Academic Experience Intertwined with National Cultural Heritage

On April 2nd, 2025, the Phù Lãng Pottery Experience Center had the honor of welcoming final-year students from the Faculty of Chemistry – University of Education, The University of Da Nang, for a field trip and study tour focusing on the traditional ceramic production process and the unique glaze techniques of Phù Lãng pottery.

This visit was part of a program bridging academic learning with real-world experience, offering students hands-on exposure to the traditional, manual stages of ceramic making that textbooks alone cannot convey: from selecting clay, shaping, air-drying, decorating with patterns, to the distinctive hand-glazing techniques and traditional wood-fired kiln firing.

⸻

Phù Lãng Glaze – A Chemical Heritage of Vietnamese Pottery

Under the guidance of skilled local artisans and the center’s staff, the students were given in-depth insights into:

• Sources of glaze materials: Derived from natural elements such as rice straw ash, kaolin clay, and metallic oxides – entirely free from industrial chemicals.

• Traditional hand-glazing techniques: Especially the signature “da lươn” (eel-skin) glaze, which yields a warm brown, semi-glossy finish that preserves the rustic texture of the clay.

• Chemical transformation in firing: At temperatures exceeding 1200°C, the glaze components undergo chemical changes, forming a durable and safe surface coating.

This serves as a vivid illustration of how modern science harmonizes with traditional craftsmanship, enriching teaching and research in the field of materials chemistry.

⸻

Hands-on Practice – Emotional Connection with Heritage

Alongside academic learning, students also had the opportunity to create their own ceramic pieces, shaping small objects and experimenting with glazing on sample works – an activity that sparked creativity while deepening their understanding of material properties and ceramic chemical reactions.

The immersive atmosphere – the gentle breeze flowing through the kilns, the rustic scent of burning wood – created a deeply emotional experience that left lasting impressions in the hearts of every participant.

⸻

Phù Lãng Pottery Village – An Ideal Destination for Science and Arts Students

With over 700 years of history, Phù Lãng ceramics are not merely cultural artifacts, but a living laboratory, where students of Chemistry, Fine Arts, Architecture, and other disciplines can engage in experiential learning and interdisciplinary research.

The Phù Lãng Pottery Experience Center is committed to collaborating with universities in organizing academic – experiential – research journeys, aiming to preserve and spread the value of heritage through education and innovation

Phù Lãng ceramic glaze, ceramic-making experience for students, traditional pottery production process, chemistry applications in ceramics, educational field trips near Hanoi, Phù Lãng ceramics for chemistry students.

⸻