Compiling dossier on Cham ethnic pottery to submit to UNESCO

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has ratified Ninh Thuan provincial People’s Committee’s proposal to compile a dossier on Cham ethnic people’s traditional pottery to secure UNESCO recognition as an intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of safeguarding.

Cham ethnic people use their skilled hands to create a variety of products in different designs (Photo:VNA)
Cham ethnic people use their skilled hands to create a variety of products in different designs (Photo:VNA)

The Ministry noted that during the planning and documenting process, Ninh Thuan provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies - Ho Chi Minh City branch will conduct surveys and studies, and invite localities with a rich heritage of Cham ethnic traditional pottery to participate in their research.

One of the outstanding characteristics of the Cham ethnic traditional pottery making is the technique of making pottery without turntables or pottery wheels, and open firing with straw and fire-wood. They are unique products bearing many historical cultural marks of the ethnic minority group.

One of the outstanding characteristics of the Cham ethnic traditional pottery making is the technique of making pottery without turntables, and open firing with straw and fire-wood.

Cham ethnic people use their skilled hands to create a variety of products in different designs, serving the needs of daily activities, beliefs and religions, while expressing the creativity and cultural identity of the Cham ethnic group. They include water containers, rice containers, reliefs, decorative lamps, and statues of Apsara and Shiva.

The traditional pottery crafts of the Cham ethnic group in Binh Thuan and the art of pottery making of Cham ethnic group in Bau Truc village, Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc District, Ninh Thuan Province were recognised as national intangible cultural heritages.