These women preserve the "soul of the craft."

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - While industrial zones extend and cities become increasingly modern, familiar scenes still persist in the villages of Thanh Hoa: the warm scent of incense, nimble hands weaving mats, and trays of rice crackers drying in the golden sun. Behind it all are the figures of rural women – the silent "keepers of the flame," diligently continuing the lifeblood of traditional crafts. They not only create livelihoods for their families but also contribute to preserving the soul of their homeland.

The women and mothers in the Tan Tho Handicraft Cooperative, Trung Chinh commune, diligently preserve the traditional craft of weaving from sedge.

In Dong Tien ward, mentioning the traditional rice paper making village of Dac Chau brings to mind the image of hardworking, skillful women meticulously making each batch of thin rice paper, drying them under the golden sun. The craft has existed for generations, but even today, the majority of the workforce is still women. Mrs. Tran Thi Nhan shared: “Since I was little, my mother taught me how to make rice paper, from making the sheets to drying and gathering them. That's how rice paper making has sustained my family from generation to generation. For me, this craft is not just about making a living, but also a way for my children and grandchildren to remember their roots.”

In communes like Tan Tien, Ho Vuong, and Nga Son, the craft of weaving sedge mats has long been famous throughout the country. To improve economic efficiency and meet market demands, handicraft companies and large workshops have switched to machine weaving. However, in some small-scale production households, the sound of looms still resonates, mainly carried out by women's hands. "Now, with machines, weaving mats is much faster and more powerful, but I still prefer sitting by the loom by hand. Hand weaving takes more time, but it shows the meticulousness and dedication of the craftsman. Buyers of traditional mats often appreciate hand-woven mats for being comfortable, durable, and cool. Preserving this method is also preserving the craft passed down from our ancestors," shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Duyen, a long-time mat weaver in Nga Son commune.

However, modern life with its cheap and convenient industrial products has changed consumer tastes. Many traditional crafts are at risk of being forgotten, especially as young people are less interested in continuing their ancestors' trades. The traditional leaf-wrapped rice cake making village of Xuan Lap commune is one example. This is a traditional craft that has been associated with the local people for hundreds of years, especially famous during holidays and festivals. However, while the older generation still strives to preserve the craft as a source of pride, many young people in Xuan Lap are choosing a different path.

Ms. Do Thi Men from Xuan Lap commune said: "Making leaf-wrapped cakes involves many steps, from grinding the flour and stir-frying the filling to wrapping the cakes. Every step is hard work, but the income is only a few hundred thousand dong per day, so young people aren't very interested." That's why, despite being a son of the Xuan Lap leaf-wrapped cake making village, Mr. Do Van Thanh didn't choose to follow the profession. He said that as life develops and needs increase, market prices also rise, so his family's income can't rely solely on making cakes. "I know that making leaf-wrapped cakes is a traditional craft of our ancestors, but honestly, if we only make cakes, the income isn't high. Meanwhile, there are now many large-scale factories with automatic leaf-wrapped cake making machines, with higher productivity, making it very difficult for small businesses like my family to compete, so we have to switch to other business activities to improve our lives," Mr. Thanh said.

This reality has led many rural women in Thanh Hoa province to both practice their traditional crafts and seek new directions. They understand that preserving their craft is not just about preserving it for themselves, but also for their village and homeland. A positive sign is that more and more women in Thanh Hoa are applying new thinking in preserving and developing traditional crafts. Instead of simply producing on a small scale, many have joined cooperatives, boldly bringing their products to larger markets, including export markets.

In Trung Chinh commune, the women in the Tan Tho Handicraft Cooperative have connected with businesses, exporting their products to Japan and Europe. From woven baskets and trays made from sedge, they have created handbags, decorative boxes, souvenirs, and sedge plates in various colors and shapes. These products both preserve traditional materials and meet modern demands. To date, the cooperative has 3 OCOP products that have achieved 4-star quality, creating jobs for 59 cooperative members and hundreds of external workers.

Nguyen Thi Tham, Director of Tan Tho Handicraft Cooperative, said: “Developing the traditional craft of weaving sedge is not easy, because it's a craft that not everyone knows how to do, and the income from it wasn't high before. But when I researched, I found that handicraft items that are safe for health, such as sedge baskets and woven baskets, are very popular in foreign markets. I decided to encourage people to learn the craft, train them, and strive to develop products, focusing on quality and design to attract customers. From there, I gradually received larger orders, the products increased in value, and the income of the people improved. More and more women in the commune asked me to teach them the craft, and we have continued to develop it until now.”

The path to preserving traditional crafts is fraught with difficulties. Market fluctuations and competition from industrial goods discourage many women. However, preserving a craft doesn't mean keeping everything unchanged; it requires combining tradition with modern innovation. The dynamism of many women is helping to revive traditional crafts.

Text and photos: Phuong Do

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-nguoi-phu-nu-giu-hon-nghe-260230.htm