In the midst of modern life with countless new and beautiful toys, To He - a simple yet vibrant Vietnamese folk art form still exists. Although it is no longer frequently seen, these toys still endure over time.
Let's follow MLifeOn to find To He, a folk art that is breathed life into every color and funny shape.
Return to the origin
Before being called To He, this type of toy was called a powdered animal. In the past, there were two types of powdered animals: the Ta animal originated from Dong Xuan, Dong Lac, often imitating familiar domestic animals such as buffalo, horse, goat, dog, chicken, pig - commonly called "the six animals". In addition, there were familiar shapes such as crabs, goldfish, shoes, fruit trays...
In addition, there were the Khach animal (or Pho Khach animal) imported from China, often appearing in Ma May, Hang Buom areas - where Chinese people lived in Hanoi. Compared to the powdered animal, this type of toy had a more sophisticated shape, with sophisticated techniques for making the core and creating scales, often imitating mythical characters such as unicorns, kylin, lions...
To He figurines in the shape of a tray of five fruits and a lion's head were displayed at Son Tra communal house, Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the recent Mid-Autumn Festival 2025.
The similarity between these two types of figurines is that they are both made from starch mixed with glutinous rice flour, then covered with a layer of glossy oil to preserve them for a long time. By the early 1990s, Dong Xuan and Pho Khach figurines were almost lost, leaving only Phu Xuyen figurines - the predecessor of today's To He - which are still popular.
People in Xuan La village, Phu Xuyen commune, Hanoi said that: In times of poverty, children only had a few simple toys made from rice flour mixed with glutinous rice flour, which could be eaten, commonly called "chim co cake". Some regions at that time also called them "con banh", in addition to the shape of animals, people also molded them into trays of offerings to offer to the temple. Much later, the product was attached to a trumpet, when blown it made a "tò te" sound, then it was mispronounced as "tò he" - which is also the name of this toy as it is today.
It can be seen that To He is not only a toy, but also a long story about its origin, history, beauty and role in Vietnamese life - from the past until today.
Folk toys that everyone loves
To He is attractive because of its fun, eye-catching colors and the ability to be molded on the spot in just a few minutes. That is the beauty of folk creativity: from skillful hands, the lifeless dough becomes a chicken, a fish, or a fairy tale character.
I once witnessed an artisan molding To He right on the side of the road. With just a few movements, the soft dough transformed into all kinds of shapes - from a buffalo, a chicken, to a flower, a girl, ... Each molded shape made the children cheer with delight. Looking at the joy of the children when their parents bought them their favorite To He, I felt that this was not just a game, but also the simple happiness of childhood - whether it was the previous generation or the next generation, as long as they were children, they would love this special folk toy.
Tiny, colorful To He figurines, molded from fragrant sticky rice flour, are not only a children’s game but also a memory for many generations of Vietnamese people. Each block of dough, each color contains love, creativity and the soul of folk culture.
From dough to shape
The craft of making To He figurines in Phu Xuyen has a long history. The secret lies in the way of kneading and mixing the dough to make it soft, fragrant, and not moldy. Glutinous rice flour is the main ingredient, mixed in a ratio of 7 parts glutinous rice to 3 parts non-glutinous rice. After being ground finely, the dough is steamed, kneaded, and then divided into 7 parts for coloring.
Traditional colors are taken from nature: green from cajuput leaves, red from gac fruit, yellow from turmeric, pink from lotus flowers, purple from Malabar spinach, black from stuffed perilla leaves, and white is kept intact. These colors are not only beautiful but also have a fragrant aroma of the countryside.
However, over time, the elaborate process of coloring To He has changed somewhat. Many places use coloring agents to streamline and reduce production time.
The tools for making To He figurines are also extremely simple: just flour, coloring agents, a small-toothed comb, a knife, a piece of beeswax, and a few bamboo sticks. With that luggage, the artisan was able to travel everywhere, creating funny shapes to make a living.
To He then and now
In the past, To He was a popular folk toy, associated with the childhood of Vietnamese children. It was both a game, an edible gift, and an offering in festivals.
Today, To He has become a cultural and artistic product. To He products appear in festivals, cultural events, and are even included in experiential tourism. Modern children have many toy options, but To He still retains its appeal because of its uniqueness and traditional values.
The craft of making To He was once thought to be fading away when modern toys flooded the market. But in recent years, To He has made a strong comeback. Artisans, along with the younger generation, have included To He in cultural programs, exhibitions, and even experiential classes.
This revival is not only the effort of the artisans, but also the concern of society for folk cultural heritage.
Conclusion
To he - from simple dough figurines to colorful folk toys, is a testament to the creativity and love of Vietnamese culture. It is not only associated with childhood, but also a living heritage, reminding us of the value of tradition in modern life.
Keeping To He is not just keeping a toy, but keeping a part of the Vietnamese soul, so that future generations can still listen to folk stories through each colorful block of dough.
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CREDIT:
- Photography: Luan Nguyen
- Content: Giang Huynh
- Design: Phuong Nguyen
