PHUOC Tich VILLAGE – RED-FIRE CERAMICS VILLAGE FOR MORE THAN 500 YEARS

Putting aside the busyness and hustle and bustle of life, the travel itinerary will take you to a peaceful place: Phuoc Tich ancient village. Surrounded by the legendary O Lau River, Phuoc Tich village not only contains a rich culture and history but also has natural beauty that makes people feel gentle.

LOCATION OF PHUOC TIC ANCIENT VILLAGE

Phuoc Tich is an ancient village in Phuoc Phu village, Phong Hoa commune, Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province. Phuoc Tich Village is about 40km north of Hue City center.

The fastest way to get to Phuoc Tich village is to take Ly Thai To street outside the city. Then, continue straight to Highway 1A and turn onto Highway 49B. Continue running about 1km to reach Phuoc Tich village, after crossing the bridge of the same name.

The village has a special position, located between Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces. There is a gentle O Lau river, covering nearly ⅔ of the village. Therefore, when viewed from above, Phuoc Tich village is shaped like a wine jar or a horseshoe.

HISTORY BEGIN

Phuoc Tich ancient village was founded in 1470 (the year of the Tiger). At that time, under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the founder of the Hoang family, Hoang Minh Hung, returned after defeating the Champa army. He realized that this land was a “good land for birds to perch” and established a village. This is recorded in detail in the Hoang family genealogy.

In the early days, the village was called Phuc Giang, Phuc in the word “luck and fortune”, Giang means river. With the hope that the village next to the river will have many blessings as its name suggests. When it came to the Tay Son period, the village was renamed Hoang Giang to commemorate the Hoang family who cultivated this land. In 1802, when King Gia Long ascended the throne, he named the village Phuoc Tich as the people’s wish to accumulate blessings for their future descendants.

LONG-OLD CERAMIC CAREER

Phuoc Tich village is famous for its pottery making. This land has no fields for people to plant and cultivate. People can only live by making pottery. Phuoc Tich ceramics are made from clay and fired using traditional methods. Phuoc Tich ceramic products are famous everywhere, not only because of their durability but also because no two are the same and have different colors. Even though the products are not glazed after firing, they still have a layer of enamel floating on the outside, not being absorbed.

THE PROSPEROUS PERIOD OF THE CERAMICS VILLAGE

During the prosperous period, pottery from Phuoc Tich village was traded throughout the central provinces. On the banks of O Lau River there are 12 water wharves symbolizing the 12 zodiac animals. The whole village has more than 10 ceramic kilns burning brightly day and night, bringing wealth and fame for generations.

THE FURNACE OF CERAMIC PRODUCTS IS CALLED “TOAD FURNACE” BECAUSE IT HAS AN ODD SHAPE LIKE A TOAD’S BELLY. THE CERAMIC kiln is about 30 meters long and has a roof covered with paintings. PHUUC Tich CERAMICS ARE COMPLETELY MADE BY HANDCRAFTED METHOD. THE PRODUCTS ARE FORMED BY HAND WHEN PLACED ON THE ROTARY TABLE, CREATE EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL PRODUCTS BY THE ARTISTS HERE.

Over a long period of history, Phuoc Tich pottery prospered and declined over time. Today, there are many industrial ceramic products with extremely rich sophistication, colors, and designs. Therefore, Phuoc Tich ceramics cannot compete. The pottery village officially turned off the fire in 1980 with more than 500 years of operation, making many people regret.

Today, Phuoc Tich village is put into tourism activities, some pottery kilns are back in operation to serve visitors. Ceramic products are increasingly improving in design and quality. By artisans and a few young people with the desire to revive the famous pottery profession in the village.

THE PEACEFUL BEAUTY OF VIETNAM’S COUNTRY VILLAGES

Through many historical ups and downs, Phuoc Tich village still retains its pristine features with the daily life of Vietnamese villages. Next to the clear, gentle O Lau river, the ancient village has its own unique beauty combining the beauty of nature and the people here.

Phuoc Tich village’s ecosystem is very rich with many types of lush trees, shading the roads. Especially the people’s gardens have many fruit trees such as lychees, jackfruit, etc. You can rent bicycles to visit the old houses in the village and feel the fresh air under the tree-lined streets. green, ignore the noise of the city.

VISIT THE SCHOOL HOUSE

Phuoc Tich village has a system of ancient communal houses with extremely great cultural value. With the typical architectural art of Hue, there are three rooms with two wings and one room with two wings and are carved with extremely meticulous and sharp patterns. There are more than 30 communal houses here with a lifespan of hundreds of years. However, only the elderly look after and preserve it because the descendants work far away. In recent years, most of the communal houses have been cared for and repaired by the government. This is where the village’s cultural values and attractive tourist attractions are stored.

The space of the house is extremely airy with a very large garden and lush, lush trees. In the garden there are a variety of fruit trees such as areca, banana, jackfruit, lychee… The houses are only separated from each other by rows of curving, neatly trimmed tea trees, creating a strangely attractive beauty.

WORKS THAT BRING BOLD TRUST VALUES

Cay Thi Temple or Ba Temple is a sacred place of the village. There is a tree here that is over 700 years old proof of village life. Over time, the tree still grows lushly and becomes a characteristic feature of this place. Cay Thi Temple is a place to worship the goddess Ponagar – the sacred symbol of the Cham people. This place is a spiritual place, carrying extremely deep spiritual values of the people in the village.

VISIT THE CERAMICS “MUSEUM” OF MR. LE TRUNG DIEN

Enthusiastic about pottery making, Mr. Le Trong Dien built a house that preserves all the essence of Phuoc Tich village’s pottery craft. This is the only collection that has a full range of products such as pots, pots, pots, bowls, bowls, mortars, oil lamps, lime pots, jars, jars,… from the golden age of pottery.

Currently, Phuoc Tich village has reopened a number of pottery kilns for production. You can come here to watch artisans make pottery and make a simple product yourself like a to he, a whistle,… as a souvenir.

Phuoc Tich Village is the second oldest village in Vietnam and was recognized as a National Monument in 2009. This place has the peaceful beauty of a now more vibrant village. Because of the revival of pottery and other attractive activities. The travel itinerary is certain that the village will bring you many interesting experiences.