Bat Trang, a small village in the
north of Viet Nam, is about 13 kilometers southeast of Ha Noi center, on the
other side of the Red River. The village is famous for ceramic and pottery
products of high quality.
If you have known about Việt Nam,
you may not be surprised that Bat Trang’s vases, bowls, dishes, and many other
kinds of ceramic products have been exported worldwide.
Bat Trang Village is said to be
established in the 14th or 15th century in several documents.
However, according to the
villagers, the village perhaps appeared earlier. There are always two stories
concerning the village’s origin. One of these tells that under Ly Dynasty, in
1100, when the nation was in its independence and initial growth period, there
were three scholars who came back from their mission trip to China bringing the
ceramic craft industry learned there back to Viet Nam and taught the people of
Bat Trang.
In the other story, the village
history dates back to the 10th century, when King Ly Cong Uan relocated the
capital in Thang Long. With the establishment and development of the capital,
many businessmen, crafters from many areas come to settle down here to work and
trade. In Bat Trang, there was a lot of white clay, so that many potters …
Accordingly, Bat Trang has
gradually changed from a normal ceramic and pottery village into a famous
ceramic and pottery center until now.
As time went by, the village’s
products have become well known for their best quality, style and glaze, both
inside and outside of the nation. Many of these are now customized for
aristocratic families and religious needs. Their popular foreign markets are
Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, Portugal, and Southeast Asia, etc.
To produce a complete product,
one must follow three steps. The first step is making the product body. The
artists select the suitable clay, treat it and start making a raw product. It
must be repaired to get the best appearance. Secondly, they decorate and cover
it with glazes. Last but not least, the raw products are baked in three days
and three nights. There are several kinds of kilns, yet the temperature must be
at 12000 or 13000. After baking, products are brought out, classified and
repaired in case there are mistakes. And now we have perfect products.
Bat Trang products are divided
into three kinds based on the purposes of use such as utilitarian wares, cult
wares and decorative objects.
Thanks to a long–lasting history
and development, the village’s works have been accumulated with a lot of
different special designs. One more thing that makes them distinguished is the
glaze, which is of high quality and a variety of colors, such as blue, brown,
white, moss green, in both breaking and melting glazes.
In fact, there have appeared a
number of competitors both domestically and internationally who take advantages
of high technology.
Yet most customers prefer the
craft products that contain historical and traditional values. Hence, it is no
surprise at all that Bat Trang is still found in busy days and works. More
importantly, the village is now so popular that it absorbs a huge annual number
of tourists to visit and buy ceramic goods.
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