"Keeping the fire" of traditional profession

Beauty of national culture

Under the simple small house in Ba Ven hamlet, Loc Khanh commune, Mr. Lam Ty still diligently weaves each bamboo basket with all his patience, meticulousness and pride in the traditional craft. For him, each product made is not simply a way to earn a living but also a way to preserve the traditional craft of the nation. Mr. Lam Ty shared: “Making a basket, it looks simple but it takes 3-4 days to complete. It is very hard, but each product I make makes me happy”. Products from the weaving craft of the Khmer people are useful household items and above all, cultural symbols imbued with the soul of the nation.

Mr. Lam Ty and his wife diligently weave each bamboo basket.

No one advertises, no fancy stalls, the woven products of Mr. Lam Ty as well as the people of Ba Ven hamlet come to buyers very simply. “I do not sell them at the market or transport them far away. Every time I finish a product, I hang it in front of my house, and anyone who passes by and sees it is beautiful will stop by to buy it. Some people like it so much that they buy several to hang up or give as gifts. I do it not for business but to preserve the profession. I think the Khmer people have many beautiful cultural features from costumes, dances, weaving... If we do not preserve them, our descendants will not know the beauty of our national culture. Therefore, I just do it, preserving the profession as if preserving a part of the "blood and flesh" of my people" - Mr. Lam Ty expressed.

Not only Mr. Lam Ty's family, in Ba Ven hamlet, Mr. Lam Bup's family has also been weaving for more than 20 years. Mr. Lam Bup said: "I learned weaving from my parents. Back then, I herded buffaloes in the fields, sat under the trees, watched the buffaloes and wove baskets. This weaving job is not very rich, but it helps me get by and most importantly, it is associated with my childhood, my parents, and my family. Now that I am old, every day I take care of the vegetable garden and take the opportunity to weave a few baskets to sell to people in the hamlet. I just hope that in the future, my children and grandchildren in the family and the neighborhood will learn and appreciate the traditional craft of our people."

Products from the weaving profession are always associated with the Khmer lifestyle, reflecting the working spirit, unique cultural features and family values ​​where the profession is passed down from father to son, from generation to generation.

In Loc Dien commune, Loc Ninh district, Mr. Lam Khen has been involved in the weaving profession for 15 years.

In Loc Dien commune, Mr. Lam Khen has been weaving for 15 years. Mr. Lam Khen confided: In the past, my parents were very good at weaving, I watched and learned from them. Until now, I still remember my mother teaching me how to separate the fibers, how to weave each pattern evenly, firmly and beautifully. For me, this is not only a way to make a living but also a way for me to connect with my grandparents, ancestors, and my roots. I teach my children and grandchildren in the family, even though they may not follow the profession, I want them to know the traditional profession of my people. Preserving the profession means preserving the cultural identity of the nation.

Keeping the profession alive in modern life

In today's modern life, the traditional weaving profession of the Khmer people, once a source of pride for generations, is facing the risk of extinction. "When I was a child, all the adults in this hamlet knew how to weave. This profession is like breathing, like a natural thing in every Khmer family. During the off-season, everyone would weave baskets, trays, and trays to use at home or bring to the market to sell. The whole hamlet sat together weaving, chatting animatedly, very happily... But nowadays, very few young people learn this profession. They go to work for companies, go far away from home to find other jobs, few people are willing to sit for hours meticulously with each bamboo or rattan fiber like before" - Mr. Lam Day, Head of Ba Ven hamlet shared thoughtfully.

With compatriots   Khmer , woven products are not only items used in daily life, but also a beautiful part of national culture.

Preserving and promoting the traditional weaving profession of the Khmer people requires more than just individuals. There needs to be a connection from policy to the community, from the experienced class to the young class eager to learn. Because weaving is not only a profession, it is also an important factor in the cultural identity of the Khmer people. Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Loc Dien commune, Ho Thi Quoc Loan, affirmed: The weaving profession of the Khmer people is not only a simple livelihood but also a part of the long-standing cultural values ​​of the nation. Along with folk dances, traditional costumes, language... weaving is a living proof of the Khmer ethnic identity here. The local government always encourages and creates conditions for people to maintain and develop traditional crafts. Not only because of its cultural significance, but weaving can also bring income and improve people's lives. The important thing is how to continue and innovate the craft in the new era.

Products from weaving

Amidst many changes, the Khmer people of Loc Ninh district still quietly weave each product as if weaving the soul of the nation, putting into it the belief and hope that one day young hands will continue the tradition, not letting the profession fade away. Preserving traditional crafts cannot rely solely on the memories or love of a few dedicated people. This requires a clear strategy, where craftsmen are honored, products are spread, young people are inspired and most importantly, the craft becomes a part of today's life, not just a memory of yesterday.

Today’s weaving profession, without the hands of successors, will only remain as a fragment of memory, quietly fading away with time. But if it is respected and taught with all pride, from every household to cultural policies towards the community, the weaving profession will not be lost. It will “continue to breathe, continue to live, continue to tell stories”… as it has through many generations.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/543/171706/giu-lua-nghe-truyen-thong