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An insight into Quang Nam Province's Thanh Ha Pottery Village

By DA NANG Today / DA NANG Today
January 25, 2021, 18:04 [GMT+7]

These days, pottery makers in Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, have been rushing to create clay buffaloes, the zodiac sign for the 2021 Lunar New Year, in a bid to meet the surge in demand from customers for Tet - the much-awaited biggest traditional festival of Vietnamese people.

Under skillful hands of craftsmen, pieces of inanimate clay are turn into cute buffaloes in an amazing variety of sizes and designs.

Let's take a look at some beautiful photos taken by our reporter Xuan Son, showing some basic steps in making clay buffaloes in this village which offer deeper insight into Thanh Ha Pottery Village.

Hoi An’s hospitality industry was severely affected by the global coronavirus pandemic and a string of natural disasters last year, so many pottery kilns and making facilities in Thanh Ha Village had their operations temporarily suspended.
The tourism industry in Quang Nam Province, and Hoi An City in particular, was severely affected by the global coronavirus pandemic and a string of natural disasters last year, so many pottery kilns and making facilities in Thanh Ha Village had their operations temporarily suspended.
In these days leading up to Tet, the village’s pottery markers have been busy in creating clay buffaloes with different sizes and designs because the 2021 Lunar New Year marks the Year of Buffalo.
In these days leading up to Tet, the village’s pottery markers have been busy in creating clay buffaloes with different sizes and designs because the 2021 Lunar New Year marks the Year of Buffalo.
The village’s pottery craftsmen create clay buffaloes with many different shapes depending on their creativity and imagination, or their guests’ requirements.
The village’s pottery craftsmen create clay buffaloes with many different shapes depending on their creativity and imagination, or their customers' orders
Craftsperson Nguyen Van Xe (in picture) is the 4th generation in a family boasting over 100-year tradition of making pottery.
Craftsperson Nguyen Van Xe (in picture) is the 4th generation in a family boasting over 100-year tradition of making pottery
Mr Xe’s family is very famous for creating clay statues of zodiac animals in the Thanh Ha Village. Till date, his family has made dozens of 30cmx60cm buffalo statues from clay with different postures of standing, lying, grazing and fighting.
Mr Xe’s family is very famous for creating clay statues of zodiac animals in the Thanh Ha Village. Till date, his family has made dozens of 30cmx60cm buffalo statues from clay with different postures of standing, lying, grazing and fighting.
Aside from large-sized buffalo statues, there are medium and small-sized ones. It often takes craftsmen several minutes to nearly a week to create a clay buffalo depending on their sizes and intricacy levels.
In addition to large buffalo statues, there are medium and small ones. It often takes craftsmen from several minutes to nearly a week to create a clay buffalo depending on their sizes and intricacy levels.
After being modeled in clay, buffalo statues will be dried in the sun and put into fired kilns.
After being modeled in clay, buffalo statues will be dried in the sun and put into fired kilns.
The most difficult step during the process is to make buffalo horns. This step requires meticulousness, ingenuity, and persistence.
The most difficult step during the process is to make buffalo horns. This step requires meticulousness, ingenuity, and persistence.
In addition to be tourism products, clay products are commonly used as cute decorative items. In the picture: tiny buffalo statues are hung on Mr Xe’s gate.
Clay products are commonly used as cute decorative items. In the photo are tiny buffalo statues which are hung on Mr Xe’s gate.
Mr Xe said, after a year full of difficulties and challenges in all aspects, all villagers hope that such zodiac sign of the 2021 Lunar New Year will bring about a year full of prosperity and luck.
Mr Xe said, after a year full of difficulties and challenges in all aspects, all villagers hope that such zodiac sign of the 2021 Lunar New Year will bring about a year full of prosperity and luck.
Visitors show their interest in large-sized clay buffalo statues
Visitors show their interest in large clay buffalo statues
Beyond the time-honoured traditional pottery-making craft, the Thanh Ha Village is very inviting to both domestic and foreign tourists thanks to its poetic and peaceful landscapes.
Boasting the time-honoured traditional pottery-making craft, the Thanh Ha Village is very inviting to both domestic and foreign tourists thanks to its poetic and peaceful landscapes.

 By XUAN SON - Translated by M.D

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