vietnamese and international tourists love and appreciate the murals, he feels proud and happy. That is also a source of motivation and encouragement for those working in the profession to continue their passion and dedication to the profession.
Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province Le Xuan Loi said that in an effort to preserve and promote heritage, in parallel with organizing art education programs, craft village tourism and promotion being implemented to bring Dong Ho paintings closer to the public, Bac Ninh province has been preparing since 2019 for the construction of a Dong Ho folk painting conservation center in Song Ho commune (Thuan Thanh town).
The province actively coordinated with specialized units of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to prepare a dossier to submit to UNESCO for consideration of Dong Ho folk painting as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in need of urgent protection. Currently, Bac Ninh has completed the report form in accordance with UNESCO's proposal in 2025.
In addition to completing the Heritage Profile to send to UNESCO, the locality actively coordinated with relevant units to promote the Dong Ho folk painting heritage in many countries around the world such as Japan, Korea, Australia, the United States... and received positive feedback from the public.
This is an important step to help Dong Ho paintings reach deeper into the world heritage community./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/hanh-trinh-dua-tranh-dan-gian-dong-ho-vuon-ra-the-gioi-post1041976.vnp
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