VietNamNet Bridge – Before the Full-Moon Festival, Mr. Sinh
meticulously whittles bamboo splints to make lanterns, a traditional toy
of Vietnamese children.
VietNamNet Bridge – Before the Full-Moon Festival, Mr. Sinh meticulously whittles bamboo splints to make lanterns, a traditional toy of Vietnamese children.
At the age of 8, Vu Van Sinh made lanterns for himself and his siblings and friends. Growing up in the lantern-making village of Dan Vien, in Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, Sinh has always loved this craft.
Before every Full-Moon Festival, Sinh’s family makes lanterns for sale. Sinh’s daughter-in-law Nguyen Thi Thuy makes lantern frames. There are two types of lanterns: one made of bamboo splints and poluya paper and the other made of wood and cloth. The later is more expensive because it can be used for a long time.
The most difficult stages are the making of the pin and the spinning support.
Sinh makes the spinning shape, with bamboo-splint circles with eye-catching images. When the candle is lit, the fire will heat the air inside, and the difference between the inside and outside temperature will create wind that runs through the crack of the spinning support, making the images rotate. The shapes of these images are projected onto the paper surface of the lantern, like a film.
The images on lanterns usually represent patriotism and national pride, such as soldiers and generals, the parade of the first doctoral candidates, or the dance of four sacred animals.
"We are very concerned about the loss of many traditional toys for the Full-Moon Festival such as lanterns and others. Our family produces lanterns every Full-Moon Festival to maintain this toy tradition," the 55-year-old artisan said.
In the final step, the lanterns are decorated colorfully. Sinh’s wife – Nguyen Thi Hanh – buys decorative materials from Hang Ma Street in the Hanoi Old Quarter, the street for toys and paper-made decorative items.
Sinh’s grandson Vu Van Hoang, 7, also makes lanterns after school.
This family has been making traditional lanterns for dozens of years. “We make lanterns for the conservation of tradition, not only for money," Sinh said.
On average, each person in the family can make two lanterns a day. The average price for a lantern is VND150,000 ($7). Sinh’s lanterns are sold to traders in many provinces in northern Vietnam.