Phu Lang Ceramic Village – A 700-Year Legacy in Kinh Bac Region

Phu Lang Ceramic Village, located in Que Vo district, Bac Ninh province, has thrived for nearly 700 years with its renowned exquisite ceramic products, becoming one of the oldest craft villages in Vietnam.

Phu Lang Ceramic Village – A 700-Year-Old Gem in Kinh Bac Land

Phu Lang Village sits by the Cau River with numerous ferry docks ferrying passengers to and fro. The name Phu Lang dates back to the late Tran and early Le dynasties. During this era, Phu Lang comprised three hamlets: Trung, Thuong, and Ha, known for its traditional pottery craft.

Luu Phong Tu is the patriarch of Phu Lang ceramic craft. In the late Ly dynasty, he was sent as an envoy to China by the royal court. During this mission, he learned pottery-making and imparted his knowledge to locals.

Phu Lang Ceramic Village was established and flourished around the Tran dynasty, in the early 14th century. Today, the Vietnam History Museum preserves and exhibits some Phu Lang ceramic products dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. These include brown-glazed ceramics and various shades like mottled, pale yellow, deep yellow, and brownish yellow glazes.

The legacy of Phu Lang ceramics spreads throughout the Red River Delta with pottery items related to beliefs such as dragons, phoenixes, cranes, incense burners, pinnacle ornaments, altars, the Four Supernatural Creatures, and mythical creatures found in temples, communal houses, shrines, and tombs.

Phu Lang Ceramic Village specializes in three main types: ceremonial ceramics (incense burners, altars, pinnacle ornaments), household ceramics (jars, pots, bowls, pitchers, water jars, pipes), and decorative ceramics (vases, animal-shaped teapots like horses, elephants, etc.).

While Tho Ha ceramics use blue clay, and Bat Trang ceramics use white clay, Phu Lang ceramics are crafted from red clay sourced from Thong Vat and Cung Khiem in Bac Giang province.

To prepare the clay, artisans sun-dry it until it turns silver, then mix it with other clays, kneading them into small balls with their toes before soaking them in water. They then knead, sift, pound, and crush the clay until it becomes smooth. Before shaping, the clay is kneaded and pounded up to ten times before being placed on the spinning wheel.

A distinctive feature of Phu Lang Ceramic Village is the use of the relief technique known as double-touch embossing, using natural, durable glazes. The pottery features a rustic yet robust appearance with diverse sculptural forms.

In terms of shaping, Phu Lang ceramics employ various techniques in sculptural artistry, creating a wealth of geometric forms. However, these can generally be categorized into two basic methods: shaping on the pottery wheel and molding on wooden or fired clay molds before assembly.

After shaping, the products are air-dried to ensure they do not crack or alter in shape. Nowadays, artisans often use gradual drying methods in kilns, slowly increasing the temperature to evaporate the water.

Once the raw products are completed, they are placed in the firing kiln. Arranging the products in the kiln follows strict rules to maximize space utilization, save fuel, and achieve high efficiency.

More than a decade ago, Phu Lang Ceramic Village faced the threat of extinction. However, with over 200 roaring kilns today, the craft village has revived. For ceramic artisans, making a living through their craft is precious, so despite the hard work, their passion for the craft remains unchanged.

 According to Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide