THE DECORATING ART OF WOODEN ALTAR AT BUT THAP PAGODA IN BAC NINH

Abstract

The incense-table in But Thap Pagoda - Bac Ninh province is one of the representative artifacts of 17th century which was highly decorative. Various carving techniques such as high relief carving, low relief carving, fretwork, etc were radically and successfully used for incense tables' decoration. There were different decorative motifs, for instance, dragon, pheonix, clouds image, etc. The decorative style was harmonious, delicate from the lines to forms that meant to be cultural icon of Vietnamese people. It was also the reflection of their ideology and feeling throughout many time periods, thereby marking the position of carving art at that time.