After winding through the crowded and endless back alleys of Bangkok's Chinatown, filled with mechanic shops, industrial supplies, and men with oil covered hands, I entered a small but somewhat known area by the name of Ban Baht, or the Monk's bowl village. This cluster of low roofed shacks, tucked away in a small corner at the base of the Golden Mountain Temple, is where several families generate a living by forging the sacred Alms bowls used by Buddhist monks. Alms bowls, sometimes know as begging bowls, are one of the most quintessential objects in a monk's possession. Every morning monks will take to the streets holding out their bowls to receive food or money from fellow Buddhists; which are said to date back to when The Buddha was given a bowl of rice when meditating under a Bodhi tree.
In our current global system, the majority of Alms bowls are mass produced in China. The families of Ban Baht are some of the remaining craftsmen/craftswomen who strive to hold on to their ancient culture by forming these sacred bowls without using a factory. Eight steel pieces (representing the wheel of the Dharma) are hammered together, fired, and joined by copper before being polished and coated several times by black lacquer. This time intensive process provides a usual output of one bowl per day.
Because of this slow process the people of Ban Baht hold strong in their beliefs that their struggle to continue this sacred practice will be supported by faithful Buddhists and tourists alike.
Hand crafted Alms bowls kindling in the fire.
Woman tending to the Alms fire.
Craftsman showing his work in progress.
Grinding away. 
Portrait of a craftsman.
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