THE JOURNEY TO RECORDS

THE JOURNEY TO RECORDS

On December 8, 2023, the Vietnam Institute of Records announced its agreement to award a Vietnamese record to the embroidered tapestry "Highland School" of Bat Xat Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School. At that moment, nearly 500 teachers and students of Bat Xat Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School erupted in happiness, joy, and gratitude for the arduous, determined, and persistent journey they had undertaken. Let's call that journey the " Journey to a Record" ! When did the journey to a record for the teachers and students of Bat Xat Boarding School begin? How did they get there? What did they go through to achieve the Vietnamese record today with the " Embroidered Tapestry 'Highland School' of Bat Xat Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School" ?

In August 2000, Bat Xat Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School moved to a new, spacious facility, ensuring better teaching conditions but also placing many demands on the school regarding landscaping and classroom decoration. After a school year, trees were planted, flowers were cultivated, and a garden of peach blossoms and a stone fence in the highlands was erected… only the traditional room remained without a decoration plan.

Teacher Le Huy Phu – Party Secretary and Principal – was deeply concerned and wanted to build a traditional room that fully showcased traditional values ​​while also highlighting the unique characteristics of Bat Xat Boarding School. The displayed products would be "homegrown" items bearing the distinct mark of the children of the Bat Xat highlands and conveying the core values ​​( " Education of Identity – Preserving Tradition – Inspiring – Building Confidence – Aspiration for Success") that the school has defined.

Ms. Ly Thi Cuc , an art teacher and head of the school's Hand Embroidery Club, was tasked with designing the traditional room and shared the Principal's aspirations. After nearly a year of research and deliberation, the idea for a large embroidered painting depicting the school's history , reflecting the landmarks and landscapes of Bat Xat district , and preserving traditional embroidery techniques, was officially born! On October 7, 2021 , the first stitch of the embroidered painting " Highland School" was completed.

The embroidery materials include cotton, silk, and wool embroidery threads, embroidered on coarse fabric and brocade. It combines traditional Kinh hand embroidery techniques with the brocade embroidery techniques of the H'Mong and Dao ethnic groups. Embroidery techniques include cross-stitch, net stitch, bead stitch, chain stitch, and cross stitches (multiplication, addition, subtraction, etc.).

During the project, several difficulties were encountered: difficulties with the complex embroidery technique; difficulties with funding, as the embroidery piece was large and the school lacked the funds to purchase a large embroidery frame, so they could only use small handheld frames (20cm to 30cm in size), which took a lot of time; difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, when at times all students in the school had to be quarantined, interrupting the project. Due to the long embroidery time (2 years), some students felt tired and discouraged at times, and many wanted to quit and leave the club… And many, many other difficulties that are impossible to name.

Exactly two years later, on October 7, 2023, the embroidered tapestry "Highland School" was completed. On October 16, 2023, the school officially submitted its application for a Vietnam Record to the Vietnam Record Institute VIETKINGS.

After an independent and objective review of the application and record data, the Vietnam Record Organization has agreed to award the Vietnam Record Certificate to the embroidered brocade painting "Highland School" of Bat Xat Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School, Lao Cai province. In particular, with the desire to promote the handcrafted embroidery made by the female students and teachers, along with the cultural and educational significance conveyed by the embroidered painting, the leadership of the Vietnam Record Organization – Vietnam Record Institute waived the registration and communication fees on the record system.

According to the criteria for establishing records , the embroidered picture has achieved several record-breaking parameters in terms of form, specifically:

+ Record size: 18 m² (3m x 6m).

+ Record for participants and location: includes 105 people (including 2 instructors (Ms. Ly Thi Cuc and Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyen ) and 103 female students);

+ Record for embroidery completion time: 2 years from October 7, 2021 to October 7, 2023 (with 23,800 embroidery sessions; each session lasting 180 minutes (3 hours)).

+ Record for the number of needles used: 900.

In terms of content and meaning, embroidered paintings are products created through a process of labor, creativity, practice, and empirical evidence that yields positive results, possessing valuable qualities that serve the community and society, and are unique with a high level of information and content.

Specifically, the embroidered picture reflected three themes:

The first section describes the location of the Bat Xat District Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School from its establishment to the present day, gradually moving from the Y Ty highland area to the Bat Xat town area, Lao Cai province .

- Image of the first school located in Y Tý commune, 1974

- Image of the second school building, in 1978, the school moved to Muong Hum commune.

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- The image shows the third school building, in 1984, when the school moved to Ban Xeo commune.

- Image of the fourth school, in 1998, the school moved to Bat Xat Town.

- This is a picture of the school as it is now, August 2020, after the school moved and settled at its current location (Group 9, Bat Xat Town).

The second section describes the famous landmarks and scenic spots that are unique to the mountainous district of Bát Xát:

- First, there is the image of the Lung Po flagpole, 31.43m high, with the red flag with a yellow star fluttering proudly against the deep blue sky, affirming national sovereignty at milestone 92 – where the Red River flows into Vietnamese territory.

- The second image depicts the endless terraced rice fields with their golden ripe rice stalks, specifically the terraced rice fields in the The Pa Valley, covering 223 hectares, which were recognized as a National Heritage Site of scenic beauty by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015.

- The third image is of the Muong Hum stream with its clear, fresh, and picturesque water.

- The fourth image is incredibly impressive: it depicts the natural landscape and the Ha Nhi village of Y Ty commune , with its unique rammed-earth houses characteristic of the Ha Nhi people.

-Image of Mount Lao Than, with an altitude of 2,860m above sea level - known as the highest peak of the Y Ty mountain range.

- In particular, the image of cranes flying towards the mountains symbolizes the younger generations of ethnic minorities in the highlands of Bat Xat district soaring to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. The cranes flying towards Lao Than mountain represent a return to their roots, a commitment to contributing to the development of Bat Xat - Lao Cai, and to building a stronger, more prosperous, and powerful Vietnam.

Third point: Preserving the traditional embroidery techniques of ethnic minorities in combination with the traditional embroidery techniques of the Kinh people. These include the cross-stitch, plus-plus-minus, and chain stitch embroidery techniques of the Hmong and Dao people, combined with the Kinh people's techniques such as cross-stitch, canvas, chain stitch, twisted net, beaded embroidery, end-stitch, and stitched embroidery. These traditional embroidery techniques are both "tools" for creating embroidered pieces and " treasures " that need to be preserved and protected.

In terms of its symbolic meaning, the embroidered tapestry "Highland School" conveys five key messages:

First, its educational significance.

- Traditional historical education: Through the re-embroidery of residential locations and school information, students learn about the school's formation and development; understand the difficulties and hardships faced by generations of teachers and students at the boarding school throughout history; and cultivate in them a sense of pride and respect for the achievements the school has strived to attain. Through this, students are educated in a sense of responsibility and gratitude towards the generations of teachers who have cared for and educated them, contributing to character development and the formation of good qualities in each student; thereby spreading and nurturing love for their homeland and country, so that when they grow up, they will become useful and responsible citizens to their families, homeland, and country.

- Cultural identity education: educating students with a spirit of overcoming difficulties, daring to think and act; educating them in ethics, life skills, and aspirations for success, thereby helping them understand the value and noble beauty of labor. From there, students will gain a clearer understanding of national culture; pride in traditional culture will be awakened, contributing to the preservation of national culture, and at the same time helping the school implement the five core cultural values : " Preserving tradition; Educating identity; Inspiring; Building confidence; Aspiring to success".

Secondly, it promotes tourism and celebrates the beauty of our homeland and country.

The embroidered tapestry "Highland School" is likened to a large, vibrant, and authentic poster celebrating the beauty of Bat Xat homeland. It holds great significance for the development of culture and tourism, introducing and promoting Lao Cai's tourism industry to domestic and international friends.

Thirdly, it affirms the position of women in modern society.

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The embroidered brocade fabric showcased the skill, meticulousness, diligence, patience, hard work, and perseverance of the teachers and students of the Bat Xat District Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School. This affirmed the important role of female teachers and students, contributing to a change in perceptions of gender equality and asserting the position of women in the development of the country, especially for women in mountainous areas where many outdated customs and patriarchal ideologies still persist.

Fourth, the embroidered tapestry "Highland School" celebrates highland teachers who built their careers from hardship and difficulty, gradually overcoming challenges; with the help, protection, and support of the people.

The embroidered picture depicts and reflects the 50-year history of the Bat Xat District Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School. Looking at the images of the boarding school through different time periods, many memories and recollections are recreated; each school is associated with events, stories of joy and sorrow, hardships faced by teachers and students; the unity and solidarity in overcoming all difficulties in the education of ethnic minority students in the highlands; the help, protection, care, love, and companionship of the people and local authorities where the school is located, all for the goal of fulfilling the unique mission of the Bat Xat District Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School: "Creating high-quality human resources for the highland district of Bat Xat."

Fifth, the embroidered tapestry " Highland School " calls for the preservation of traditional Kinh ethnic hand embroidery and brocade embroidery among ethnic minorities.

The brocade embroidery piece is a remarkable testament to the inheritance, preservation, and development of the distinctive and exquisite embroidery techniques of the Kinh people's hand embroidery and the brocade weaving of the Dao and Hmong people, in the context of the decline of traditional crafts.

"Success only blossoms after hard work ." After nearly three years of dedication, effort, and unity in overcoming difficulties, the embroidered tapestry "Highland School" has been recognized in the Vietnam Records . The teachers and students of the school are grateful and proud of their record-breaking journey . Now, the embroidered tapestry "Highland School" will be proudly displayed in the center of the school's traditional room, so that generations of staff, teachers, and students in the Bat Xat highlands can recognize the immense historical value of the school's nearly 50 years of construction and development. The embroidered tapestry "Highland School" - a sweet fruit for today and tomorrow !

Some images showing the embroidery process.

Source: http://laocai.edu.vn/tin-tu-co-so/hanh-trinh-den-ky-luc-1224730