06/11/2023
LUU LY TILES | YIN YANG ROOF TILES
MISSION OF CREATING BALANCE & HARMONY
After exploring various ancient structures, I developed a particular interest and fascination with Luu Ly tiles, also known as Yin and Yang tiles. For some unknown reason, I am drawn to their design and construction. It has become a habit for me to first examine the roof of any architectural work and determine the type of tiles used.
Lưu Ly tiles, or Yin and Yang tiles are a traditional type of roofing tile used in architectural constructions in Vietnam, as well as in China, Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and some other East and Southeast Asian countries.
Since ancient times, Yin and Yang tiles have been widely used and closely associated with the architectural works of Vietnam. Roof tiles, along with intricately carved patterns, have appeared in the northern mountainous provinces, extending to the Central and Southern regions. Lưu Ly or Yin and Yang are the names used in different regions, with Yin and Yang being more commonly used in the northern region, while Lưu Ly is used in the Central and Southern regions.
Based on archaeological findings, Yin and Yang tiles were first discovered during the Ly-Tran period with two colors, white and blue. However, according to written records, Yin and Yang tiles may have appeared even earlier.
The structure of Lưu Ly roof tiles consists of three parts: Yin tiles, Yang tiles, and decorative end tiles:
- Yin tiles are larger tiles compared to Yang tiles, rectangular in shape with a slight curve, creating a depression and placed underneath, facing upwards. The concave surface of Yin tiles is coated with enamel and directly exposed to the external environment.
- Yang tiles are tube-shaped tiles placed on top, overlapped with Yin tiles, partly coated with enamel on the convex surface.
- End tiles (also known as ridge tiles, or end-of-roof tiles) are decorative tiles consisting of Yin and Yang ends. Pairs of end tiles feature intricate motifs, and raised carvings skillfully crafted by experienced artisans, enhancing the exquisite beauty of the roof tiles. Depending on their purpose, different patterns can be created on the surface of the tiles, such as dragon and phoenix motifs, tiger faces, longevity symbols, lotus flowers, and more.
The half-round overlapping structure creates a space that allows for air circulation, providing ventilation for the roof. This makes the Yin and Yang tile roofs cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Additionally, during rainy and windy weather, Yin and Yang tiles facilitate the drainage process. Moreover, Yin and Yang tiles have a relatively long lifespan, estimated to be up to 50 years before showing signs of deterioration
Lưu Ly tiles have a high color durability. In fact, Yin and Yang tiles from the Hoang Thanh Thang Long period until now still maintain their color over time. Particularly, they have the ability to resist water leakage and do not get mossy, creating a perfect appearance for the house and being unaffected by the weather.
The Lưu Ly tiles are coated with an outer layer called Lưu Ly enamel. Lưu Ly enamel is a type of ceramic enamel, belonging to the underglaze enamel category, using oxides such as iron, manganese, copper, chromium, etc. to create colors. This is a difficult type of enamel to produce as it is a lightweight enamel and must meet high physical and chemical durability criteria, in addition to the color tone or shade needing to be relatively close to ancient colors.
To create Yin and Yang tiles, the production process is meticulous and precise. Firstly, the clay used for making the tiles must be pure clay without sand. Then, the tile maker mixes the clay with water and leaves it to ferment for about half a month. Next, the clay mixture is placed into molds and left to dry for about 1.5 - 2 months. Finally, the tiles are fired in the kiln at high temperatures for an extended period.
Based on the enamel color, Lưu Ly tiles can be divided into several commonly seen types, such as:
- Hoang Lưu Ly: yellow in color, often used for structures within the palace - the king's area. Symbolizing authority, nobility, and luxury.
- Thanh Lưu Ly: copper green in color, pleasant and cool. It is often used in the residences of concubines, queens, etc. Symbolizing elegance and gentleness.
- B**h Lưu Ly: blue in color, exuding a noble, refined, and elegant appearance.
In the past, Lưu Ly tiles were only used in palace structures, religious buildings, or by affluent families due to the intricate, expensive, and meticulous nature of this type of tile.
The meaning of Lưu Ly tiles:
Since ancient times, the concept of the Yin and Yang polarities has deeply influenced the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, as well as Asians in general. It symbolizes the harmonious combination of Heaven and Earth.
By using Lưu Ly tiles to roof their houses, the people hoped for a life of smooth sailing, warmth, stability, and prosperity. They believed that these tiles would bring strength to their homes and ensure that the homeowners would navigate through life's challenges with ease.
The method of roofing with Yin and Yang tiles in traditional buildings is quite simple. The roof structure consists of horizontal wooden beams spaced 50 cm apart, and vertical wooden beams nailed at intervals of 10 cm or 15 cm to allow the tiles to be stacked in an overlapping manner. If the groove is 15 cm wide, the tiles are placed in an overlapping manner; if the groove is 10 cm wide, the tiles are placed in a flat manner.
From my observation of the structures in the Imperial City, the tiles are mainly divided into two types: Thanh Lưu Ly (green color) and Hoàng Lưu Ly (yellow color). When Hue was chosen as the capital, between 1802 and 1810, in order to supply tiles for the construction of the Imperial City, Royal Citadel, Forbidden City, palaces, and temples, the royal court mobilized materials from all over the country. Additionally, thousands of people from various regions were brought to the capital to work in over 40 tile kilns.
During the Nguyen Dynasty, Hoàng Lưu Ly tiles were exclusively used for royal constructions, while Thanh Lưu Ly tiles were used for the buildings of high-ranking officials. If we consider only the types of glazed tiles used for decoration in the architectural complex of Hue, there were 42 different designs, such as longevity symbols, ten thousand characters, mythical creatures, heaven and earth motifs, floral patterns, interlocking circles, zodiac signs, lime pots.
In 1981, as part of UNESCO's "Plan d'Action" for the protection, restoration, and promotion of the value of the Hue Complex, a proposal was made to establish a tile casting facility. Since then, and even before that, due to the pressing need for tiles, especially glazed tiles, for the restoration of the heritage site, the Center for Conservation of Hue Complex has made significant efforts to research traditional production techniques, seek out artisans from various regions, and explore raw materials in villages in Thua Thien - Hue.
From 1997 to 2000, after extensive research and proposals, a national-level project was approved with the task of researching and improving the technology for producing Lưu Ly tiles. Thua Thien - Hue Construction Company was the entity responsible for implementing the project. By the end of 2002, the project was successful, officially confirming the comprehensive revival of the art of making Lưu Ly tiles in Hue.
Cre: 2nd Home Vietnam
