(PLVN) - On August 12, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 2320/QD-BVHTTDL on announcing the list of national intangible cultural heritages, including the list of Folk Knowledge - Knowledge of sewing and wearing Hue Ao Dai in Hue city, Thua Thien Hue province. This is an important step to build a dossier to submit to UNESCO to recognize Hue Ao Dai as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
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Brilliant "medical regime" in the Ancient Capital
Ao dai is a unique cultural heritage of the ancient capital of Hue, formed, developed and existed for more than 300 years. Since the beginning of the 18th century, the five-panel ao dai has been popular in Dang Trong. In 1744, Lord Nguyen Phuc Khoat ascended the throne in Phu Xuan, he planned and rebuilt Phu Xuan citadel, proclaimed himself king and carried out many reforms, including the clothing system with many innovations. The costume was improved with a more comfortable neck and waist, easier to wear but still retained the good meaning of this everyday outfit. The five panels of the ao dai include an inner panel symbolizing the self and four outer panels in the front and back symbolizing the four parents who always protect and shelter. The five buttons of the ao dai symbolize the five constants - the virtues that a gentleman should have: humanity, courtesy, righteousness, wisdom, and trust. The ao dai costume has a unity between the two regions of the South and the North. From 1826 to 1837, King Minh Mang drastically changed the costumes throughout the country, from which the ao dai was widely and uniformly applied between the North and the South. The five-panel ao dai with a standing collar, fastened with five buttons on the right side, worn with two-legged pants was officially recognized as the national costume of our country, popular from the royal court to the people, from the North to the South. Throughout its time as the capital of the country, the ancient capital of Hue was also the capital of the ao dai of Vietnam, famous for its brilliant "mandarin system". Therefore, the ao dai is the cultural identity of the land, the beauty of the people of Hue in particular and the pride of the Vietnamese people in general. Professor, Doctor of Philosophy Thai Kim Lan (Hue City), who has devoted her life to Hue Ao Dai, said that, in addition to its traditional elegance and grace, the Ao Dai also reminds the wearer of human morality, reminds every Hue citizen to cherish, respect, and preserve the precious traditional values left by their ancestors, and continue to promote and enhance the good values to pass on to the future. Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien Hue Province Phan Thanh Hai shared: “The Ao Dai of Hue has gone through a long journey of formation and development with many historical events. It was born from the soul and aesthetic and sophistication of the people of the Ancient Capital, carrying on it the unique charm of the land of the Divine Capital”. Bringing the Ao Dai heritage into contemporary life In order to affirm the value and position of Hue Ao Dai in the cultural flow of the Ancient Capital of Hue and Vietnamese culture; Honoring the cultural beauty of Hue Ao Dai, honoring those who founded and developed Hue Ao Dai in the history of formation and development; Exploiting and promoting the position of Hue Ao Dai in tourism development, building tourism products and services associated with Hue Ao Dai, promoting socio-economic development, in recent years, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province has had special projects, activities and programs. On March 29, 2023, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province approved the Project "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai". One of the important goals of this project is to preserve and promote the value of knowledge in making and wearing Hue Ao Dai. This is the premise for effectively implementing activities to promote and honor Hue Ao Dai, promote economic and tourism development, affirm Hue Ao Dai in the international community, aiming to develop the brand Hue - Capital of Ao Dai, promote socio-economic development, contribute to the successful implementation of Resolution 54-NQ/TW dated December 10, 2019 of the Politburo on building and developing Thua Thien Hue province to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The specific goal is that by 2025: Form a database of Hue Ao Dai images through the periods; Periodically organize "Hue Community Ao Dai Week" to become an important highlight in festivals in Hue, especially Hue Festivals; Build a communication set about Hue Ao Dai; manage the brand "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai"; Form a tourism product associated with Hue Ao Dai. By 2030: Establish a museum, exhibition center, performance center, tailoring Ao Dai to serve tourists; Issue at least 1 policy to support the development of Hue Ao Dai; Establish tours and tourism products associated with Hue Ao Dai; Launch, encourage and expand the Ao Dai wearing movement in the community; Complete the dossier on Ao Dai tailoring and the traditional practice of using Hue Ao Dai to submit to UNESCO for consideration and recognition as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
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Dong Ba market vendors excitedly wear purple ao dai. (Photo: Dieu Ai)
Through many specific activities and actions, Thua Thien Hue province has been realizing the contents of the Project "Hue - Capital of Ao Dai". To strengthen propaganda and promotion, Thua Thien Hue province has exempted tickets for female tourists wearing Ao Dai when visiting historical sites on the occasions of March 8, October 20... The Department of Culture, with its leading role, has brought Ao Dai to cultural and sports festivals, flag-raising ceremonies at offices... and in daily life. The Hue Monuments Conservation Center has provided Ao Dai to all officials, employees and implemented regulations on wearing Ao Dai uniforms when participating in festivals and cultural activities. Businessmen have used Ao Dai in most forums, conferences and seminars. At Dong Ba market, the most famous market in Hue for over 100 years, hundreds of traders have worn Ao Dai together on holidays, Tet or festivals launched by Hue City, creating a beautiful image of Hue Ao Dai associated with the traditional market. The Women's Union at all levels in Thua Thien Hue province also focuses on building the image and brand of Hue women associated with Hue Ao Dai by establishing and launching the Ao Dai model "Thua Thien Hue Women - accompanying the purple color"; Accompanying and responding to the campaign for female civil servants to wear Ao Dai on Monday mornings at work and on major women's holidays; Establishing the model "Loving Ao Dai Wardrobe" to donate thousands of Ao Dai to disadvantaged female members; Organizing competitions, exchanges, and performances of Ao Dai such as: "Ao Dai with Hue's cultural heritage", "1,000 women wearing Ao Dai dancing folk dance"... After popularizing Ao Dai for women in high schools, the Education sector has continued to experiment with bringing Ao Dai for men into important activities. Some schools have equipped or rented or borrowed Ao Ngu Than for teachers and students to wear during field trips, picnics at museums, relics and festivals organized by the school. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province said: "We are moving towards the goal of Ao Dai being recognized as a world cultural heritage. In the coming time, Thua Thien Hue province will continue to organize activities to introduce the most complete and comprehensive value of Ao Dai in Vietnamese culture, as well as in Hue culture". Source: https://baophapluat.vn/de-unesco-ghi-danh-ao-dai-hue-la-di-san-post522191.html
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