In search of the origin of the once famous "Nghe An conical hat"
(Baonghean.vn) - Few people know that the "poem conical hat" associated with the image of Hue originated from the sunny and windy land of Nghe An, and was once included in poetry.
The conical hat is associated with the hard-working life of grandmothers, mothers, and sisters. It is simple, fragile, but also full of charm. Not only does it protect from dust, rain, and sun, the hat also carries the soul, conveying heartfelt wishes.
Going from the forest to the sea, you can see the shade of conical hats everywhere. Made from palm leaves, or guava leaves, or broom leaves that are smoothed and heated, combined with bamboo and rattan strips that are shaved to make a frame, bent into a circle... Thus, a small and pretty shade is created, protecting mothers and sisters when going to the fields, to the market, to the forest. The conical hats shimmer under the salt fields to block the bright sunlight, the conical hats touch each other on the fishing wharf at dawn when the boats return, the conical hats chatter about the stories of the afternoon market, filled with small joys, the conical hats tilt down to fan themselves when resting, the conical hats tilt to cover the smiles of village girls when they are shy...
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| Small and pretty, a shade, protecting mother and sister when going to the fields, to the market, to the forest. Photo: Le Thang |
Every time I think of the hat, I think of the sun and rain. The hat fades over time, weighed down by wind and rain, becoming a mushy hat. But the hat was once very beautiful on the day it was worn by the bride, very beautiful in poetry and music.
Loving the conical hat, loving the homeland, everyone knows the song “Gui em chiec conical hat bai tho” by musician Le Viet Hoa, composed from Son Tung’s poem. There are many stories to tell about the song. Listen to musician Nguyen Trong Tao tell that many readers asked him: They really like the song “Gui em chiec conical hat bai tho” but the first line “I send you chiec conical hat bai tho of Nghe An” makes them think. For a long time, people have only heard of “Non bai tho of Hue”, or “non Hue” but have never heard anyone say “Non bai tho of Nghe An”. So did the author make a mistake? Or because the author is from Nghe An, he wants to “win” the hat bai tho for his homeland? |
| Photo: Le Thang |
So, when poet Le Thai Son (former Chairman of Nghe An Literature and Arts Association) and poet Hoang Cat came to visit, poet - musician Nguyen Trong Tao brought up the above question for a chat. Later, all three artists agreed to go to author Son Tung's house to visit him and "ask for the truth".
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| Photo: Le Thang |
“Sitting and chatting with him, we learned that in the past, the Nghe conical hat was very famous and was considered a royal gift, of course for the concubines. At that time, Hue was the capital, and the “Nghe poem hat” gradually became popular in Hue, and was then called the Hue conical hat. To prove this, writer Son Tung read us some folk songs related to the Nghe conical hat, for example, the wedding challenge with the line: “Three hundred Nghe conical hats on the head - One person, one beautiful Chinese fan”. The Nghe conical hat is not only beautiful and precious as a wedding gift, but also comparable to Chinese fans as a luxurious foreign item.
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| Photo: Le Thang |
Of course, writer Son Tung is from Nghe An, so he knows how to appreciate and be proud of the famous items of his homeland, but that does not mean that he "grabs" all the good things of others. He composed this poem in 1955 on the occasion of attending the 5th World Youth and Student Congress in Poland. The poem was first published in Sinh Vien newspaper, and in 1960 it was reprinted in Thong Nhat newspaper, then included in the selected poetry collection "Ban Tay Yeu Thuong" of Lao Dong publishing house. In 1975, when the country was unified, musician Le Viet Hoa composed this poem into a famous song with beautiful lyrics and music: "I wear a poem hat - to welcome the new festival - The country is one strip - Round like a poem hat".
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| Photo: Hai Vuong |
Thus, the song that originated from the poem has given us some really good information about the homeland of Nghe An. However, it is really good, but also very sad. How many of our craft villages, with artisans with skillful hands, have gradually… disappeared? How many gifts, specialties of the homeland… famous as they are, have also faded into the myriad of everyday things? Fortunately, with the conical hat, there are still poems and songs that retain a bit of the lingering fragrance. Fortunately, with the conical hat, there are still the hard work of Nghe An women everywhere.
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| Photo: Nguyen Dao |
Suddenly remembering the old folk song, the wedding challenge song that writer Son Tung mentioned:
"I am a rich girl
Mother and father's dowry is so beautiful
Marry me with a hundred pieces of peach brocade
A thousand gems,
twenty-eight stars in the sky
Golden tray leads enough for a hundred couples
Silver medicine tube, gold lime tube
Buy a four-horse carriage to go over
Let her family's officials take the bride
Three hundred Nghe hats on the head
Each person a beautiful Chinese fan!