Unique brocade painting nearly 100 years old of Thai people in Nghe An

One spring day of the year of the Snake, we visited Hoa Thu homestay in Nua village, Yen Khe commune, Con Cuong highland district of Nghe An. The freshness and freshness of the home garden trees and the cool air with the spicy smoke from the kitchen make visitors to the village here feel familiar, close and cozy.

The living room under the floor has many decorative miniatures imbued with the identity of the Thai ethnic group. We were especially attracted by the brocade painting hung solemnly above the weaving loom.

Introducing the painting, Ms. Lo Thi Hoa, owner of Hoa Thu homestay, said, “This painting was hand-woven by my grandmother, using natural materials and colors grown in the home garden. The painting simulates the brocade techniques and patterns typical of the ethnic minorities and has been passed down through 3 generations for nearly 100 years.”

We were surprised that after all this time, the colors of the painting were still as bright and vibrant as new. Standing out on the white background was the bright red border, the blue, red, and brown tones were harmoniously combined, and the embroidery was sharp.

Ms. Hoa continued, a year ago, a group of Japanese tourists visited the village and a woman from the land of the rising sun was fascinated by this painting and wanted to buy it, but she did not sell it. The painting not only preserves and demonstrates the weaving techniques, natural dyeing, and the good customs of the people, but is also a family heirloom passed down from previous generations to their descendants.

Asked about the customs of the Thai people shown in this painting, Ms. Lo Thi Hoa said that in the past, Thai girls were taught brocade weaving techniques by their grandmothers and mothers from a young age. And each girl had to weave and sew her own brocade clothes, towels, blankets and pillows, using materials grown in her home garden and in the mountains as a dowry when she married.

The woven and embroidered patterns on Thai women's costumes often depict images of plants, flowers, and the beliefs and customs of their people. At the same time, they convey the wishes for a prosperous, happy, and peaceful life amidst the fresh nature.

The background of the painting is made from cotton thread, keeping its natural white color. The other colors are made from leaves. There are plants that can be grown in the garden such as purple leaves, turmeric, portulaca flowers... But there are also species that must be taken from the forest such as brown tubers, sanga tree bark because...

And depending on the way of mixing colors, the way of steaming and dyeing according to each person's own secret, different colors are produced. The fabric and natural colors from plants and leaves, along with special steaming, dyeing and weaving steps have helped to keep the colors durable over time for tens, hundreds of years.

“Taking advantage of their free time after finishing their farm work and housework, mothers sit down at the loom to weave. Therefore, this painting took a year to complete. This is a family heirloom, the family will keep it to pass on to future generations" - Ms. Lo Thi Hoa expressed.