Keeping the Traditional Brick-Making Craft Alive

Dang Uyen, who has contributed to preserving and developing the traditional brick-making craft of Hue's imperial court. 

With love for traditional crafts, Dang Uyen from the former imperial city of Hue in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has researched and produced glazed ceramic tiles using royal techniques from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945), contributing to the supply of materials for the repair and restoration of relics in the Complex of Hue Monuments, a World Cultural Heritage.

The Complex of Hue Monuments has nearly 1,000 unique architectural structures from the Nguyen Dynasty era, many of which are in need of restoration and conservation.

Anyone who visits Hue is impressed by the ancient and magnificent beauty of palaces, temples, tombs, and mausoleums of the Nguyen Dynasty. These splendid architectural works are especially highlighted by the yellow and green color of the magical shimmering tiles which also represent the cultural, philosophical and aesthetic meanings and the absolute power of the king.

According to researchers, the Nguyen Dynasty used the name, lapis lazuli, a type of precious gem to name the two main types of roof tiles for the palace, including yellow lapis lazuli (yellow glazed tile) and green lapis lazuli (green glazed tile). The roofing of the lapis lazuli tiles is done the same as the traditional yin-yang tiles with one layer facing up and the other layer facing down, presenting the relationship of yin-yang, and heaven and earth according to the Vietnamese cultural concept.

In the past, to make the tiles with such high symbolic meaning, the artisans in the ancient royal kilns had to implement many stages, each requiring their secrets, such as the techniques of making glaze to create the typical color of yellow lapis lazuli and green lapis lazuli. However, only a few of their secrets have been handed down to present-day generations.

Dang Uyen's ancient ceramic tile workshop in Hue plays a significant role in preserving and promoting the traditional brick-making craft of the old imperial court.

At present, only a few people in Hue make ancient glazed ceramic tiles because the craft requires difficult techniques while the products are in low demand and mainly used for the restoration of relics. Realizing the difficulties, Dang Uyen with his love for pottery and concern for the restoration and preservation of Hue's royal architecture, made great efforts and spent much time studying and researching by himself as well as learning from skilled artisans to find the secret of making enamel and firing techniques, thereby successfully producing two types of lapis lazuli tiles.

In addition to these two main types of tiles, he also researched and produced many decorative ceramic tiles needed for the restoration of the Nguyen Dynasty’s architectural works.

His effort paid off when glazed ceramic tile products made from his own ancient ceramic tile workshop were selected by the Hue Monuments Conservation Center as the materials for restoring and repairing many important relics. They include Ngo Mon Gate, Gia Long Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Thieu Tri Tomb, Duc Duc Tomb, Truong Lang (the system of corridors in the forbidden palace), Nhat Thanh pavilion, Thanh Toan Tile-roofed Bridge and Quoc Hoc Stele.

At present, his workshop is producing tiles to restore the relic of Nam Giao Dan (Esplanade of Sacrifice to the Heaven and Earth) and the upcoming Thai Hoa Palace (the Palace of Supreme Harmony), one of the most important works in the Imperial Citadel of Hue.

The passion and dedication of Dang Uyen and his colleagues have helped Hue preserve its ancient craft of brick-making.

Hue is known as the heritage capital with the UNESCO-recognized Complex of Hue Monuments. In addition, the locality also has nearly 1,000 historical and cultural relics, of which 89 are of national level. Over time, many unique architectural works hundreds of years old are gradually being degraded, requiring timely restoration. In recent years, many important architectural works belonging to the complex have been restored and embellished, contributing to gradually restoring the appearance of the ancient capital.

Some steps in the production of bricks and tiles for the imperial court.

On average, the ancient ceramic tile workshop of Dang Uyen annually provides the market with 5-7 million glazed tiles of all kinds which are used for the repair and restoration of projects in Hue and other provinces and cities nationwide. The workshop’s products are also used for high-class resorts built in the Hue royal architecture style in the central coastal area.

The production process is carried out carefully and meticulously.

On average, the ancient ceramic tile workshop of Dang Uyen annually provides the market with 5-7 million glazed tiles of all kinds which are used for the repair and restoration of projects in Hue and other provinces and cities nationwide. The workshop’s products are also used for high-class resorts built in the Hue royal architecture style in the central coastal area.

The proper use of yellow glazed tiles and green glazed tiles has restored the magnificent beauty of Nguyen Dynasty architectural structures.

 

By Thanh Hoa/VNP    Translated by Nguyen Tuoi