Preserving the traditional paper-making craft.

Ms. Quyet makes traditional handmade paper using manual methods.

Visiting the home of Mrs. Nong Thi Quyet, 58 years old, who still preserves this traditional craft in Na Ma village, we learned the craft while she worked: “I’ve known how to make handmade paper since I was little, helping my parents and grandparents, and gradually mastering the technique. In the past, we made a lot, especially during the off-season, to prepare for market days, holidays, and Tet (Lunar New Year).” We followed Mrs. Quyet to the stream bank and saw large rocks carved into large pans. Watching her work, we learned that these were vats used for stirring paper pulp, dating back hundreds of years. Many of the vats were overgrown with weeds, having been unused for a long time.

Ms. Quyet lamented that the craft is very elaborate, meticulous, and arduous. It requires going into the forest to collect the leaves of the dó tree, stripping off the bark, drying them, and then soaking them in water for about a day to soften them. Next, they are soaked in lime, then bundled and fired for a day. After firing, they are washed, soaked in water to soften them, and finally pounded with sticks to break them into pieces. There are many more steps involved, yet the finished product doesn't fetch a high price. Because of this hard work, few young people continue this craft.

We watched Mrs. Quyet stir the pulp with tree oil in a stone tank until it blended together, turning the mixture a dark brown color. She quickly and evenly transferred the pulp onto the mold. Opaque white sheets appeared before our eyes. The pulp was neatly stacked and then pressed dry for about two hours. Once dry, the paper was brought back and glued to the walls, and so on. The finished paper was then stacked into bundles and waited to be taken to the market for sale. A bundle of 20 sheets of paper costs 15,000 dong. Currently, out of 70 households in Na Ma village, only 10 still maintain the traditional paper-making craft, earning an average income of nearly 20 million dong per year.

2. Ms. La Thi Na, also a resident of Na Ma hamlet, makes handmade paper. She shared that she is 34 years old this year, but fears that after her, no one will know how to make it anymore, as the younger people have all gone to work in factories. “In the past, every household made handmade paper because it was widely used, but now hardly anyone uses it anymore. Recently, the commune also provided financial support for households to build vats to mix pulp, but sales are slow and it's hard work, so few people make it,” Ms. Na said.

Making traditional paper can be done during periods of agricultural inactivity, is not dependent on the weather, and utilizes readily available natural materials. People only need to invest time and effort, not additional capital. However, due to the widespread availability of modern paper, this traditional paper is now mainly used in religious activities and primarily sold during holidays and festivals, so fewer people are interested in it anymore.

Manual labor is very hard work, but the economic benefits are not high. Young people are no longer very interested in the craft. The number of households maintaining the craft is gradually dwindling. This situation is raising a warning sign for the traditional paper-making craft in this area.

Text & photos: VAN TIEP

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giu-nghe-giay-ban-post580110.html