The vitality of Cham pottery

Recently, "Cham pottery art" was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This event not only helps the world learn more about another cultural heritage of Vietnam but also serves as an impetus for the Cham people to revive the vitality of pottery...

We invite you to explore Cham pottery through the photo series "The Vitality of Cham Pottery" by author Nguyen An Hieu. This will provide a deeper understanding of one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia, dating back to around the late 12th century, and still maintaining a completely handcrafted production method. The photo series was submitted by the author to the Happy Vietnam Photo and Video Contest, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications .

Bau Truc Village (also known as Vinh Thuan), named after the Cham place name "Palei Hamu Craok," is located in Ward 7, Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province. With a history spanning hundreds of years, it is considered the oldest pottery village in Southeast Asia, still preserving its traditional, entirely handcrafted pottery techniques. With their skillful hands, the artisans transform ordinary clay into aesthetically pleasing pottery products.

Despite their advanced age, many Cham artisans in Bau Truc pottery village are still diligently working in the pottery industry.

To create a complete ceramic piece, the potter must go through six small stages: preparing the clay – shaping – smoothing the clay – decorating with patterns – repairing the clay – firing the clay. During the pottery-making process, Cham potters perform many rather complex technical steps. From preparing the clay and shaping to firing the pottery, they use only their hands. The firing technique used in Bau Truc pottery is open-air firing, bearing the unique hallmarks of Cham pottery. In the Bau Truc pottery village, more and more people are learning the craft and making products that meet market demands. Bau Truc pottery is always unique because of its distinct soul, preserved from the clay firing process to the decorative patterns. Pottery making in Bau Truc village was once a women's occupation, but today, more and more young men are learning the craft and participating in its production. The Cham people make pottery using traditional techniques and processes, maintained by families through generations under a matriarchal system of "mother-to-daughter inheritance." This place is considered a museum of traditional Cham pottery, a practice found in Ninh Thuan and other coastal provinces of South Central Vietnam. Despite the ups and downs of its development, traditional Cham pottery has endured, retaining its essence and pristine beauty from centuries ago, creating a unique and lasting value for Cham pottery.

Vietnam.vn