The fire has not been extinguished
In the small, winding alley of Bat Trang commune (Hanoi), the sound of the pottery kilns and the sound of the rotation of the wheelchairs still rings regularly. Artisan To Thanh Son (residing in Bat Trang commune, Hanoi) with white white hair, bottle hands, still sticks to the soil, fire and enzyme every day.
Mr. Son has been practicing shaping bowls with his father since he was a child. For about 65 years, he has not left the pottery kilns for a single day. "This job is not only a livelihood but also a job of blood and blood. If I give up, the craft village will hardly be intact, Mr. Son confided.
Mr. Son's story is also a common confession of many artisans in Bat Trang. In the village, many young people have chosen other paths: working as workers, doing business, providing services... instead of sitting in pottery.
But old artisans like Mr. Son still keep the red furnace burning, so that the sound of the table rotates non-stop. He quietly passed on the profession to the young generation who were less interested in pottery, with the hope that one day, the quintessence of the earth would be strongly revived.
Not only Bat Trang, the goldsmiths in Hanoi are also facing many challenges. The needle-making profession is meticulous and meticulous, requiring sophisticated hands and delicate eyes. In the traditional craft village of Dinh Cong silver bean (Dinh Cong ward, Hanoi), the space of the goldsmith workshop is no longer as bustling as before. But there are still artisans there who have not given up.
Artisan Quach Phan Tuan Anh - one of the few people who maintain a silver foundation and carving workshop in the traditional silver bean craft village of Dinh Cong - shared: "In this profession, learners have to persevere, sometimes for months to sit at the coffee table. But once a product is made, looking at each sophisticated line, the heart of the craftsman seems to be focused on it. I think if I abandon my profession, it would mean abandoning the memories of my ancestors.
Currently, Mr. Tuan Anh teaches many young people, especially the disabled, free vocational training. "I hope the goldsmithing profession will not only survive but also have new vitality. If I had kept it and spread the fire, the profession would not have died yet," he said.
Quietly fighting against forgetfulness
Artisan Quach Phan Tuan Anh shared that it is artists, with passion and sense of responsibility, who are the "last lock" to preserve traditional craft villages. They fight forgetfulness with their hands, with perseverance. Without big advertisements and little capital support, artisans still shine and are patient with their profession.
According to artist Quach Phan Tuan Anh, working in this profession sometimes brings little profit, but if he quits, he finds himself losing his roots. That saying is an affirmation that artisans not only work for a living but also preserve the cultural roots of the countryside and the capital.
"As long as there is one person working, the job is not lost. I believe that if I do it with my heart, there will be someone to follow me, said Mr. Tuan Anh.
Mr. Dang Van Duong (32 years old, from Ninh Binh) - a person with a disability in one leg, currently studying a trade at the traditional rice-beading craft village of Dinh Cong - shared: "The artisans who have not been able to give up are the most vivid proof of the endurance of traditional culture. In modern life, they are like small but resilient oil lamps, contributing to lighting up the memories of craft villages. And when that fire has not been extinguished, the craft village still has a chance to revive".
Mr. Duong added: "Hopefully, every citizen can contribute by prioritizing the use of craft village products in daily life. A Bat Trang pottery bowl, a Dinh Cong silver item or a Van Phuc silk scarf... are all cultural continuation, adding vitality to those who are holding the profession".
