|
 On the left
bank of Hong river and about 10 km from Hanoi in East (in Gia
Lam District, Hanoi), there situated a pottery village, which is
the most famous and long-standing pottery village in Vietnam for
its name of Bat Trang. Up to present, Ba Trang Pottery Village
has still been operating and developing ceaselessly. According
to a legend, the village was first called as Bach Tho Phuong
before its name was changed into Bat Trang Phuong. People in the
village remember in their memory that the place of their origin
Bo Bat Village (or called Bach Bat Village), Yen Mo District,
Ninh Binh Province.
People cannot help talking about Bat Trang, when they discuss
about pottery of Vietnam. According to some archaeological
documents, plenty of pottery
 items has been discovered at many
old relics and monuments built in Ly Dynasty. Sir Nguyen Trai, a
great politician, strategist, diplomat and poet, wrote in his Du
Dia Chi Book at the beginning of Le Dynasty that Bat Trang used
to provide 70 sets of bowls and plates as tribute paid for
China. This fact proves that pottery items were very
sophisticated in the past. At present, pagodas and temples in
Vietnam still have carefully-carved incense burners and lamp
stands, which were made in the 16th century (for example Boi Khe
Pagoda in Ha Tay Province).
Besides, some materials indicate that Bat Trang pottery items
appeared in 16th and 17th centuries. Based ourselves on that
information, we estimate that Bat Trang Pottery Village was
founded as a handicraft village at the edge of Thang Long City
more than 500 years ago. Bat Trang pottery items have been
circulated nationwide as well as in many foreign countries. Of
which, the most precious pottery items, which have been famous
in Vietnam and in the world, are pottery items with gem enamel
(in Ly and Tran Dynasties), pottery items with brown enamel (by
the end of Tran Dynasty and at the beginning of Le Dynasty),
pottery items with crazed enamel (in Le-Trinh Dynasty) and
pottery items with deep blue flowered enamel (by the end of Le
Dynasty and at the beginning of Nguyen Dynasty). In the past
centuries, Bat Trang pottery items were considered as
high-ranking, precious and rare ones. In order to satisfy the
demand of the market, Bat Trang Pottery Village makes many
family use items from baked clay. Besides, plenty of pottery
items with various kinds and designs make us admire the skill of
craftsmen in Bat Trang Pottery Village, where there are people
who make soil and fire change into gem enamel for life. |
