Conical Hat has become a symbol of Vietnamese culture. Although rustic and fragile, conical hats are equally charming. Few know that inside that hat is a great historical treasure of Vietnam nation.
1. Where does conical hat originate from?
1.1. History of the Vietnamese conical hat
Since ancient times, because of the tropical monsoon climate with sunny and rainy weather, the Vietnamese have devised a way to tie leaves together to cover the sun and rain. According to researches by scientists, conical hats have appeared from 2500 to 3000 years.
According to history, the time when Vietnamese conical hats were born was around the 13th century during the Tran Dynasty. After a period of development, conical hats have gone through many stages of changing into many different shapes. Up to now, conical cone is the most commonly seen style.
1.2. Uses of conical hats
Especially with Vietnamese conical hats, the wearer can effectively cover the sun and rain but still completely ensure the neat charm. The conical hat has become a symbol of Vietnamese people and Vietnamese women in particular.
The image of a rustic conical hat is not merely a sun protection item anymore, but it also contains a treasure of historical and cultural values of the Vietnamese people. The hat has contributed to creating the idyllic charm of Vietnamese women from past to present.
Today, the development of the economy along with the policy of globalization opens the door for economic and cultural interference between countries. At the same time, since then, the Vietnamese conical hat has reached out beyond the border and become a meaningful gift for international tourists.
2. The craft of making Vietnamese conical hats
2.1. The origin of the Vietnamese conical hat industry
Basically conical hat is a type of conical hat that is assembled from available leaves such as palm leaves, conical leaves, etc. Because of the influence from the tropical monsoon climate, Vietnamese people immediately think of using leaves together to cover the sun. rain. Gradually, this hat became a necessary item in daily life.
2.2. Ingredient
Made from Palm leaves, Mills, Bamboo
The materials for making conical hats are quite simple, it is only made from leaves such as palm, mortar or bamboo, but through the skillful hands of artisans, the hat becomes more aesthetically pleasing than ever. Gradually, the conical hat has become a unique symbol of many traditional craft villages for centuries.
The fact that conical conical hats have a pointed cone shape is just one of the types of conical hats in Vietnam. In addition to the common conical hats with pointed tips, conical hats also include sport hats, poetic conical hats, conical hats, etc. Each type has its own identifying features and certain differences in structure.
Before being used to make hats, the leaves must be sun-dried to make them dry and soft to keep them longer. Cone leaves must be milky white, smooth and glossy green veins are the best.
Usually, the raw materials for making hats are taken in the mountainous areas of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc or Viet Bac, Truong Son, Northwest… The process of cutting leaves must be technically correct and dried in the sun. In order to make a beautiful hat, the artisan also needs to use bamboo to sew the hat.
3. Meaning of Vietnamese conical hat
3.1. Is a jewelry full of love for the homeland
Vietnamese conical hat is considered an unsophisticated jewelry of every Vietnamese woman. Especially for farmers, this is a tool that is also a close friend to them.
Conical hats are used to cover sun and rain when working in the fields. Sometimes it can even replace the fan to keep the fan cool at noon when working tired. In addition, with the development of society, the aesthetic needs of people are higher, Vietnamese conical hats become a fashion accessory representing the gentle beauty of Vietnamese girls.
3.2. Has a special meaning to the people of Vietnam
The image of Vietnamese conical hats has penetrated deeply into Vietnamese culture through a series of images from folk poetry to modern art works. The conical dance is also preserved and developed by the Vietnamese people to become a unique and equally charming work of art.
Not only that, in a traditional wedding, the conical hat given to the bride by her mother-in-law before returning to her husband’s house also contains many meanings to wish for the happiness of husband and wife.
Besides meeting the needs of cross-cultural interaction, conical hats become a souvenir worth buying every time you travel to Vietnam. Hats made of conical leaves are extremely light. However, you should avoid dropping the cone to avoid puncture or distortion. Especially when exposed to rain water, the hat can become yellow, so you can store it in a bubble bag.
In short, the Vietnamese conical hat is an indispensable part of Vietnamese culture. Today, the image of the conical hat is actively preserved by the state and the entire people and spreads its positive meanings to the community and the whole world.