Making paper flower appeared in Hue over 400 years ago. Over the centuries, Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village continues to preserve spiritual beauty on the altar of all Hue families and become one of the important parts of Hue – the former capital of Vietnam.
The history
Belonged to Phu Mau commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien – Hue province, this traditional village is located in the south bank at the downstream of the Perfume river, near Sinh road junction, 7km from Hue city. This place is surrounded by the straight reice fields and the roof tiles with green trees along the road.
As history, in the past, the local people in Thanh Tien grew rice plants. The climate in Hue was quite extreme: The sun was sharply hot and the rain was heavy, even lasted for several months. Therefore, the local people always worried about the life in the winter. That is the reason why the paper flower making was born.
Photo by Hoà ng Xuân Trà |
Do you admire about Thanh Tien paper flower village?
Each occasion of worship, besides buy a lot of fresh flowers, Hue people do not forget to buy some paper flowers from Thanh Tien paper flower village to offer to the Gods, ancestors,… These bright colors that simple but have the beautiful unique for spiritual flavor, also add unique features of Hue culture.
In order to make the flowers, artisans have to prepare every stages from the months before the rainy season in Hue. They choose the good bamboo in local forest, cut in small, thin and then dry under the strong sunshine. The secret to paper flowers is concentrated in staining, so that the paper retains color durability. Industrial color can not be used here, they just use resins and leaves to make dye in a traditional way. There many kind of flowers can be found in Thanh Tien paper flower such as orchids, lilies, roses, daisies, … which serve only worship and ritual needs and only made in the Lunar New Year, Thanh Tien village also made lotus paper.
Thanh Tien paper flower village is rich in color and beautiful form. It is the same characteristics that the formal production time of this craft only occurs at the end of the year, mainly in December, serving the people during the Lunar New Year. Nowadays, tourists can join in making paper flower with artisans anytime here, that really unfogettable moment.
The best way to visit Thanh Tien paper flower village
Today, visitors to Hue on the occasion of traditional village festival was held in the city every 2 years. In particular, Thanh Tien paper flower village is an attractive tourist destination for tourists to explore the cultural life of a peaceful old village. Choose comfortable Hue private car is the best choice for visitors, beside a group of bicycle is also a good way to explore the peaceful village.
Thanh Tien paper flower village is the place to honor the traditional craft, where conservation and preservation of cultural values of craft villages. So travel Hue, try once to find paper flower village Thanh Tien to see the flowers and feel the soul of the traditional village of Vietnam.