Vietnamese lacquerware history

The art of lacquerware (nghề sơn mài) as a means of decorating objects was probably introduced from China during the first century CE. The lacquer itself is actually the resin of a tree which is mixed with coloured pigments and solvents and applied layer after layer to the object's surface, producing a shiny and durable finish. Other substances, such as eggshell and gold leaf, may be applied to the surface before the lacquer is applied, in which case the finished product is sanded down to reveal the decoration beneath. The high quality of resin from Vietnamese lacquer trees, notably those of Phú Thọ in the north, was a crucial factor in the rapid development of this art form, which became very popular at the court of Đại Việt during the feudal period. Decorated lacquer statues, panels, boxes and trays, some dating back to the Lê era (1428-1527), may still be seen at many temples and pagodas throughout the country.
In subsequent centuries the use of lacquerware was extended to larger items such as wooden chairs and tables, decorated with engraved, painted or inlaid mother-of-pearl (khảm xà cừ) designs. By the 18th century important centres for lacquerware production in the north included Nam Ngư (Hà Nội) and Bình Vọng (Hà Tây) in the north and Thủ Dầu Một (Bình Dương Province) in the south.
As part of their strategy to open up Vietnamese handicrafts to new foreign markets, the French introduced formal training programmes in lacquerware at the Thủ Dầu Một School of Indigenous Arts (Trường Mỹ nghệ Bản xứ Thủ Dầu Một, now the Bình Dương Secondary Technical School) near Sài Gòn from 1901 and at the École supérieure des beaux-arts de l'Indochine (Trường Cao đẳng Mỹ thuật Đông Dương) in Hà Nội from 1930. It was the creativity of staff and students of the latter institution that led to the birth to a new hybrid form, Vietnamese lacquer painting (for more details see Contemporary art below).
Since that time lacquerware has continued to develop into one of the mainstays of the Vietnamese handicraft industry, both at home and abroad. Today's most popular items include vases, jewel cases, desk sets, trays and vertical blinds

ELLY

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Boys over flower

Here are some photos of F4 in film " Boys over flower" Korea.
You can use these for wallpaper.

Mysterious beauty of night sea

Sexy, attractive and creative are words being used to describe Miss Vietnam Mai Phuong Thuy’s bikini photos, which are on display at 2/4 Square in Nha Trang city, on the occasion of the Sea Festival.

Thuy’s “Mysterious beauty of night sea” photo collection is a part of her “Beauty at the Sea” exhibition, being held from June 6-12 in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province.

Below are some photos taken by Quoc Huy.

Source: VietNamNet/VNE

Mong ethnic people celebrate New Year festival

Vietnam’s Mong ethnic minority group celebrates the New Year festival (Tet) following their own calendar, which has 12 months in a year without an inter-calendary month. This year, their Tet falls on Dec. 27.

On the first day of Tet, Mong people pay homeage to their ancestors with offerings of boiled, fried and grilled chicken.

Mong people in the northwestern region welcome Tet during three days. They often put their working tools on or beside the altar. In their tradition, everything has a soul so they stamp serrated paper on their tools to ward off ghosts and devils.

Mong people organise a ritual festival called Gau Tao on a large area, which attracts many local people to various folk games, such as stick pushing, bow shooting and tug of war.

In the cold weather, family members gather around a fire and taste Banh Day (a kind of round sticky rice cake), which is an indispensable part of Mong people’s Tet.

Banh Day is made of best-quality sticky rice, which is grown on the best plot of land.

During the Tet holiday, Mong girls and boys rejoice in the beautiful sounds of pan-pipes, perform dances and joyfully participate in folk games such as shuttlecock. These festive activities may last for a month, and then Mong people return to their daily work on fields in the mountains.

There is a special game on this occasion - Lay Pao. Girls often throw balls made of fabric scraps, 5-7cm in diameter, to boys, who then throw them back to their partners. As usual girls will throw the ball to those boys they like.

Mong ethnic minority people have their own language and long-standing culture. Pan-pine playing and umbrella dancing are two typical features of their rich culture.

On the Tet occasion, all people wear new clothes.

VietNamNet/VOV

Miss World visits HIV carriers in Can Tho

Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova on Sunday morning, January 18, paid a visit to an HIV centre in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin returned to China for her own business after a charity music show in the southern province of Kien Giang on January 17.

Sukhinova attended the inauguration ceremony of 30 charity houses for the poor in Phong Dien commune. Today, she met with and presented gifts to the poor in HCM City.

On January 17, the two Misses World, Chairwoman of the Miss World Organization Julia Morley and Hoang Kieu of the sponsor RAAS group went to Kien Giang province to present gifts to Agent Orange victims and poor people in Chau Thanh district.

They also visited Vinh Phong hamlet, Binh An commune, to present 130 houses to needy people there and participated in a charity music show organised by RAAS to raise funds for the poor at Rach Gia Stadium on the same day.

On January 15, the group visited children of fishermen in Phu Binh ward, Hue city and presented 37 houses to poor people in Phong Binh commune, Phong Dien district.

On January 14, the beauty queens went to two central provinces, Quang Binh and Quang Tri, to present gifts to the poor.

Some photos of the activities of two Misses World in Vietnam.

Miss World 2008 Ksenia Sukhinova in Can Tho on January 18

Two Misses World in Kien Giang on January 17

In Thua Thien - Hue Province on January 15

In the central provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Tri on January 14

(Source: Dan Tri)