Art Pottery - Art heritage

Traditional pottery making of the Cham people is an indispensable part of the overall Cham culture. Unique ceramic products bear many historical imprints of their own, reflecting the diversity and representative creativity, expressing the national identity of the Cham community.

Traditional pottery making of the Cham people is an indispensable part of the overall Cham culture. Unique ceramic products bear many historical imprints of their own, reflecting the diversity and representative creativity, expressing the national identity of the Cham community.

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Cham pottery is still present mainly in two villages, Ligok (Tri Duc, Binh Thuan province) and Hamu Craok (Bau Truc, Ninh Thuan province). Among them, existing from about the end of the 12th century to the present, Bau Truc is considered one of the very few ancient pottery villages in Southeast Asia that still retains the rudimentary production method from thousands of years ago. The whole pottery making process of the Cham people exudes a unique artistic value. Because of that, despite many ups and downs in the development process, the traditional ceramics of the Cham people still exist with time, retain the quintessential soul and keep the wild beauty of ancient pottery hundreds of years ago. That is the unique and lasting value of Cham pottery.
Cham pottery is still present mainly in two villages, Ligok (Tri Duc, Binh Thuan province) and Hamu Craok (Bau Truc, Ninh Thuan province). Among them, existing from about the end of the 12th century to the present, Bau Truc is considered one of the very few ancient pottery villages in Southeast Asia that still retains the rudimentary production method from thousands of years ago. The whole pottery making process of the Cham people exudes a unique artistic value. Because of that, despite many ups and downs in the development process, the traditional ceramics of the Cham people still exist with time, retain the quintessential soul and keep the wild beauty of ancient pottery hundreds of years ago. That is the unique and lasting value of Cham pottery.

Cham pottery is still present mainly in two villages, Ligok (Tri Duc, Binh Thuan province) and Hamu Craok (Bau Truc, Ninh Thuan province). Among them, existing from about the end of the 12th century to the present, Bau Truc is considered one of the very few ancient pottery villages in Southeast Asia that still retains the rudimentary production method from thousands of years ago.

The whole pottery making process of the Cham people exudes a unique artistic value. Because of that, despite many ups and downs in the development process, the traditional ceramics of the Cham people still exist with time, retain the quintessential soul and keep the wild beauty of ancient pottery hundreds of years ago. That is the unique and lasting value of Cham pottery.

Currently, the Cham people make pottery with traditional manual techniques and processes that have been maintained by the Cham families here for many generations. The traditional pottery making process of the Cham people includes many stages of work, many stages connected with each other. The first is hand selection and land acquisition. The treatment of soil before making pottery determines the quality and performance of the product after firing. After taking the soil back, people break it into small pieces to filter out the impurities, only take the yellow clay and then incubate it to keep it soft. Taking a block of soil just enough, the Cham woman flexibly kneaded the soil to make it flexible, then put it on a large jar to create a block.

Currently, the Cham people make pottery with traditional manual techniques and processes that have been maintained by the Cham families here for many generations. The traditional pottery making process of the Cham people includes many stages of work, many stages connected with each other. The first is hand selection and land acquisition. The treatment of soil before making pottery determines the quality and performance of the product after firing. After taking the soil back, people break it into small pieces to filter out the impurities, only take the yellow clay and then incubate it to keep it soft. Taking a block of soil just enough, the Cham woman flexibly kneaded the soil to make it flexible, then put it on a large jar to create a block.

Ceramic products are made entirely by hand “Hand shaped, no turntable.” Artists walk backwards around the table making ceramic shapes. With ingenuity and skillful technique, just a few rounds, the craftsman has created the block for the product. The shape products will be determined by the worker’s movement. After that, they use a “Vong quo” to brush around the ceramic body, then take a roll of cloth soaked in water to wrap it in their hands, scrubbing the outside of the ceramic to be shiny. Next is the decorative pattern. The hands quickly carve on the ceramic body patterns with the theme of rivers, plants or images of nature, heaven and earth, and gods in the spiritual beliefs of the Cham people. After shaping, people leave the product in the shade for 24 hours, then rub it thinly and continue to dry it for another 7 days to completely dry, then bake it. As a result, the product will
Ceramic products are made entirely by hand “Hand shaped, no turntable.” Artists walk backwards around the table making ceramic shapes. With ingenuity and skillful technique, just a few rounds, the craftsman has created the block for the product. The shape products will be determined by the worker’s movement. After that, they use a “Vong quo” to brush around the ceramic body, then take a roll of cloth soaked in water to wrap it in their hands, scrubbing the outside of the ceramic to be shiny. Next is the decorative pattern. The hands quickly carve on the ceramic body patterns with the theme of rivers, plants or images of nature, heaven and earth, and gods in the spiritual beliefs of the Cham people. After shaping, people leave the product in the shade for 24 hours, then rub it thinly and continue to dry it for another 7 days to completely dry, then bake it. As a result, the product will "ripe" thoroughly and not crack. The product after processing is exposed to open fire. The difference of Cham pottery is that the products are completely exposed. Depending on the sunny and windy conditions, plus the color spraying process and technique (extracted from cashew nut oil,...) which will produce products with characteristic colors such as red yellow, rose red, black gray, brown streaks strange and beautiful, clearly showing the ancient Cham culture.
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Talking about traditional handicrafts of the Cham people, it is impossible not to talk about pottery making or rather their pottery art, because it is an inevitable part of creating the overall Cham culture.
Talking about traditional handicrafts of the Cham people, it is impossible not to talk about pottery making or rather their pottery art, because it is an inevitable part of creating the overall Cham culture.
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Associate Professor-Dr. Shimoka Sakaya, representative of the Japanese research group, said, “Cham and Churu ceramics are quite similar, in addition to their own local characteristics, there are also characteristics of ancient Sa Huynh pottery and other ancient pottery in Southeast Asia. It is hand-made ceramic without a turntable, using manual pedals, millet, brushing, polishing and outdoor firing techniques. Many ancient pottery villages in the world have disappeared, but Vietnamese Cham potteries still exist, keeping the quintessential soul and preserving the wild beauty of ancient pottery hundreds of years ago. That is the unique and lasting value of Cham pottery, worthy of being recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Hopefully, once again, Cham pottery will revive and continue to spread.
Associate Professor-Dr. Shimoka Sakaya, representative of the Japanese research group, said, “Cham and Churu ceramics are quite similar, in addition to their own local characteristics, there are also characteristics of ancient Sa Huynh pottery and other ancient pottery in Southeast Asia. It is hand-made ceramic without a turntable, using manual pedals, millet, brushing, polishing and outdoor firing techniques. Many ancient pottery villages in the world have disappeared, but Vietnamese Cham potteries still exist, keeping the quintessential soul and preserving the wild beauty of ancient pottery hundreds of years ago. That is the unique and lasting value of Cham pottery, worthy of being recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Hopefully, once again, Cham pottery will revive and continue to spread." Professor Leedom Lefferts (USA), who has more than 20 years of experience in studying Cham pottery, highly appreciates the ceramic art of Cham women. Outdoor firing, no turntable, hand-shaped, each product is an independent artwork, that is the difference between Cham pottery and other ceramic potteries.
Doan Ngoc Khoi, who is a doctor of archeology, said that there is a fluctuation in the cultural flow from Sa Huynh culture to Cham culture. But the uniqueness of the Cham's pottery craft is also reflected in the fact that 300 people in Bau Truc make the same product; if mixed together, each person still recognizes their products. The imprint left on each product of each person is always present. According to Dr. Atthasit Sukham (Thailand), he has encountered in temples in northeastern Thailand a series of Cham ceramic products. The appearance in those sacred places proves the attraction of Cham ceramics in the spiritual world not only in Thailand but also in Southeast Asia. Professor, Dr. Lam Thi My Dung in National Institute of Culture affirmed, in the journey of searching for Cham culture, pottery will be the

Doan Ngoc Khoi, who is a doctor of archeology, said that there is a fluctuation in the cultural flow from Sa Huynh culture to Cham culture. But the uniqueness of the Cham's pottery craft is also reflected in the fact that 300 people in Bau Truc make the same product; if mixed together, each person still recognizes their products. The imprint left on each product of each person is always present.

According to Dr. Atthasit Sukham (Thailand), he has encountered in temples in northeastern Thailand a series of Cham ceramic products. The appearance in those sacred places proves the attraction of Cham ceramics in the spiritual world not only in Thailand but also in Southeast Asia.

Professor, Dr. Lam Thi My Dung in National Institute of Culture affirmed, in the journey of searching for Cham culture, pottery will be the "key" to approach the material and spiritual life of Cham residents. In each certain period, they absorb the achievements and experiences of the previous period, in the process of cultural exchange with the surrounding community... Bau Truc pottery, in addition to its own local characteristics, has its own characteristics. general of ceramics in the region.

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For many centuries, the Cham people in Bau Truc village have kept intact the traditional craft of their forefathers with skills and know-how passed down through many generations. Therefore, this place is favored by foreign researchers and tourists as a

For many centuries, the Cham people in Bau Truc village have kept intact the traditional craft of their forefathers with skills and know-how passed down through many generations. Therefore, this place is favored by foreign researchers and tourists as a "living museum" of Cham pottery.

However, Bau Truc Cham pottery is also facing the risk of extinction, because of the impact of industrial production, modern household products (containers, cooking utensils...) with new materials gradually replace traditional ceramic products. In order for competition to exist, when consumers have high aesthetic requirements, Bau Truc pottery village had to find a direction to innovate and develop. This Cham pottery village has pioneered to find a way to innovate the line of civil ceramic products, combined with the development of decorative ceramic lines to create attraction from the market. With the thought of developing on the basis of Cham culture to keep its own characteristics and not be limited in it, Cham pottery artisans have developed new products that combine Western and cultural elements. Vietnam into Bau Truc ceramic products. Wanting to develop ceramic products cannot be confined to Cham culture forever. However, the development must be based on the Cham culture to keep its own appearance and characteristics. Only then, Bau Truc Cham pottery had a firm foothold in the market.

However, Bau Truc Cham pottery is also facing the risk of extinction, because of the impact of industrial production, modern household products (containers, cooking utensils...) with new materials gradually replace traditional ceramic products.

In order for competition to exist, when consumers have high aesthetic requirements, Bau Truc pottery village had to find a direction to innovate and develop. This Cham pottery village has pioneered to find a way to innovate the line of civil ceramic products, combined with the development of decorative ceramic lines to create attraction from the market.

With the thought of developing on the basis of Cham culture to keep its own characteristics and not be limited in it, Cham pottery artisans have developed new products that combine Western and cultural elements. Vietnam into Bau Truc ceramic products.

Wanting to develop ceramic products cannot be confined to Cham culture forever. However, the development must be based on the Cham culture to keep its own appearance and characteristics. Only then, Bau Truc Cham pottery had a firm foothold in the market.

Along with changing designs and improving popular ceramic products, Bau Truc pottery also promotes the development of decorative ceramics, art ceramics, souvenir ceramics with aesthetic content and high economic value such as: decorative ceramic lamps, night lights, flowerpots, water vases, tea pots, water hyacinths, water towers, symbols of Western culture, Eastern culture and Cham culture.
Along with changing designs and improving popular ceramic products, Bau Truc pottery also promotes the development of decorative ceramics, art ceramics, souvenir ceramics with aesthetic content and high economic value such as: decorative ceramic lamps, night lights, flowerpots, water vases, tea pots, water hyacinths, water towers, symbols of Western culture, Eastern culture and Cham culture.
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Within the framework of the project Developing heritage-based community-based tourism in Bau Truc village, implemented by the British Council in collaboration with the Ninh Thuan Depart- ment of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the locality, the villagers have receive guidance, training to welcome tourists, market products, teach guests how to make cakes and traditional dishes. As a result, people's income has significantly improved besides the income from ceramic products. Community-based tourism not only brings livelihoods to people, but also contributes to the protection of the environment, landscape and indigenous cultural values for Bau Truc village, as well as protecting the traditional craft of the Cham people in the area. here from the danger of disappearing.

Within the framework of the project Developing heritage-based community-based tourism in Bau Truc village, implemented by the British Council in collaboration with the Ninh Thuan Depart- ment of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the locality, the villagers have receive guidance, training to welcome tourists, market products, teach guests how to make cakes and traditional dishes. As a result, people's income has significantly improved besides the income from ceramic products. Community-based tourism not only brings livelihoods to people, but also contributes to the protection of the environment, landscape and indigenous cultural values for Bau Truc village, as well as protecting the traditional craft of the Cham people in the area. here from the danger of disappearing.

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Experiencing many ups and downs, pottery in Bau Truc thought for a while to be lost, but now it has prospered again. Currently, Bau Truc pottery village is one of the famous attrac- tions of Ninh Thuan, which preserves the cultural quintessence of the Cham people.

Experiencing many ups and downs, pottery in Bau Truc thought for a while to be lost, but now it has prospered again. Currently, Bau Truc pottery village is one of the famous attrac- tions of Ninh Thuan, which preserves the cultural quintessence of the Cham people.

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