The "anchor" of the symbol of Dao ethnic cultural identity

(PLVN) - In a small house in the middle of the mountains and forests, Mr. Phung Ngoc Hoa (Khuoi Deng 2 village, Tan Son commune, Cho Moi district, Bac Kan province) has been involved in the crossbow making profession for nearly 50 years. He is the only person in the area who still preserves the traditional craft of making crossbows. Crossbows have long been his pride and a symbol of the cultural identity of the Dao ethnic group here. Through ups and downs, this traditional profession is facing the risk of fading away and being forgotten, making him worry every day.

Born into a family with a tradition of making crossbows, Mr. Hoa has been familiar with each stage of manufacturing since he was a child. He said that each completed crossbow must go through many complicated steps. The crossbow wing is made from precious forest wood, a type of wood that only skilled and experienced craftsmen know how to choose. The crossbow body is made of ironwood, light and durable, hand-carved. The crossbow string is stripped of old hemp fibers, dried and braided. Each part is meticulously assembled to ensure that the crossbow is both aesthetically pleasing and highly accurate. Skilled craftsmen not only make beautiful crossbows but also have to carefully calculate the tension of the string and the elasticity of the crossbow wing to suit each type of arrow. According to Mr. Hoa, if there is only a few millimeters of difference during assembly, the crossbow's shooting path will also be off.

Going back to the 1990s, Mr. Hoa began to be known by many people when he participated in national sports competitions and brought his crossbows to display. Customers from many provinces and cities such as Bac Giang , Bac Ninh, Hai Phong came to buy crossbows for shooting practice or as souvenirs. There was a time when he sold more than 50 crossbows each year, each priced from 300,000 to 500,000 VND, creating an additional source of income, helping to improve family life. Looking at the unfinished crossbow, Mr. Hoa's eyes flickered with regret when remembering the golden age of this profession. He sadly shared: "In the past, everyone in the village knew how to make crossbows. But now, the young generation is no longer interested because this profession is very hard and the income is not worth much."

Mr. Tran Van Dat, Secretary of Tan Son Commune, Cho Moi District, said that currently in the area, Mr. Hoa is the only person who still preserves the traditional crossbow making method of the Dao ethnic group. If not preserved, it will be at risk of fading and disappearing.

Peace and Security