On the days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Thuan An Hang lion head factory (Binh Tri Dong ward, Ho Chi Minh City) is bustling with the laughter of the workers. The bustling working atmosphere covered everyone, everyone was busy from morning to late at night to complete the final orders and deliver them to customers in time.
In the workshop filled with red, yellow, and blue, Mr. Bang Chi Hung - the owner of the lion head workshop - who had just edited the frame shared: "When I was young, I really liked lion dance but had not had the opportunity to join the team. When I grew up, I was taught by a few men, I became involved in the profession, and I have been attached to it until now".
According to Mr. Hung, to have a complete lion head, the craftsman had to go through many elaborate stages, from making a frame made of clouds, bamboo, zinc or aluminum frame, to applying paper, applying fabric, and then coating it with color. Each stage requires meticulousness and the participation of many different craftsmen. In particular, the frame making and foundation for shaping the shape is considered the decorative painting stage as the "soul" for the product.
Mr. Vuong Tuan Van - a young worker who has been in the profession for 4 years - said: "This profession is still passionate about running, but the passion is still working. Each lion head born is not only a product for performance, but also a crystallization of the efforts, enthusiasm and creativity of the craftsman.
The motifs on the lion head often bear a strong traditional imprint, expressing the majesty and sacredness of the mascot. However, to meet diverse tastes, the artist also flexibly creates according to orders, from modern colors to unique designs. Thanks to that, each lion head in Mr. Hung's workshop both retains its identity and has its own unique features.
On average, a lion head takes about 7 days to complete. The price ranges from 5 - 6.5 million VND, depending on the size and specific requirements of the customer. Although the price is not cheap, thanks to its quality and reputation, Mr. Hung's workshop still receives dozens of orders every Mid-Autumn Festival, serving lion dance teams inside and outside the city.
According to the experts, the profession of making lion heads is not "easy to live" if it is only considered a livelihood of chewing, due to seasonality and many difficulties in raw materials, but it is the love for folk culture that has helped them persevere in the profession. Every time its the Mid-Autumn Festival, seeing children excitedly watching lion dance, I find my work meaningful. That is also the motivation for me to continue to preserve this traditional profession, Mr. Hung expressed.
In the midst of modern life, the fact that there are still workers who are passionate about their profession has contributed to maintaining the long-standing cultural beauty. The lion heads from Mr. Hung's workshop not only serve a festival season, but are also a bridge for future generations to continue to feel and appreciate the quintessence of the art of lion - dragon - dragon dance in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people.
