Huong Canh - the breath of the land

For generations, whenever people mention Huong Canh town (formerly Binh Xuyen district, Vinh Phuc province), now Binh Nguyen commune, Phu Tho province, they immediately think of "earthenware." Not as vibrant as Bat Trang glaze, nor as intricately carved as Phu Lang, Huong Canh pottery is simple yet powerful, exuding the beauty of the earth – a grayish-brown, resilient soil hidden deep within the midland region. There, human hands have "awakened" the earth, creating products with immense vitality, enduring through time and fire.

The history of Huong Canh pottery dates back hundreds of years. Elderly villagers recount that pottery emerged when agricultural tools and containers made of wood and copper no longer met the needs of daily life. Huong Canh clay has high cohesion, is very hard, and has good heat resistance, resulting in fired products with a unique and unparalleled durability.

A corner of Huong Canh (Binh Xuyen district, former Vinh Phuc province), now Binh Nguyen commune, Phu Tho province.

Thanks to this, the earthenware jars, pots, and other containers from Huong Canh have become familiar household items in many families in the Northern Delta region. Many locals still remember the image of a shiny black earthenware jar placed in the corner of the yard, used to scoop cool rainwater in the summer and keeping it warm in the winter.

The ceramic vases from Huong Canh are created with a profound artistic spirit.

The unique characteristic of Huong Canh pottery lies in its originality. Without glaze, the colors of the products are the natural colors of the clay after firing. The pottery has a smooth, leather-like surface, dark black or brown in color, sometimes reflecting the marks of the kiln burn – a unique mark that only fire can create.

The clay is molded into shape by the skilled hands of artisans in Huong Canh.

In traditional pottery kilns, firing a product is a "challenge." The craftsman must understand the clay's texture, moisture content, wind speed, and know exactly when to add firewood and when to "close" the kiln. If the timing is wrong, the product will crack or lose its color; but if done correctly, the pottery will be sturdy, producing a resonant, deep sound when tapped, as durable as the land itself.

These products are perfectly crafted from traditional clay in Huong Canh.

The current generation of artisans in Huong Canh still preserves traditional techniques. The potter's wheel is not electric, but operated by foot power. The craftsman sits low, his hands smoothing the clay in circles, his eyes intently focused as if following the soul of the product. The clay is kneaded with rainwater, "laid" in a bamboo basket or thick cloth to the right consistency, before being placed on the potter's wheel.

The traditional pottery-making techniques have been preserved and passed down from generation to generation in Huong Canh.

Under the skilled hands of artisans, small lumps of clay gradually transform into the bodies of jars, vases, and pots... One artisan said: "Huong Canh pottery isn't made with just your eyes or hands, but with emotion. If your heart isn't calm, the clay will rebel."

The lotus flower is creatively stylized in each Hương Canh ceramic product.

Beyond being just everyday objects, Huong Canh pottery has entered the realm of contemporary culture and art. Many collectors and architects incorporate stoneware into interior decoration, bonsai pots, and sculptures. Some products require extremely high firing temperatures, causing the clay to transform its structure, resulting in a mysterious black or burnt brown color like basalt. This rustic quality is precisely what makes it so appealing, because each burn mark, each slight crack, is a "mark of time" that cannot be replicated by industrial production lines.

Even very ordinary images are incorporated by artisans into Huong Canh pottery products.

Nevertheless, Huong Canh has also experienced many ups and downs. There was a time when the village was silent, with no sound of burning kilns, because traditional products were in short supply. Competition from plastic, stainless steel, and industrially produced glazed ceramics led many households to abandon the craft. But from within these difficulties, young hands returned. They opened creative workshops, combining modern design with traditional techniques, bringing Huong Canh ceramics to domestic and international exhibitions. The village's products are no longer just jars and pots, but also bowls, teapots, lamps, and decorative items with a fresh, modern feel.

Pottery artist Nguyen Hong Quang is one of the few young people passionate about the traditional pottery of his hometown, Huong Canh.

The village of Huong Canh today still maintains its simple, rustic way of life. The village road is covered with a layer of pale earthen dust, the clicking sound of the potter's wheel blending with the crackling of firewood in the kiln. Under low roofs, elderly artisans live their lives slowly: kneading clay in the morning, shaping at noon, checking the kiln in the afternoon, and wiping away the pottery dust in the evening. Each product that comes out of the kiln tells a story — not the story of an individual, but the story of a community connected to the craft. From generation to generation, Huong Canh earthenware silently marks the journey of people with the earth.

The people of Huong Canh have always had a deep passion stemming from the very breath of the land where they were born and raised.

Leaving Huong Canh, I still retain the deep brown color of the earth, the faint scent of burnt wood from the pottery kiln, and the resonant, resonant sound of my fingers lightly touching the pottery. It's a beauty that's not noisy or ostentatious, but powerful enough to awaken memories of enduring values ​​that time cannot erase. Huong Canh not only preserves the craft, but also the spirit of the land: patient, strong, simple yet profound. And it is from this tranquility that this small village in the midland region continues to nurture pride, imbuing each piece of pottery with the breath of its homeland.

Huong Canh pottery is no longer just an ordinary item; it now embodies the spirit of the homeland.

Kim Lien

Source: https://baophutho.vn/huong-canh-hoi-tho-cua-dat-243204.htm