Ban Bu Community

Ban Bu Community (Thai: ชุมชนบ้านบุ; or simply Ban Bu) is a traditional community in the Siri Rat Subdistrict, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok's Thonburi side.

It is regarded as the last source of bronzework handicraft makers in Bangkok and has become a cultural tourism destination.

The word "Bu" refers to the method by which copper and tin are alloyed into objects, mostly bowls, and polished with stone to obtain a smooth, shiny surface, with the word "Ban" meaning house, home, village, or hamlet.

In the early Rattanakosin period, when King Rama I established Rattanakosin (or Bangkok in present) as the capital, he wanted the city to be as similar as possible to Ayutthaya Kingdom, to strengthen the spirit and willpower of the people.

The other use was to hold rice to be given as alms to the monks, but presently, since the process of making this utensil is labour intensive and complicated, a stone-finished bowl has become a high priced item and is actually now used as a decorative item.