Now, you are looking at a rural scene in Shwe Bo township, Sagaing Division, upper Myanmar. Although, it is used to be a dry zone, now the weather is moderate, due to the environment greening project. Thus, there is less heat in summer but, the tradition of carrying water with pots is still a part of the rural scene.

The style of carrying water on one’s head in Shwe Bo township is very unusual. It is extraordinary to see this style of riding a bicycle, and at the same time, carrying a pot on the head without using hands. It is not easy to ride a bicycle, carrying a pot filled with water, balanced by the head. Some skillful women can carry two water-pots on top of each other. The scene amazes visitors.

It is said that drinking water from natural ponds in earthen pot is good for the health. In summer, water in a earthen pot is naturally cool. It will be very interesting to know how long lasting earthen pots are made. And that is why we’d like to present the pottery industry in Oiebo township, Sagaing Division.

First, clay is prepared and then the required amount of clay is used on potter’s wheel to shape the pot. In this procedure, one person rotates the potter’s wheel and the other molds the pot. Molding of the pot is very interesting to observe. Skill is needed to get a smooth rounded pot with tidy edges. After the pot has been shaped it is then left to dry in the open air. When it has become a little hard, the clay is given a smoother surface. The next step is also interesting as the outer-side of the pot is beaten by a wooden block, at the same time the inner-part is being pressed with water-soaked sand.

If you want a pot with a smooth surface, you have to beat the outer surface of the pot with a smooth wooden block. And if you want a pot with designs, you have to beat the surface with a wooden block with the designs you want.
Skillness and quickness are important in making pots. After fine polishing, the pots are now in the raw stage. After letting them to dry, they are now read to be bake with straw, mixed with soft mud. In this way the flame won’t burn too strong. By giving this kind of heat, for two days the pots are ready to dry.

The pots from Oiebo Township in Sagaing Division are strong and firm and are used as flower pots, rice pots, oil lamps and so on. It is also surprising to know that the pottery industry from Oiebo Township has been handed down from generation to generation and is still being kept alive to this day.