This was revealed by Tran Van Tuy, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Ninh, which has recently won the UNESCO’s recognition of itsQuan Ho (duet singing) as an intangible cultural masterpiece of the humankind.
The making of Dong Ho folk woodcut painting was originated from Dong Ho Village, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.
Traditionally, Dong Ho painting, which reflected a wide range of
themes, especially good luck wishes, historical figures, and folk
allegories, was part of the essentials in each Vietnamese family during the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.
According to the villagers, the making of Dong Ho painting was dated
back to the 11th century during the reign of the Ly Dynasty. However,
researchers said the craft began under the rule of the Le Dynasty.
Making the painting, Dong Ho craftsmen used raw materials from
nature, including making sheets of printing papers from bark of “do”
tree and creating colours from earth, burnt bamboo leaves, sea shell.
Printing the picture, they used the woodblock which is applied with
paint and pressed it on a sheet of paper like a stamp. The process was
repeated with different colours until the craftsman felt satisfied with
the painting.
The finished painting was later covered with a layer of rice paste to
strengthen the durability of its illustration and colours and
afterwards dried under the sun.
As the traditional craft has faded with time, efforts have been made
to preserve it, with Nguyen Dang Che, one of the few remaining
experienced craftsmen of the village establishing his own Dong Ho
painting centre in 2008.