The story of the people who keep the sedge mat craft in Ha Dong

Tien Kieu was once known as the 'capital' of sedge mats in the low-lying rice fields of Ha Dong commune (Hai Phong city), but now it has disappeared.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Khuyen still works hard at the weaving loom whenever a customer orders a mat.

Tien Kieu used to be known as the “capital” of sedge mats in the low-lying fields of Ha Dong commune ( Hai Phong city), but now it has faded away. From the whole village making sedge mats, now there are only a few households left. Deep in the hearts of those who still maintain the craft, each mat is like a spiritual product that has been with them for their entire lives, not easily lost even though there are not many weaving looms left.

Once bustling with laughter

According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Khuyen, over 60 years old, who has devoted her whole life to the craft of weaving mats, in the past, hundreds of households in the village made sedge mats. Therefore, when mentioning Tien Kieu sedge mats, people immediately think of the beautiful and durable mats woven by the skillful hands of the people here. In the past, the whole Tien Kieu village resounded with the bustling sound of weaving looms, every household made mats, and everyone followed the profession. Even many people from neighboring villages and communes came to buy sedge, learn the craft to bring back to their hometowns.

Although there is no specific historical record, the craft of weaving mats in Tien Kieu has existed for many generations. Thanh Hong land is a low-lying area, the soil and climate are especially suitable for sedge to grow well. Thanks to that, this place was once considered the "capital" of sedge mats in the whole region.

The sedge mat is not only a familiar item in every Vietnamese family but also a rustic gift from the countryside, carrying the soul of the land and the love of Tien Kieu people to send to all corners of the world. The sedge mats "weaving happiness" also bring joy and luck to couples when they get married. The Bau market in the old Ha Dong commune was famous throughout the region as a bustling place where traders from many places came to buy Tien Kieu mats. Many families also hung flowered mats in their yards to attract customers.

In Tien Kieu village today, there is not as much sedge as before, but the last mat makers in the village still take advantage of the sedge plants on their land to make beautiful and durable mats over the years.

Gradually fading away

The modern timeline is full of challenges. The sedge fields of tens of hectares in the past have now given way to fruit orchards such as lychees and grapefruits, which brought in higher incomes. Now there are only a few acres of sedge left. Local raw materials are increasingly scarce, forcing workers to buy sedge from other places at high prices. Income from mat making is much lower than other agricultural jobs, so many young people in the village have left the profession to work as workers in the city because of more stable wages.

Now, in the whole Tien Kieu village, there are only 3 families with elderly people who still keep the ancient looms. The old looms are carefully packed, only when there is an order are they used. Almost all weaving operations are still done manually, completely depending on the hands and experience of the craftsmen. The elderly people in Tien Kieu are always worried about who will be left to weave mats...

Mrs. Khuyen's emotional gaze stopped on the mat weaving frame, she said: "Everything is only in memory, our children now do not follow the profession anymore". Mr. Pham Van Thieu, who has devoted most of his life to making sedge mats, said: "I still cling to the profession because it is a part of the soul of the countryside. Preserving these sedge fibers is preserving the cultural identity of the homeland, a family tradition".

The mat weaving frame has been with Mr. Pham Van Thieu for almost his entire life.

Sedge in Tien Kieu is harvested twice a year. The main crop is harvested in the 6th lunar month. The sedge in this crop is more beautiful and even than the "elastic crop". The "elastic crop" is harvested in the 10th lunar month and is sedge that grows naturally after people cut the roots in the crop in June. Now there is less sedge but this type of plant is more susceptible to pests and diseases than before, so people have to spray more pesticides and disease control. There is not much raw material left, every time there is an order, people have to go to Thai Binh province (old) and neighboring communes to buy sedge or some traders buy a whole container truck to bring back to the village to gradually sell to mat weavers.

Fresh sedge is split in half, dried in the sun for 5 days and stored for later use. Each kilogram of fresh sedge when dried weighs only about 2.5 ounces. When weaving mats, the dried sedge is soaked in water to soften it so that it does not break when woven.

To preserve the traditional craft, in 2020, Thanh Hong commune, now Ha Dong commune, received VND4 billion from the Provincial People's Committee to invest in building a 3.7 km road to the traditional craft villages of Tien Kieu and Nhan Bau. The Commune People's Committee organized the site clearance. Villagers donated land to widen the road and build a drainage system. That road is now called Lang Nghe Road.

Mr. Hoang Van Dai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Dong Commune, said that the current sedge mat making profession has low income, while in Ha Dong, perennial fruit trees, especially lychee and grapefruit, are being developed. The change of occupations in the locality is also natural. In order for people to stick to the traditional occupation, the city needs to invest in preserving and conserving the profession. Besides the efforts of the people, all levels and sectors need to get involved so that the products have stable output, stimulate consumption... thereby helping the local sedge mat weaving craft village to develop sustainably.

MINH NGUYEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/chuyen-nhung-nguoi-giu-nghe-chieu-coi-o-ha-dong-525709.html