Sinh painting is a genre of folk painting in Vietnam. This kind of painting is printed from folk woodblock painting for worshipping in Hue. The difference between Sinh painting and Dong Ho, Hang Trong painting is its function. The Dong Ho painting is hang for decoration while the Sinh painting will be burnt after worship.
Sinh village
Sinh village lies on the edge of Huong (Perfume) river which formed in the 15th century. On the opposite of the river is Thanh Ha town, a well known port under Inner region reign, it was also called as Pho Lo. After Bao Vinh town appeared it quickly became a bustling trading and cultural centre of Hue city .
Nobody knows when folk painting craft born and why paintings made just for worshipping. Sinh folk painting is losing the traditional elements. A few of woodblock paintings was found, the new one is different from basic elements and the craftsman use industrial paint instead of traditional printed materials.
Printing and drawing method
Sinh folk paintings have many sizes depend on the size of paper. The traditional Do paper has the size is 25 x 70 cm or be cut to half (25 x 35), to third (25 x 23), to fourth (25 x 17). With the large pictures, to printing we will lay the woodblock with the face upwards, use a brush (a piece of battered coconut husk) paint the black ink onto the woodblock. After that cover the painted woodblock by a paper, press on it and take off the paper. With the small size painting we will put the paper under then place the woodblock upon like stamping. The black painting will be colored when it is dry. Almost woodblock was made of jack tree’s wood.
Materials and exotic color
Paper for printing is Do paper which was coated by Diep (powder of seashell) , the color is made from natural materials such as: vegetation, metal or seashell… The main colors of Sinh folk painting are blue, yellow, red, black, green. Each color can be mixed with Ho Diep (Ho is made of rice powder boil with water while Diep is the seashell’s powder) or paint separately. When apply color without Ho Diep you have to add gel made from fresh buffalo’s skin.
Theme and content
Sinh folk painting function is worship. It includes about 50 themes which reflects the ancient credence. Beside the theme of belief there is others theme such as: To Nu (include 4 pictures of beautiful Vietnamese lady in traditional costume), scenes of social life…
Folk paintings for worship can be devided to 3 group:
• Character painting : almost is lady who is in luxurious dress with two young girl servants on two side. This kind of painting is sticked on altar all year round.
• Painting of things such as: men or women ‘s costume, money, household items…mainly in small size.
• Paintings of animal (fowl, elephant, tiger and 12 Chinese zodiac signs) to burn for dead people.
All of Sinh folk paintings will be burnt after worshipping.