Arts

Truc chi – Paper from Bamboo

The art of making truc chi is about making paper from bamboo according to traditional methods. In Sino-Vietnamese, truc means bamboo and chi means paper. Truc chi is a combined name artist Phan Hai Bang gives to the product he invented. 
In 2000,  Phan Hai Bang and his partners started a project to create a type of product that is unique and represents Vietnamese cultural values. After more than 10 years of studying the technique to make poonah paper, in 2011, Phan Hai Bang invented truc chi with the cultural values of Hue.

It took Phan Hai Bang a lot of time to find the right material for truc chi. He tried several different materials before choosing bamboo. The reason for that is that  bamboo grows in many places in Vietnam and it secures the resilience of the products, which can be put outdoors without being damaged by sunlight or rainwater.


Pouring pulp into moulds before creating patterns with a water sprayer. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


Truc chi makers use water sprayers to form patterns and details of truc chi. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


Images of patterns and details facilitate the decoration of paper. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


After water is sprayed over the images, the pulp under the images
is left on the sheet to form patterns. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


Truc chi sheets are sun-dried. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


Artist Phan Hai Bang cooperates with traditional craft villages
to produce products like fans or lanterns from truc chi. Photo: Tat Son/VNP



Products made of truc chi are displayed at the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities.
Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

Bamboo is cooked before being crushed into pulp. The pulp is then poured into moulds to form sheets of paper. When the sheets are still wet, artisans use a small water sprayer to form patterns, either by directly drawing on the surface with it, or by putting images of patterns on the wet sheets and spraying water over them. Therefore the sheets of paper will have an uneven surface when dry and the patterns will become visible when light is on them. Sometimes the artists use water colours to decorate the patterns.

This art, different from other arts that paper only serves as the background to highlight the patterns, features the paper only.

After inventing the way to make truc chi, Phan Hai Bang cooperated with traditional craft villages in Hue specialising in pictures, conical leaf hats and fans, to use truc chi to create handicraft items with the cultural characteristics of Hue. This combination has helped these villages thrive.



A space to display products of truc chi by artist Phan Hai Bang. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


When lit up truc chi products show their beauty. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


Lampshades made of truc chi. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


Lanterns made of truc chi. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


A picture made of truc chi. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


A picture made of truc chi. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


A calligraphy by Zen Master Minh Duc Trieu Tam Anh depicted on truc chi. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


A portrait displayed on truc chi. Photo: Tat Son/VNP


Hue traditional fans made of truc chi. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP


Artistic products made of truc chi. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP

Truc chi is not only the art of paper making, it is the combination of tradition and creativity. The passion drives the artists to create a new kind of unique and creative art. Truc chi, along with other forms of art, is contributing to diversifying the culture of Hue. 
Story: Tat Son – Photos: Tat Son & Thanh Giang

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