Located right in the heart of Hanoi (near Truc Bach lake, Ba Dinh district), bronze casting village Ngu Xa is one of the most famous craft villages of Thang Long, Hanoi. Historically, the name “Ngu Xa” means five villages: Dong Mai, Chay My, Long Thuong, Dien Tien and Dao Vien. In Ly dynasty, skillful craftsmen from these villages gathered in the capital to set up a workshop. They built a new village and named it Ngu Xa to commemorate their five original villages. Since the 17th century, Ngu Xa village has become famous with many domestic appliances such as boilers, trays, and basins. Over the last 500 years, their products have become great masterpieces of national art. Exquisite products were produced for the needs of the ancient capital of Thang Long.
Bronze bells and statues are the most famous products of Ngu Xa bronze casters. Bronze bells of the village are found in a huge number of pagodas and temples nationwide. The Buddha statue –an example of high qualified bronze statues placed in Than Quang pagoda is considered one of the statues expressing the intelligence, talent, peculiar know-how, diligence and creativeness of Ngu Xa artisans and bronze casters. This statue is in a cross-legged sitting position with the bronze casted lotus throne. The design is simple, but harmonious.
Other great work of the ancestors is the bronze statue of Tran Vu God in the Quan Thanh Temple in Hanoi which is 3.9m tall and weighs 4 tons.
To complete a product, require not only the intelligence, creativeness, sharp eyes, skillful hands and carefulness, craftmen also have their own professional know-how and long-standing experience. They have to carry out many complicated stages including shaping the mould, preparing the mixture, melting and pouring it into the mould. Shaping the mould is hard work because they have to base on the model statue which is made of clay, mud from ponds, tissue paper, and lime and rice husk.
Choosing the temperature for burning mould is also extremely difficult requiring carefulness and experience. Ngu Xa bronze casting techniques have been highly appreciated for a long time and admired by international tourists.
