Saturday, 17:40, 22/01/2022

Making Kitchen God figurines for Tet in Thua Thien-Hue

VOV.VN - In the buildup to the Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet, Dia Linh village in Huong Vinh ward of Thua Thien-Hue province is busy producing terra-cotta statues of the Kitchen Gods to serve the high demand for the festive season.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 1 — According to the tradition, Vietnamese people bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month of the year, thanking them for watching over their kitchen during the year.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 2 — It is then believed that the Kitchen Gods visit Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) in heaven to report what has happened during the year.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 3 — The Kitchen Gods comprise two men and a woman.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 4 — Legend has it that the lady accidentally met her ex-husband and subsequently rushed to hide the man in a bundle of hay before her husband returned home from his farming work.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 5 — When her husband returned, he lit a fire to cook rice, causing the bundle of hay nearby to catch fire. The lady then jumped into the fire to save the ex-husband, which resulted in her current husband doing the same to rescue her, leading to all three perishing in the fire.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 6 — So moved was the God of Heaven by the trio’s death that they were turned into the Kitchen Gods.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 7 — The Kitchen Gods statues are made of clay first packed into a wooden mould and then dried under the sun.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 8 — They are then burnt in kilns to impart hardness and strength before being painted in order to produce the final products.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 9 — A local craftman says the demand for the Kitchen Gods statues remains stable as people typically change them once a year ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 10 — Some buyers prefer painted statues, while others are keen to purchase pure ones.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 11

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 12 — Almost every home, regardless of its size or financial condition, features an altar which is dedicated to worshipping the Kitchen Gods.

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 13

making kitchen god figurines for tet in thua thien-hue picture 14

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