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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.
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