According to ancient documents and relics, silk weaving in Van Phuc was begun in the 9th century by A La Thi Nuong, a Hung Vuong descendant. She taught the people of Van Phuc village – which used to be called Van Bao – how to grow mulberries, raise silkworms, and weave silk. After her death, she was honored as the village’s tutelary god. Stonework and an ancient loom have been kept in a local temple, which worships A La Thi Nuong. Van Phuc silk once was used to make royal clothing and its silk items were favored during the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. Introduced at the Marseille International Trade Fair in 1931, Van Phuc silk became widely valued for its sophistication. Since 1990, Van Phuc silk has been exported to many countries around the world. Artisan Pham Khac Ha, Chairman of the Van Phuc Silk Weaving Village Association, said “In the village, there are 8 recognized artisans, 164 households involved in silk production and trade, and about 100 showrooms. We are implementing a project, already approved by Hanoi authorities, to turn Van Phuc into a popular tourist destination.” The most prestigious location in Van Phuc village is the silk weaving workshop of artisan Trieu Van Mao, one of two local masters of the traditional techniques of making the original type of Van Phuc silk, called Van silk. Mao is the person who in the 1990s restored the almost-forgotten art of Van silk. After he died in 2010, his… [Read full story]
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