Preserving the traditional mat weaving craft of Xuan Duc.

The Xuân Dục mat weaving village today. Photo: Viết Dư

Two centuries of keeping the craft alive.

Visiting Xuan Duc these days, walking along the smooth, paved road through hamlets 33, 34, and 35 (Xuan Duc village), we felt the bustling atmosphere of the craft village, the clicking of looms, the rhythmic pounding of machines, mixed with lively chatter and laughter. Xuan Duc village currently has 1,100 households with approximately 4,500 inhabitants.

Workers at the mat-making facility of Mr. Mai Van Doan, Hamlet 33, Xuan Truong Commune. Photo: Viet Du

According to the village elders, the traditional mat weaving craft in Xuan Duc is over 200 years old. The craft was taught to the villagers by Mr. Mai Van Trang (the village headman) since the village was established. The years 1985-1989 were the village's golden age. Comrade Mai Thanh Bau, Secretary of the Party Branch of Hamlet 33, said: “During that period, the village had over a thousand hand-looms, not only weaving locally but also supplying and distributing products to about 500 looms in neighboring villages. Our village alone wove 250,000 mats of various colors and textures for the Xuan Thuy Foreign Trade Company and for export to Eastern European countries.”

Word spread quickly, and during the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi (2010), the skilled artisans of Xuan Duc were invited to weave giant sedge mats measuring 1.5m wide and 13.4m long for the festivals at Au Co Palace and Hung Temple. From then on, Xuan Duc sedge mats traveled with traders to all parts of the country, from the lowlands to the highlands, and even to Ho Chi Minh City.

But like many other traditional craft villages, Xuan Duc has faced periods of ups and downs and challenges. When the wave of industrialization swept through the countryside, garment and footwear factories and companies attracted a large number of young workers. The craft village was left with only middle-aged people who looked after the house and took care of the children. The sound of looms gradually faded, and the atmosphere of production became less vibrant. From over a thousand looms, at one point the entire village could only maintain nearly 150 hand-looms.

Bean mat products from Mr. Mai Van Doan's production facility. Photo: Viet Du

Against this backdrop, the people of Xuan Duc village understood that if they did not reinvent themselves, the traditional craft cherished by their ancestors would only remain in memory. In 2012, a significant milestone arrived for the village when Xuan Duc was recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a "Traditional Mat Weaving Village." In 2022, Xuan Duc village celebrated its 10th anniversary with many meaningful activities. This is a source of pride, but more importantly, it serves as a strong motivation for the people here to continue their journey of keeping the "flame" of the craft alive.

The sedge mats woven in Xuan Duc (commonly referred to as sedge mats) are renowned for their "warm in winter, cool in summer" properties and reasonable prices, making them competitive with industrial products made from plastic or other materials like grass, bamboo, and rattan. Among these, the product that defines the soul and brand of the village is the bean mat. This is the highest-quality sedge mat, woven by skilled weavers, and traditionally used for weddings, festivals, or as a floor covering in traditional homes.

The bean mat product, a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) award, was produced by Mai Van Doan's production facility. Photo: Viet Du.

The mats of Xuan Duc village are woven using rigorous handcrafted processes. Besides skill, the weavers must be meticulous and careful from the selection of raw materials. The sedge fibers must be round, tightly woven, well-balanced from root to tip, with many inner layers and few inner fibers, possessing a characteristic pinkish-white color and a delicate fragrance. The jute fibers must be finely spun, tightly woven, and have strong knots. This type of jute must be specially ordered from highly skilled jute spinners in the Hai Hau region to meet the standards.

After selecting the raw materials, the initial processing is meticulous. The sedge is carefully shaken to remove debris and damaged fibers, then sun-dried, bundled, wrapped in plastic, and dyed at the appropriate humidity to ensure the sedge fibers are soft yet durable. Only after these steps is the sedge woven. The hand-weaving process requires one main weaver and one "ruon" (the person who feeds the sedge into the loom) to weave by hand, with both working in perfect coordination. Once woven, the mats are cut manually, the jute joints are pinned, the edges are secured, and excess threads are trimmed for durability and aesthetics. Finally, the mats are sun-dried. In summer, they are dried for two days; in winter, they must be dried for three days. When the surface of the mat is "ripe" and turns a white-pink color, it is then sent to the workshop for printing patterns.

A pair of hand-woven mats currently costs an average of 400,000 VND, which is one and a half to two times more expensive than machine-woven mats, but they are still popular in the market because of their durability, comfort, and unique handcrafted value.

Taking the profession to new heights

Faced with market challenges and competition from industrial products, the people of Xuan Duc village are not conservative. They seek to find a balance, developing both approaches simultaneously to preserve the "flame" of their traditional craft while developing the economy and increasing income. Currently, about 250 households in Xuan Duc village still practice mat weaving.

Mr. Mai Van Doan, from village 33, owner of the Van Doan mat production facility, is one of the households determined to stick with traditional hand-weaving, elevating the quality of traditional bean mats. In 2022, his Van Doan bean mats were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product by the People's Committee of Nam Dinh province (formerly Nam Dinh ). This is an affirmation of the quality and value of the handcrafted product. Mr. Mai Van Doan shared: "With the desire to preserve the traditional craft, I both produce and am ready to pass on the skills to anyone who wants to learn, especially the younger generation. The craft can only survive if there are successors..."

His dedication has been richly rewarded. For example, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien (45 years old) and Ms. Mai Thi Dung (40 years old) from village 33, despite being middle-aged, were determined to learn the craft from Mr. Doan and now possess solid skills and a stable income from their hometown's traditional craft. Mr. Doan's OCOP products are now sold not only in traditional markets but are also confidently reaching trade fairs and e-commerce platforms.

Besides striving to preserve the essence of traditional craftsmanship, Xuan Duc village is strongly developing with a spirit of innovation. Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen (40 years old), from Hamlet 33, represents the dynamic young generation who dare to think outside the box and boldly apply machinery to production. With 3 industrial weaving machines, his workshop provides regular employment for 12 workers. On average, the 3 machines produce 250-300 mats per day. A machine-made mat measuring 1.5m x 1.95m sells for approximately 250,000 - 300,000 VND on the market.

Application of machinery in mat production at the production facility of Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen, village 33. Photo: Viet Du

Mr. Tuyen said: “Machines help increase productivity many times over, free up labor, meet large orders, and make product prices more competitive. Although not as sophisticated as hand-woven mats, machine-made mats still retain the basic characteristics of rush mats such as breathability, durability, and suitability for the mass market today.”

Modern machinery helps increase mat production, meeting the growing market demand. Photo: Viet Du

To encourage people to maintain and develop traditional craft villages, the Party Committee and government of Xuan Truong commune have implemented many comprehensive solutions. The commune has directed organizations such as the Farmers' Association and the Women's Association to create conditions for people to access preferential credit sources from the Social Policy Bank to invest in machinery, renovate workshops, and purchase raw materials. The commune proactively coordinates with relevant agencies to organize training courses on technical skills and market development, especially skills in bringing products to e-commerce platforms, helping people adapt to the 4.0 business model.

A positive sign for Xuan Duc craft village is the emergence of several community-based and experiential tourism services. Many households have opened their doors to welcome domestic and international tourists to visit, learn about, and directly experience the traditional mat weaving process. Tourists, especially international visitors, have expressed their delight at being able to personally handle the reeds and weave mats. This is a way to visually promote the culture and products, contributing to a direct market for local products and increasing income for the producing households.

A finished mat, woven by machine, still maintains high quality when sold on the market. Photo: Viet Du

The mat-making craft has played and continues to play a significant role in economic development and improving the lives of the people. To date, the average per capita income in Xuan Duc village has reached over 100 million VND per year. A comfortable material life is the foundation for building a vibrant cultural and spiritual life. All three hamlets (33, 34, and 35) of Xuan Duc village have achieved the model new rural standard in 2024. The percentage of culturally exemplary families in the three hamlets is over 95%; security and order are maintained, and all three hamlets are free from social vices.

In particular, the villagers place great emphasis on their children's education. Each year, the Xuan Duc Village Education Promotion Fund awards scholarships to approximately 200 high-achieving students, nurturing future generations who will continue to write the story of this traditional craft village.

Leaving Xuan Duc village at sunset, the sounds of weaving looms and stamping machines still echoed in the afternoon sun. Each familiar sound and rhythm of labor served as proof of the enduring vitality and adaptability of a craft village over 200 years old, steadily expanding in the era of integration.

Text and photos: Viet Du

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/gin-giu-nghe-det-chieu-xuan-duc-251113121426021.html