Unique set of Jade Emperor and Hades statues made of ancient Saigon ceramic

More than 50 typical artifacts of Saigon ceramic lineage recreating historical memories are on display at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History.

The Jade Emperor statue set includes the Jade Emperor, the king of Heaven, and his two assistants, Nam Tao and Bac Dau. The statue set is made of painted terracotta, late 19th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

On the morning of October 15, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History, Ho Chi Minh City Museum, Southern Women's Museum and Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association jointly organized the opening of the special exhibition " Old Saigon Ceramic Statues - Art and Heritage" .

Recreating spiritual life through Saigon pottery

The thematic exhibition introduces more than 50 typical artifacts, divided into four thematic groups: Buddhist statues, Taoist statues, folk statues and architectural decorative statues. These artifacts belong to the Saigon ceramic line, appearing from the 18th-19th century with unique shapes, expressing the rich spiritual life of the people of the South.

Buddhist statues include Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, Arhat, Dharma Protector, Tieu Dien... with many postures and costumes.

The Taoist statues have a typical work, the Tam Quan Dai De set, consisting of 9 statues. In which, the 3 main deities Thien Quan, Dia Quan, Thuy Quan and 6 attendants are collected by Mr. Le Thanh Nghia. Mr. Nghia told Tuoi Tre Online that owning the artifact is a matter of fate, left by a family in Vinh Long .

Folk worship statues have many unique statues such as the Jade Emperor, Phuc Duc Tho Dia, Chua Tien Nuong Nuong, Diem Vuong...

Regarding architectural decorative statues, there are statues of Taoist and folk characters such as: Bat Tien, Ong Nhat, Ba Nguyet, Liu Hai catching a toad, Ngoc Nu offering a vase...

Mr. Le Thanh Nghia (right) - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association - shares about the artifacts he collected - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Saigon pottery is imbued with traditional culture

According to Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History - Saigon pottery is a combination of Vietnamese pottery making and the Chinese pottery production tradition of Chinese immigrants.

The vestiges of pottery kilns along the canals created the place names Lo Gom, Xom Dat, Lo Sieu, Lo Chen bridge...

The unique and distinctive feature of Saigon pottery is the development of decorative pottery and religious architecture, reflecting the traditional culture of the Vietnamese and Chinese people in the Cho Lon area.

The exhibits include statues, miniature statues, ceramic vases..., on the roofs of communal houses and temples of the Vietnamese and Chinese.

This exhibition aims to honor the traditional pottery craft, and at the same time create opportunities for people to admire the exquisite beauty of Saigon pottery from the perspective of fine arts. Thereby, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the unique cultural values ​​of ancient Saigon pottery.

The exhibition " Old Saigon Ceramic Statues - Art and Heritage" will take place from October 15 to November 17 at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Saigon Ward).

Ceramic statue images at the thematic exhibition

Jade Emperor statue made of multi-colored glazed ceramic, dating from the early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Set of Guan Yu statues made of multi-colored glazed ceramic, dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of Princess Tien Nuong Nuong made of multi-colored glazed ceramic, dating from the early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of Phuc Duc Tho Dia made of multi-colored glazed ceramic, dating from the early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of King Yama, King Yama is the king who rules over hell in Hinduism and Buddhism - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara sitting on a lotus throne. The harmonious combination of green, blue and white glaze colors creates the solemn costume of Avalokitesvara. Statue made of multi-colored glazed ceramic, early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of a Dharma Protector in a standing position, wearing armor, one hand on the hip, the other holding a mace. Statue made of yellow glazed ceramic, late 19th century, early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Golden ceramic statue of Annam, early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of the Great Bodhisattva Tieu Dien in multi-colored glazed ceramic, late 19th - early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of the Great Bodhisattva in multi-colored glazed ceramic, early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

The Tam Quan Dai De statue set consists of nine statues. The three main gods are Thien Quan, Dia Quan and Thuy Quan sitting on thrones, accompanied by six statues of servants standing on both sides - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Group of multi-colored glazed ceramic statues, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Jade Lady Offering a Vase, Liu Hai Catching a Toad in Multi-Colored Glaze, Late 19th - Early 20th Century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Statue of Lady Nguyet and Mr. Nhat in multi-colored enamel, dated late 19th century, early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

Multi-colored enamel mandarin title, early 20th century - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/doc-dao-bo-tuong-ngoc-hoang-diem-vuong-bang-gom-sai-gon-xua-20251015122101931.htm