For many years, Thanh Tien Village has been referred as one the most favourite destinations highly rich in local culture, local belief and traditions. It is situated in Phu Mau Ward, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue Province. Lying along the southern side of Huong River in the lower part of Sinh tributary, this village is setting against the scenic greenery with amicable and traquil beauty; therefore, it will offer many interesting options to discover different cultural and local religious facets of Hue through the visual colorful manifestation of paper flowers. The paper flowers here is not only limited within the purpose in aesthetics, and decoration, but also for the local religious rituals and etiquettes.
Originally, the paper flower traditional handicraft in Thanh Tien Village began due to the religious reason. It was dated back approxiamtely 400 years ago when the local worship practice, and belief required specific ritual items, in which paper flowers was among these important objects. Ancestor veneration, and local folk religion has always played a significant role in the spiritualism of Hue residents. Incense, flower, lamps, and fruits are among the important ritual objects. However, the harsh and unpleasant weather conditions, heavy rainfall, as well as extreme sunlight in Hue, to some extent, have made it difficult for fresh flowers to grow throughout the year. Therefore, paper flower has come as an alternative solution which is cheap and durable for praying activities of the local people. They have been formally put in the local religious places, and eventually, have become an iconic ritual objects in the local worship of the adjacent provinces Danang, and Quang Tri, and other further regions where many Hue local people have dwelt, and still kept their faith, particularly on the arrival of Lunar New Year. By the time passing, the paper flowers have prevailed in different places, particularly the middle region of the Central Vietnam.
If you pay a visit to Thanh Tien Village, you will both have a chance to observe the traditions of paper flower craftmanship, and discover various distinct facets of Hue culure, and local belief in a lovely and engaging place.
