The conical hat has long been associated with the image of graceful and hard-working Vietnamese women. Over time, through thousands of years of history, the conical hat still exists and is closely associated with the lives of women regardless of age or living conditions. Vietnamese women have made the conical hat more beautiful with their love of life and their loyal kindness. The simple, rustic beauty of women and the conical hat has been a source of inspiration for many artists, poets, musicians, and painters.
Throughout the S-shaped strip of land, we can easily see the image of the conical hat anywhere. Depending on each region, there will be different ways to make the hat to suit, but in general, all creations are based on a traditional handmade method and the meaning of honoring the beauty of Vietnamese women.
“Homeland is a small bamboo bridge, Mother comes back with a tilted conical hat to cover her”
The conical hat appeared in Vietnam during the Tran Dynasty, around the 13th century. Since then, the hat has always been attached to the Vietnamese people like a shadow.
The conical hat is not picky about its users, regardless of gender, rich or poor, young or old, everyone can wear it. The conical hat goes to the fields with farmers, the conical hat goes with soldiers to battle, the conical hat goes with talented men and beautiful women to festivals, the conical hat goes with concubines to the forbidden palace, the conical hat goes with princesses and queens to pagodas to pray for love and children, the conical hat is on the heads of workers. It is silently present in the lives of Vietnamese people.
Although there are many types of conical hats in our country, the common characteristics are wide brims to protect against rain and sun and a sloping roof to drain rainwater quickly. There are conical hats with pointed tops, wide-brimmed basket hats, three-tiered hats, etc.
During the war years, when sending their lovers off to the battlefield, girls often wore hats with purple straps of loyalty. That alone was better than any oath of allegiance, reassuring those going to war…
In addition, the conical hat also aims to beautify and charm women and is suitable for the Vietnamese aesthetic sense of beauty in a subtle and discreet way. Vietnamese girls take care of the conical hat like a piece of jewelry, people attach a small round mirror to the top of the hat so that girls can beautify themselves discreetly.
The conical hat follows the farmer to the field, participating in the labor process for a bountiful harvest. When the wind stops, the hat is used to fan to cool down. When turned upside down, it is used to hold a bunch of vegetables just picked from the field, a few fruits, or to scoop water...
Nowadays, the conical hat has become a symbol of Vietnamese people in the eyes of international friends. The conical hat is always reserved a place in the luggage of tourists when coming to Vietnam.
Heritage Magazine
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