Ceramic tower of Tro pagoda: Unique souvenir product of Phu Tho

Nestled on the mountainside in Tam Hong commune, Phu Tho province, Tro pagoda is a humble relic but carries deep historical value. In 1954, the pagoda was burned down by the enemy, many worship objects were lost, leaving only an ancient enameled ceramic tower - a valuable artifact preserved by the people for many years after that. When peace was restored, the tower was handed over to the provincial museum for preservation. In 2019, the Prime Minister signed a decision to recognize the enameled ceramic tower of Tro pagoda as a national treasure - a rare testament to the intact enameled ceramic art of the Ly - Tran dynasties.

It was thought that the symbol would continue to quietly remain in the glass museum, but today, the image of the Tro Pagoda tower has become familiar to tourists, appearing in souvenir stalls and present as a representative of the identity of the Midlands. The person who made that change is artisan Kieu Duc Thuong - a son of the traditional carpentry village of An Tuong, Vinh Phu commune.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Duy Dong presented Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam, a model of the ceramic tower of Tro Pagoda.

Born into a family with three generations of carpenters, Mr. Thuong grew up surrounded by the sound of saws, the smell of paint and the meticulousness of each carving. However, what worries him is not only maintaining the old profession but also finding ways to develop carpentry in the new era. He always asks himself: How can the talented hands of the craft village not be lost? How can the traditional profession survive in the midst of the market economy ?

The answer came to him from his hometown’s heritage: the ceramic tower of Tro Pagoda. With its elegant appearance, balanced composition and patterns imbued with Buddhist art, the tower is not only a historical artifact but also the crystallization of the hands, minds and souls of the ancients. “I was attracted to the tower from the first time I saw it. It reminded me of my ancestors – people who lived and created in a deep connection between spirituality and craftsmanship,” Thuong shared.

From that inspiration, he set out to restore the ceramic tower model of Tro Pagoda. Not only is it a copy that respects the original, he and his team of artisans have created many versions of the model with different sizes. The 1:1 scale version is solemnly displayed at agencies and cultural spaces; the small-sized model is used as a souvenir, gift, and there is also a version used to burn incense, carrying spiritual meaning. Each product not only has aesthetic value but also carries the cultural story and traditional spirit of the homeland. The manufacturing process requires a combination of modern technology and manual techniques. The stages from measuring the proportions, choosing ironwood, copper, ceramic materials to using high-tech cutting machines to ensure accuracy are all carefully carried out. However, to make the product soulful, the finishing part is still done by the artisans themselves. Each touch, each layer of gilded paint is taken care of to every detail.

Artisan Kieu Duc Thuong (striped shirt) started to restore the ceramic tower model of Tro Pagoda to become a unique souvenir product of Phu Tho .

The manufacturing process requires a combination of modern technology and manual techniques.

In the workshop in Thu Do village (Vinh Phu commune), the working atmosphere is always bustling from early morning. In a corner of the workshop, a group of workers are meticulously carving patterns on the body of a model tower. Everyone is aware that they are not only making a wooden product but also restoring a cultural symbol. Mr. Thuong affirmed: “We make products not only to sell but also to tell a story. Each tower carries within it the soul of the land, of the people, of the past and present in harmony.”

In recent years, the tower model made by Mr. Thuong's workshop has been present at many major cultural events: Tay Thien Festival, Yen Lac District Book Festival 2023 and especially the Miss World Tourism 2022 contest in Vinh Phuc . There, the small tower model was presented as a gift imbued with the Vietnamese spirit. Many international friends, when holding the product in their hands, were amazed at the sophistication and harmony between classical features and modern spirit.

The ceramic tower of Tro Pagoda is present at the Miss Tourism World 2022 contest in Vinh Phuc province (old).

Participate in the annual Tay Thien Festival.

The products are not only consumed in the province but also available in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and even exported through orders from overseas Vietnamese. Many foreign enterprises that have attended cultural exchange events have placed large orders as gifts. Every time he sees his products present in formal spaces, or brought back by foreigners as souvenirs, Mr. Thuong feels that "the effort is worth it". Because for him, this is not just a handicraft, it is a small but meaningful "cultural ambassador".

From a little-known antique, the enameled ceramic tower of Tro Pagoda has become a living cultural symbol of Phu Tho province. That journey cannot be without the hands and passion of artisans like Kieu Duc Thuong, who not only preserve the profession but also renew it, revive the heritage with creative thinking, love of culture and the belief that: Each carving is not only a technique but also a way of life, an identity, an enduring voice of the homeland in modern times.

Le Minh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/thap-gom-men-chua-tro-san-pham-luu-niem-doc-dao-cua-phu-tho-237405.htm