Binh Dinh receives the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate "Phu Gia Horse Hat Making Craft"

VHO - On September 12, at Cat Tuong Primary School No. 1, Binh Dinh Department of Culture and Information in coordination with Phu Cat District People's Committee organized a ceremony to receive the certificate of national intangible cultural heritage "Phu Gia horse hat weaving craft".

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee, said that Phu Gia horse hat has long been one of the famous traditional handicraft products, which has been maintained, practiced and passed down from generation to generation by the people of Cat Tuong commune, Phu Cat district.

Binh Dinh receives the National Intangible Cultural Heritage certificate — Phu Gia horse hat craft village has been recognized by Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee as a traditional craft village, achieving the title of Typical Craft Village of Vietnam.

In the past, this type of hat was only reserved for dignitaries and people of the upper class and nobility. The “dragon, unicorn, turtle, phoenix” patterns embroidered on the hat were a symbol of the authority of the wearer in the feudal era. Looking at the patterns, one could know the rank of the official who was wearing it. Currently, Phu Gia horse hats are present everywhere, from North to South and even abroad.

Mr. Lam Hai Giang emphasized that Phu Gia horse hat making craft was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, affirming the sustainable value and strong vitality of the craft village, honoring and praising the community, especially the artisans in preserving, conserving and promoting the value of the heritage. This is both an honor, pride and a great responsibility of the Party Committee, government and people of Phu Cat district in particular and Binh Dinh province in general.

Phu Gia horse hats are handmade with many elaborate stages, each stage requires a different method. To make a horse hat, the artisan must perform 10 stages, from creating the frame to embroidering the boat, weaving leaves... The hat has a very special and very durable structure, the materials to make the hat are palm leaves (conical hat leaves), giang tubes (kidneys), pineapple roots... combined into 10 layers. Each horse hat, if made properly, with the right technique and carefully preserved, can last up to a hundred years.

With the above unique cultural values, Phu Gia horse hat weaving was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on April 9, 2024. This is the 5th national intangible cultural heritage of Binh Dinh to be recognized.

At the ceremony to receive the certificate of national intangible cultural heritage “Phu Gia horse hat making craft”, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - Chairman of Phu Cat District People's Committee said that the land of martial arts Binh Dinh has a long history and a rich cultural tradition. Among them, it is impossible not to mention Phu Gia horse hat craft village with more than 200 years of history. Phu Gia horse hat symbolizes the strength and majesty of the martial arts family associated with the speedy Tay Son army. And despite hundreds of years of history, the hats here still carry the cultural identity of the land of martial arts and literature.

To protect and promote the heritage value of Phu Gia horse hat craft village, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung shared, in the coming time, we will be determined to successfully implement the Project to Protect and Promote the Value of Traditional Craft - "Phu Gia Horse Hat Craft" in Cat Tuong Commune. This is a cultural resource rich in humanity, with fundamental significance for developing the tourism industry, making tourism activities more and more abundant.

The district continues to create favorable conditions to support and encourage households and production facilities of craft villages to develop production in the direction of linking to create unique products with typical values of craft villages.

At the same time, build, introduce and promote heritage associated with community tourism development. Honor artisans, heritage keepers, and communities that have made many contributions to preserving, practicing, protecting and promoting heritage values. Form an area to display and introduce craft village products, a traditional craft demonstration area, combining product introduction and brand promotion associated with experiential tourism activities; invest in building technical infrastructure, infrastructure serving tourism, improving the environment and landscape of craft villages serving tourism.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, he hopes that these actions will contribute to motivating people in the Phu Gia Horse Hat craft village to keep their profession, retain the cultural quintessence of their ancestors; continue to preserve and maintain the unique cultural traditions of Phu Gia Horse Hat - a unique handicraft product, imbued with the cultural identity of Phu Cat, Binh Dinh people.

Phu Gia horse hat craft village has been recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a traditional craft village, achieved the title of Typical Craft Village of Vietnam and become a famous tourist destination of Binh Dinh. Each market session (5 days a session) has nearly 1,000 Phu Gia horse hats exported to provinces and cities across the country.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/binh-dinh-don-bang-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-nghe-cham-non-ngua-phu-gia-104610.html