Almost all medium to large boats in Vietnam these dramatic motifs painted on the bow. These 'eyes' are intended to ward off evil spirits and to guide the boats safely back to land.
From the small amount of research I have done, it seems that this decoration is unique to Vietnamese craft in Asia and particularly in the Meekong delta and south of the country.
Some fishermen in Malta also paint eyes on their bows and some think this was a Phoenician or ancient Greek tradition. Apparently, there is no real basis for this particular idea.
These square bows are typical of freight craft throughout Vietnam. The square head makes it easier to offload from the front and you can see these boats moored side by side along quay sides with planks going to each bow. Many of the larger boats have massive steel nosings on these bows to protect the woodwork.
All these boats used to have masts and beautiful sails but these days they are all motor powered. Only in the tourist areas do you still find sailing boats.
No comments:
Post a Comment