Son Dong sculptors instill soul into wooden statues

The Son Dong craft village in Hoai Duc district, Hanoi has existed for more than a millennium. Nowadays, many young villagers work to preserve and develop their time-honoured craft of making wooden statues.

The Son Dong craft village dates back over 1,000 years. Under the reign of feudal dynasties in the past, it had hundreds of craftsmen granted the “Ba Ho Ky Nghe” (Master of the craft) title, also called artisans. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A large number of heritage sites across the millennium-old City of Hanoi bear the touch of Son Dong artisans such as the Temple of Literature, its Khue Van Pavilion (Pavilion of the Constellation of Literary), Ngoc Son Temple and The Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake, and One-Pillar Pagoda. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Nowadays, many young people in the village continue to uphold their ancestors’ craft of making wooden statues. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Nguyen Dang Dai, son of artisan Nguyen Dang Hac, has been involved in the craft for more than 20 years. He became familiar with the chiselling and carving sounds at a young age. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

After many years of learning the craft from his father, Dai now has his own workshop producing wooden Buddha statues. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Working industriously at carpentry workshops, the next generation of Son Dong artisans are now able to create exquisite patterns. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

At the same age as Dai in Son Dong village, Phan Van Anh, grandson of artisan Phan Van Anh, is following his ancestors’ footsteps to instill “soul” into wood. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Local villagers work tirelessly on wood pieces to create Buddha statues. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The “sweet fruit” that Son Dong craftsmen harvest after countless days sculpting statues is the fame across the nation. Son Dong is a name associated with ancient Buddha statues. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

With their skillful hands, Son Dong craftsmen have created a wide range of artworks of great exquisiteness, including the thousand-armed and thousand-eyed Buddha statue, the colossal statues guarding the gates of pagodas, statues of Arhats, and palanquins carried by eight people. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Behind those artworks is the sweat from descendants of this craft village who follow in the path of their ancestors. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Chiselling and carving sounds are ubiquitous across Son Dong, not from the hands of old artisans but from young craftsmen who work to preserve this long-standing craft. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

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