Admire the collection of ancient Mid-Autumn lanterns

At Son Tra communal house, which is more than 100 years old (Tan Dinh ward, Ho Chi Minh City), there are more than 50 ancient traditional lanterns on display, restored based on models from more than a century ago.

Admire the collection of Mid-Autumn lanterns over 100 years old in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

Concerned about the historical and cultural values ​​that are being broken, the Khoi Dang Tac Khi group has persistently pursued the project of restoring ancient lanterns for the past 3 years, bringing them from oblivion back to the present.

The praying mantis lantern was chosen by the group as the main theme in this year's collection.

Ms. Nguyen Minh Nguyet, representative of the Khoi Dang Tac Khi group, said: "Combining a cultural event, recreating the ancient Mid-Autumn Festival in an ancient architectural space like Son Tra communal house has created a special resonance, helping to connect old values ​​with modern life."

The highlight of the ancient Mid-Autumn lantern collection of the Khoi Dang Tac Khi group is the praying mantis lantern. Ms. Nguyet shared: “The image of the praying mantis is associated with many folk songs and proverbs such as 'The praying mantis catches cicadas, the sparrow stalks its prey'. This is a reminder for us not to be so caught up in pursuing immediate benefits that we forget the dangers lurking around us.”

Ms. Nguyen Minh Nguyet (in blue shirt) is introducing the historical significance of each lantern to visitors.

“In particular, the praying mantis is currently listed in the Vietnam Red Book, and it is one of the animals that is beneficial to farmers. The group uses the image of the praying mantis to call on people to not only preserve culture but also preserve the biodiversity of nature,” Ms. Nguyet added.

The restored locust lantern has many intricate details and patterns.

The "Fish Watching the Moon" lantern is one of the most popular lanterns.

This lantern collection is the result of nearly a year of hard work by the group. This process requires meticulousness and patience from the group as many lamp models take up to a month to draw, then the assembly process is equally elaborate. For example, the praying mantis lantern required 10 workers to work continuously for 10 days to complete.

Inside the modest space of Son Tra communal house, visitors can admire nearly 7 sets of lanterns and many traditional lamp models that have been meticulously restored by the group. The works vividly recreate images of folk animals such as dragons, grasshoppers, mantises, carp, crabs, rabbits...

Cancer lanterns (crab) and butterfly lanterns are displayed at the event.

Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhung, a visitor, shared emotionally: “Coming here, I was most impressed with the two sets of lanterns: 'Respect the Elder and Achieve Longevity' with the image of butterfly and 'Fish Watching the Moon' with the story of a carp transforming into a dragon. Because when I look at them, I feel like I am connected to the past and the memories of my ancestors.”

“I highly appreciate the enthusiasm of young people, because collecting, restoring and recreating ancient lantern collections is a huge challenge. I hope to have more opportunities to participate in exhibitions like this to spread the cultural history of Vietnam,” Mr. Nhung added.

Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhung is listening to Ms. Nguyet introduce the story of ancient lanterns.

After visiting the exhibition, Ms. Tran Ngoc Phuong Thy, a teacher at the Vietnam Academy of Contemporary Visual Arts, said she was quite surprised that there are still people who know about the old lanterns; and the restorers are young people. “I am very curious and want to learn more about the stories of the old lanterns, as well as about the traditions of our ancestors,” Ms. Phuong Thy shared.

Ms. Tran Ngoc Phuong Thy was surprised when visiting the ancient Mid-Autumn lantern collection.

“Before coming here, I didn’t pay much attention to the patterns on the lanterns, but thanks to the explanations from my group members, I learned that they all originated from ancient legends and stories,” Ms. Phuong Thy added.

The special thing here is that as soon as you enter the main hall, all eyes are focused on the majestic Dai Long lantern - a 20 meter long dragon made of cellophane. This impressive work was inspired by a photo capturing the dragon lantern procession during the Phu Day festival (ancient Nam Dinh ) more than a century ago.

Dai Long lantern impresses with its majesty, 20 meters long, winding around the main hall.

It took the team about three months of non-stop work to create this masterpiece. The dragon frame alone was a challenge, requiring the use of bamboo because of its flexibility, even though it costs more than bamboo. This investment was completely worth it, because the bamboo frame not only helps create the complex curves of the dragon's head, but also helps the work last for many years.

Due to its enormous size, the dragon’s body and head had to be crafted separately and transported by truck to be assembled at the communal house. To help visitors take the best photos, the space around the lantern is also decorated with an old table and chair set, flower mats and lotus miniatures, creating a nostalgic corner next to the ancient altar.

Ms. Chau Anh and her group of friends took pictures to keep beautiful images.

As someone who has followed the products of the Khoi Dang Tac Khi group before, Ms. Chau Anh (a tourist from Hanoi ) still could not hide her amazement. She shared: “This is the first time in my life that I have seen such a large lantern. But what is impressive is not only the grandeur but also the sophistication. When looking closely at each detail, one can see the meticulousness and elaboration of the young artisans when restoring ancient lantern works.”

It is known that the exhibition recreating the ancient Mid-Autumn Festival takes place at Son Tra communal house (113A Nguyen Phi Khanh, Tan Dinh ward, Ho Chi Minh City) and opens from 2:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day and lasts until October 12.

News, photos, clips: Memories/News and Ethnic Newspaper

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/anh/chiem-nguong-bo-suu-tap-long-den-trung-thu-xua-20250907131112396.htm