TL;DR: Phường Đúc bronze casting village in Hue has a history of over 400 years, famous for exquisite worship items, bells, and utensils. The craft demands meticulousness and high skill through stages of mold making, melting, and pouring bronze.
The Century-Old Red-Fire Bronze Casting Village of Phường Đúc in Hue
When mentioning Hue, people often think of ancient relics, serene pagodas, and refined royal cuisine. However, few know that this land harbors a traditional craft village with over 400 years of history, still keeping its fires burning day and night to preserve a unique cultural trait of the ancient capital. This is the Phường Đúc bronze casting village.
What is Phường Đúc bronze casting village known for?
Phường Đúc (also known as Duc village) is a craft village located in Thủy Xuân ward, about 4km west of Hue city center. The village was established in the early 17th century. According to the genealogy of the Nguyễn Kinh Nhơn family, the founding ancestor of this craft was Mr. Nguyễn Văn Lương, originally from Đồng Xá village, Siêu Loại district (now part of Bắc Ninh province).
Over more than four centuries, the village's artisans have used their skillful hands to create exquisite bronze products serving the spiritual and daily life of the people. Phường Đúc consists of 5 hamlets: Trường Đồng, Kinh Nhơn, Bổn Bộ, Giang Dinh, and Giang Tiền. However, only the two hamlets of Kinh Nhơn and Bổn Bộ are the largest and most famous for bronze casting.
What is the aesthetic value of each bronze product?
What makes Phường Đúc's reputation is not only the durability of bronze but also the aesthetic value and relentless creativity of its artisans. They have transformed rough bronze blocks into valuable decorative art pieces for modern living spaces. The village's products are diverse, ranging from small items like cups, incense burners, and candle holders for worship, to large products such as temple bells, statues, and unique decorative items.
Notably, Phường Đúc's products are not limited to the local area. They have made their mark across the country, including the giant bell at Bái Đính Pagoda (Ninh Bình), the large bell at Thiên Mụ Pagoda, and cannons cast for the Hue Imperial Citadel. These products are not only proof of skillful craftsmanship but also a source of pride for the people of Hue.
How is bronze casting done in Phường Đúc?
To create a finished bronze product, artisans must go through a complex process requiring high precision. The main stages include mold making, melting bronze, and pouring bronze into the mold.
- Mold Making: This is the most crucial step, determining the shape and detail of the product. The craftsman must create the mold accurately to ensure the final product has sharp patterns and motifs.
- Melting Bronze: This stage is very delicate, requiring the craftsman to constantly observe and calculate to ensure the bronze melts evenly and reaches the right fluidity. Managing the fire and temperature is an art mastered only by those with years of experience.
- Pouring Bronze: Once the bronze is perfectly melted, it must be poured into the mold continuously and steadily. This ensures the final product is smooth, polished, and shiny.
Engineer Nguyễn Trường Sơn, an expert on the craft, shares: "Creating a product is very elaborate and meticulous, requiring each artisan to train and learn diligently to create products that meet the needs of modern consumers."
The craft also carries a high risk. Mr. Son adds: "Sometimes, errors occur at the final stage. If it's a minor error, it can be fixed, but if the error comes from the melting stage due to uneven heat, the product becomes unusable." Therefore, each product is not just the result of hard work but also the crystallization of experience, patience, and passion for the craft.
How does Phường Đúc village survive today?
Today, as people's living standards have improved, the demand for bronze worship items is no longer beyond the financial reach of many families. This has facilitated the strong consumption of Phường Đúc's products. Furthermore, the artisans' creativity in developing new designs that cater to modern tastes has helped the village grow continuously.
The revival of the craft village not only provides jobs for local residents but also helps preserve a unique traditional craft culture of the ancient capital region. Phường Đúc bronze casting village is a source of pride for generations of Hue people who are determined to maintain their unique identity after more than 400 years. Visiting Phường Đúc, tourists can not only admire exquisite products but also gain a deeper understanding of a craft that has left a strong mark on the culture of this heritage city.
Information about the Phường Đúc bronze casting craft village in Huế according to the main aspects.
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Craft village name | Phường Đúc (also called Đúc village) |
| Location | Thủy Xuân Ward, about 4km west of the center of Huế city |
| Time of formation | Early 17th century |
| Craft founder | Mr. Nguyễn Văn Lương, from Đồng Xá village, Siêu Loại district (now in Bắc Ninh province) |
| Number of hamlets | 5 hamlets: Trường Đồng, Kinh Nhơn, Bổn Bộ, Giang Dinh and Giang Tiền |
| Hamlets with the largest bronze casting craft | Kinh Nhơn and Bổn Bộ |
| Small products | Cups, incense burners, candlesticks serving worship needs |
| Large products | Pagoda bells, statues, interior decoration items |
| Main stages | Making molds, melting bronze, pouring bronze into molds |
| Most important stage | Making molds |
| Typical products | Bái Đính pagoda bell (Ninh Bình), Thiên Mụ pagoda bell, guns for the Imperial City of Huế |
