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"In Cao Bang, the Nung An people in Lung Ri hamlet, Tu Do commune, Quang Hoa district are very skilled at making yin-yang roof tiles. The stilt houses with yin-yang tile roofs have also become a unique feature of this place," photographer Vu Khoa shared with Travellive.
The Lung Ri yin-yang tile-making village is a vivid testament to the skill, creativity, and long-standing traditions of the Nung An people in Cao Bang.
Located more than 30 km from Cao Bang City, Lung Ri hamlet is a centuries-old village specializing in the production of yin-yang roof tiles. Lung Ri tiles are meticulously handcrafted, durable, beautifully colored, and provide excellent ventilation for roofing. The traditional, antique-looking yin-yang tiled roofs are a familiar sight to the people of the highlands. Tile making not only provides income for the villagers but also contributes to preserving the local traditional craft.
According to local residents and photographer Vu Khoa, the tiles are called yin-yang tiles because they always come in pairs of two: the yin (trough) tile faces upwards, while the yang (side) tile faces downwards. The yin-yang tiles of Lung Ri (also known as trough tiles) are entirely handcrafted: selecting the clay, preparing it, kneading it, filtering out impurities, shaping, drying, and firing... resulting in a distinctive and durable product.
Lung Ri roof tiles are meticulously handcrafted, durable, beautifully colored, and provide excellent ventilation for roofing.
The Nung An people created this unique type of tile, which they use to roof their traditional houses.
Making traditional gutter tiles requires many meticulous steps.
To date, the economic value of yin-yang roof tiles is not high due to competition from industrially produced tiles on the market. Nevertheless, unwilling to let the traditional craft passed down from their ancestors fade away, in the Nung An village of Lung Ri, one can still find images of hardworking, resilient people diligently creating each tile, carrying with them the pride of the unique culture of this place. Through the ups and downs of time, only a few families in Lung Ri still maintain the craft of making yin-yang roof tiles.
Lung Ri yin-yang roof tiles are entirely handcrafted, undergoing many meticulous steps that require the skill and experience of the artisans. The quality of Lung Ri tiles is characterized by being made from high-quality clay, having beautiful natural colors, being durable, and having good thermal insulation properties. Houses with yin-yang tiled roofs bring a distinctive beauty to the Cao Bang region, creating a living space in harmony with nature.
The image of hardworking, resilient people diligently creating each roof tile carries with it a sense of pride in the unique culture of this place.
Traditionally, making roof tiles involves many steps, from selecting and preparing the clay, kneading it, filtering out impurities, shaping, drying, and firing. All stages are meticulously done by hand to create a product with beautiful designs and a long lifespan. There are two types of tiles here: roof tiles and ridge tiles. Roof tiles are used for roofing, while ridge tiles are used for gables.
The first step in making gutter tiles is for the craftsman to find a source of clay. The gutter tiles in Tu Do are made from fine, pliable clay, purchased directly from Doc Lap commune. The clay is pounded to soften it, mixed with water, and then trampled by buffaloes until smooth. Next, the clay is left to ferment for about 5-6 days before being sifted to remove impurities such as pebbles and stones. After being cleaned, the clay is piled into blocks and covered with plastic to maintain its moisture. The shaping process then begins, where the clay is formed into rectangular blocks.
To make traditional gutter tiles, many steps are involved, from selecting the clay, preparing the clay, kneading the clay, filtering out impurities, shaping, drying, and firing…
The craftsman typically uses a bamboo stick to moisten and compact the surface of the clay cylinder. Using a ruler, he marks the cylinder in half, marking the thickness at exactly 1 cm, then uses a cutting tool to shape the clay into the mold. The mold for making roof tiles is circular, about 25 cm in diameter, with four evenly spaced ridges on its surface. Each time clay is placed in the mold, four tiles can be made. The mold is placed on a rotating base. The ridges on the mold create thin grooves so that when the clay dries, it can be easily broken into individual tiles. When filling the mold, the craftsman rotates and compresses the clay evenly and tightly before using the cutting tool to shape it.
The next step involves drying the tiles on a surface covered with rice husks. This prevents the still-wet tiles from sticking to the ground and ensures proper drying. The final step is to place the tiles in a kiln and fire them continuously for about seven days and nights. People take turns monitoring the kiln and maintaining the temperature to ensure good tile quality. Each kiln produces approximately 15,000 to 18,000 tiles.
The roof tiles are laid out to dry on a surface covered with rice husks.
All stages are done meticulously by hand to create products with beautiful designs and long-lasting durability.
The craft of making yin-yang roof tiles is not only a traditional craft but also holds profound cultural value, showcasing the skill and creativity of the local people. Making yin-yang roof tiles has historically provided economic stability for the people of Lung Ri, and they deeply value it as a "family tradition" passed down from their ancestors, needing to be preserved and developed. To sustain this craft, the government needs to pay more attention to creating markets for the products, building a brand to promote the village, developing tourism, and increasing income for the local people.
The craft of making yin-yang roof tiles is not only a traditional craft but also holds profound cultural value, showcasing the skill and creativity of the local people.
Preserving and developing this craft village not only contributes to maintaining the cultural identity of the Nung An people but also creates long-term economic and social values.
