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At the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention, held solemnly at the Red Fort in Delhi, India, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed Vietnam's Dong Ho folk painting craft on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
This decision is not only a "wake-up call" for a 500-year-old traditional art form about the imminent risk of its disappearance, but also places an urgent responsibility for preservation on the nation and the community.
500 years of history
The craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings, originating from Dong Khe neighborhood, Thuan Thanh ward, Bac Ninh province – the Kinh Bac region renowned for its rich cultural heritage – has existed for about half a millennium. This unique art form is closely intertwined with the spiritual life and traditional culture of the Vietnamese people, especially during the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival, where paintings like "The Mouse Wedding" or "The Yin-Yang Pigs" are hung to offer blessings and worship ancestors and deities.
UNESCO has adopted a decision to inscribe the Dong Ho folk painting craft on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The uniqueness of Dong Ho paintings lies in the entire meticulous handcrafted production process. The artisans are not only the illustrators but also skilled woodcarvers, creating precious woodblock prints. The colors of the paintings are entirely derived from natural ingredients, creating a rustic and enduring beauty: blue from indigo leaves, red from ochre, yellow from pagoda tree flowers and gardenia fruit, the characteristic white from weathered scallop shell powder, and black from bamboo leaf/rice straw ash.
The characteristic shimmering surface of the paintings is due to the layer of butterfly ink brushed onto the dó paper before printing. The exquisite combination of woodblock printing techniques and folk art language has created a unique beauty, vividly reflecting the life, dreams, and folk philosophy of Vietnam.
The craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings originated about 500 years ago in Dong Khe neighborhood, Thuan Thanh ward, Bac Ninh province. It is one of the symbolic handicrafts of the Kinh Bac region.
However, this very essence and intricate craftsmanship are now at risk of disappearing. UNESCO assessed Vietnam's dossier as fully meeting five important criteria for urgent inscription, emphasizing that the number of skilled artisans has sharply declined, with only a few families in Dong Ho continuing the craft.
Dong Ho paintings are characterized by their themes, woodblock printing techniques, colors, and graphics. The themes are diverse, including religious paintings, celebratory paintings, historical paintings, paintings depicting daily life, and landscapes.
The younger generation is less interested in the craft due to difficulties in securing a livelihood, coupled with a shrinking market and declining demand for woodblock prints during traditional festivals, making the teaching and preservation of the craft extremely challenging. The deterioration of ancient woodblock prints, considered treasures passed down through generations, further exacerbates the situation.
The colors are made from natural ingredients: blue from indigo leaves, red from ochre, yellow from pagoda tree flowers and gardenia fruit, white from scallop powder, and black from bamboo leaf ash and glutinous rice straw.
In response to this alarming situation, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, and the Standing Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee affirmed their commitment to implementing decisive measures to preserve and promote the value of Dong Ho paintings. The protection plan developed by Vietnam has been highly praised by the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for its feasibility and sustainability. This plan sets out seven specific objectives, placing the community and artisan families at the center, including: opening formal and informal training classes, inventorying the heritage, designing new painting patterns to diversify products, improving access to natural resources, and providing equipment support for artisans.
According to the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention, Vietnam's nomination dossier meets the criteria for inscription on the List of Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Although closely linked to traditional rituals, only a few families still practice this craft today.
In particular, UNESCO recommends that Vietnam integrate this heritage into its education system, both formal and informal. This is a long-term strategy to encourage the younger generation to understand, appreciate, and be aware of their responsibility to protect traditional craft villages. Introducing Dong Ho paintings into schools is not only about preserving knowledge but also about sowing the seeds of love for culture, ensuring that this 500-year-old artistic tradition will not be interrupted. Bac Ninh, a locality possessing a significant number of UNESCO heritage sites, including Quan Ho folk singing, Ca Tru singing, the Mother Goddess worship, and Huu Chap tug-of-war, has the potential to successfully implement this ambitious protection program.
UNESCO's decision to inscribe the Dong Ho folk art form is a timely wake-up call, but also a crucial source of support. The category of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding is for art forms facing serious decline and the potential for disappearance without immediate intervention. Like Ca Tru, which was included in this category in 2009, the inscription of Dong Ho opens up opportunities to mobilize international and national resources to implement substantive conservation programs, helping artisans maintain their livelihoods and keep their passion alive. This is a golden opportunity for all sectors of Vietnamese society to join hands in protecting this precious heritage.
