“Nét chạm thời gian” exhibition: silver jewellery of ethnic minority peoples
A week-long display of ethnic minority silver jewellery at Chie, 17–23 April 2021, with a talk on the wrist-tying ritual and wedding customs of the Thai people.
- When
- Where
- Chie Dù Pù Dù Pà, 66 Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi
- Format
- In person
- Organiser
- Chie Dù Pù Dù Pà Social Enterprise
“Nét chạm thời gian” (Touch of Time) was a week-long display of ethnic minority silver jewellery organised by Chie Dù Pù Dù Pà at its store at 66 Hàng Trống, Hanoi, from 17 to 23 April 2021. It was open 9:00–18:00 and free to enter.
Whenever the Chie team visits a village, besides the brocade, we cannot take our eyes off the silver jewellery that highland women never part with. This display set out to tell the stories behind those pieces.
Silver jewellery, a treasure of highland women
Chains, neck rings, bracelets and earrings are more than decoration. The Hmong “soul bracelet” is twisted from copper, silver and iron and is worn by someone who is ill or feels spiritually weak, to keep evil spirits out and stop the soul from wandering too far from the body.
For the Dao, the fish motif on jewellery recalls a history of living along big rivers. The fish is a spirit animal that carries the Dao soul back to the ancestors, or carries villagers’ prayers to them.
At festivals, the sound of silver bells, lime containers for betel chewing, chains and pendants mingles with the khene and flute. Silver is also a precious dowry when a girl marries, a gift from a mother-in-law to her new daughter-in-law, or a present for children and elders, because villagers believe silver wards off evil spirits and the wind.
Talk: “The wrist-tying ritual and wedding customs of the Thai people”
During the display, Chie held a free talk at 14:00 on Sunday 18 April 2021. Guests heard founder Trương Thị Thu Thủy tell stories, received a “lucky thread” as in the wrist-tying ritual, and tried on traditional costumes.
Three guest speakers shared the customs of their own peoples: Mr Lương Văn Hùng (Red Thai, Thanh Hóa), Vũ Ngọc Hướng (Giáy, Sa Pa) and Mr Sohaniin (Cham, Ninh Thuận).
Looking back
After a week, the display closed to warm interest from young people and journalists. Chie thanks everyone who dropped by and hopes to see you at the next events.
Translated from the Vietnamese original.
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