Reviving 'Butterfly Parasol' - The Quintessence of Vietnamese Crafts

In 2024, Nguyen Phuong Trang - a Vietnamese costume designer in Thai Nguyen, accidentally learned about butterfly parasols while doing in-depth research on Vietnamese costumes. Phuong Trang shared: Butterfly parasols are a traditional handicraft product of the Annamese people, originating from the parasol-making village. They are meticulously crafted with a male bamboo handle, a bamboo frame, a do paper and resin canopy, and decorated with the four sacred animals and the Tho character, which are deeply cultural.

Butterfly parasols are not only decorative items but also have a congratulatory meaning, symbolizing longevity and fertility. Therefore, they often appear in noble families and are sometimes used as wall decorations in luxurious spaces.

Although the butterfly parasol is a 20th century craft, it is only recently that this accessory has gained widespread attention. The popularity of butterfly parasols comes from beauty pageants.

Miss Ky Duyen's outfit on the stage of the Miss Universe 2024 semi-finals in Mexico. (Photo: Bazaarvietnam)

Fortunately, not only Trang but also many other young people joined hands in the journey to revive the butterfly umbrella. Among them, Phung Nguyen Anh Khoa (born in 1995), currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, is the one who shared the details of how to make a butterfly umbrella on social networks, arousing the interest of the community. Nguyen Phuong Trang is one of the young people inspired by the 9x artist Phung Nguyen Anh Khoa.

Phung Nguyen Anh Khoa was credited with the restoration of the butterfly parasol when he saw the sketch in the book "Techniques of the Annamese" by Henri Oger. Based on only a few black and white photos, the sketch printed in the book and a few short lines about the item, he restored it closely to the original version, achieving a similarity of 70-80%.

Thanks to Khoa’s detailed instructions, many young people like Trang have begun to create and contribute to spreading this traditional culture. It is this spirit of connection and sharing that has helped butterfly parasols no longer be a distant memory but gradually regain their place in contemporary life.

The sophistication of the butterfly parasol comes not only from the material but also from the craftsmanship, reflecting the ingenuity and creativity of the artisans. This product originates from the traditional parasol-making village of the ancient Vietnamese, where each parasol is not only a ceremonial object but also has profound aesthetic and spiritual value.

The original models from ancient times were usually dark in color, mainly in black, green, and yellow. The dark color served as a background for the colorful thread decoration and hanging cotton balls.

In the process of making round parasols, craftsmen often encounter small errors such as broken ribs or torn paper. Instead of throwing them away, they created butterfly parasols - a unique variation made from salvageable parts, demonstrating the spirit of thrift, recycling and respect for each material.

Traditional butterfly parasols are made from dó paper and bamboo, materials typical of East Asian culture, bringing a rustic yet sophisticated beauty. Dó paper is not only durable and light but also creates a suitable surface for drawing patterns, while bamboo helps the structure of the butterfly parasol become sturdy while still maintaining its elegance.

Keeping traditional materials not only helps preserve cultural identity but also makes the product environmentally friendly. If replaced with fabric or metal, not only will it be difficult to draw patterns but also lose the inherent characteristics of this art form.

More than just a beautiful handicraft, the butterfly parasol also carries profound cultural value. The return of the butterfly parasol is proof that the youth are not indifferent to the national heritage. The important thing is how to popularize these values ​​in an easy-to-understand way, with accompanying stories to connect with the modern generation.

Initially, making butterfly parasols was just a personal hobby of some young people like Nguyen Phuong Trang, but when shared on social networks, this item quickly attracted great attention from the community. Many people expressed their desire to own a butterfly parasol, but due to the complicated process, not everyone can do it themselves.

The revival of the butterfly parasol shows that ancient cultural values ​​can be brought back to modern life if there are people who are truly passionate and dare to take the plunge. Not only stopping at restoration, young people like Nguyen Phuong Trang also try to find ways to make the butterfly parasol more suitable for today's needs while still maintaining the original spirit.

When items like butterfly parasols become popular again, they will not only be a simple decorative product, but also a bridge to bring the younger generation closer to the culture of their ancestors, contributing to preserving and promoting the quintessence of the nation.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/multimedia/emagazine/202504/hoi-sinh-long-buom-tinh-hoa-thu-cong-viet-nam-58a0898/