The profession of making votive paper in the modern flow

The Hien Da worshiping craft village (Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district) once had a prosperous period, famous throughout the province for its sophisticated handmade votive paper products. However, in the past few years, the craft village has gradually faded away due to a lack of young workers, while many older people are no longer interested in the traditional craft. Those who are still attached to the craft are always worried about the risk of the craft village disappearing.

Hien Da worshiping craft village (Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district) on the days approaching Tet At Ty 2025, no longer has the bustling and busy scene as in previous years, instead there is a more quiet atmosphere. Along the village road, there are only a few households still diligently working on making votive paper. Colorful papers drying in the sun, unfinished bamboo frames, all seem to be reminiscent of a prosperous period of the craft village.

Hien Da worshiping item production village was once famous throughout the province for its sophisticated handmade votive paper products.

Inside the small houses, a few elderly craftsmen still persevere with their profession, meticulously whittling each bamboo stick, carefully gluing each piece of paper, creating traditional products to serve the worshiping needs at the end and beginning of the year.

More than a decade ago, along the road leading straight into the village, people and households were busy whittling bamboo, making frames, and pasting paper. At one time, the profession of making votive paper here had become prosperous, providing a stable livelihood for many households.

From more than 100 households making votive paper, now there are only about ten households still sticking with the profession.

Recognized as a craft village in 2011, the craft of making votive paper not only carries a strong spiritual and cultural significance but also creates the main source of income for hundreds of households here. Households do not make votive paper seasonally but produce it year-round, especially during three peak periods: the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, near Tet and January.

In 2018, the craft village had over 100 households maintaining the traditional profession, mainly focusing on the production and trading of votive items such as horses, dragons, clothes, gold bars... to serve the spiritual needs of the people. In recent years, the votive paper craft village has not maintained its vitality as before. The number of households maintaining the profession has decreased sharply, from more than 100 households making votive paper, now there are only about ten households remaining.

Mrs. Do Thi Dinh is one of the few people who still make votive paper in the village.

Having been involved in the votive paper making business for more than 3 decades, Ms. Do Thi Dinh, from Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district, shared: “Since I came here as a daughter-in-law, my father-in-law taught me how to make votive paper, and since then, my husband and I have made a living from this business. Looking back to 2010, the prosperous period, the husband wove and the wife pasted paper, working day and night without running out of work. Currently, my family is one of the few households that still continue to do this business because they want to earn a little extra money to support their lives.”

The profession of making votive paper does not require modern technology but requires the meticulousness and dexterity of the craftsman. The production process goes through many steps: from shaving bamboo, making frames, gluing paper to coloring, decorating... Each product is made with the passion of the maker, reflecting the sophistication in every line.

The profession of making votive offerings requires the craftsman to be meticulous, skillful, knowledgeable about ancient stories and creative.

Most people said that the income from making votive paper no longer helps them ensure their lives, while a votive paper product takes a lot of effort to complete but the selling price is not high, making many households discouraged.

Despite many difficulties, there are still households determined to keep the profession. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, Hung Viet commune, Cam Khe district - a dedicated worker expressed: "I still remember the days when the craft village was busy, every house at the beginning of the village and the end of the hamlet took advantage of the space to dry paper horse skeletons, mannequins and all kinds of votive offerings.

Although their hands are always covered with scars and glue, and the work is hard, everyone is passionate about the job. This job does not make them rich, but it preserves the soul of the village. If we give up the job, it will be a pity because this is the tradition our ancestors left behind.”

Votive paper products are produced by people in Hien Da Worship Items Craft Village.

Up to now, following the needs of consumers, many households trading in votive paper in the commune have switched to importing goods from large factories in some provinces such as Bac Giang , Bac Ninh, Hanoi... These establishments produce votive paper on an industrial chain, which does not take much time but the designs are more diverse and beautiful than the handmade products in the craft villages. This makes votive paper increasingly difficult to compete in the market. Unintentionally, a part of the traditional votive paper makers are gradually becoming outdated.

Explaining the reason, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of the gold craft village of Hung Viet Ma commune said that the value obtained from selling products is not commensurate with the effort and dedication put in, causing many people to gradually become discouraged with the profession. Over the past time, many craftsmen have been forced to switch to other jobs to make a living. This has caused the younger generation in the village to increasingly distance themselves from the traditional profession.

“Not only is the income issue, the source of labor in the craft village is also gradually depleting. The young generation today is no longer interested in the profession, most of them choose to work for companies in neighboring industrial zones to have a more stable income. Meanwhile, the number of older workers is decreasing, they only work when they have free time, making the craft village even more desolate,” said Mr. Tuan.

In fact, the fact that the votive paper market has cooled down compared to before is a positive sign. Besides preserving traditional cultural beauty, people have limited superstition by buying and burning less votive paper.

But the decline of traditional craft villages also shows that this is not only the story of a locality but also reflects the general situation of many traditional craft villages today. As the pace of modern life changes, market demand fluctuates, crafts that require a lot of effort but have low economic value gradually lose their place.

The votive offerings to Ong Cong and Ong Tao are handmade by villagers.

Preserving a craft village is not only about protecting the livelihood of the people but also about preserving the long-standing cultural values ​​of our ancestors. Hopefully, with the attention from the local government and those who love traditional culture, in the near future, Hien Da votive paper craft village will find a new direction to continue to exist and develop.

Nhu Quynh - Bao Thoa

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nghe-vang-ma-giua-dong-chay-hien-dai-227165.htm