Quang Nam Silk, Vietnam: Material Culture and Storytelling in the Process of Cultural Revitalization

Abstract

This study is basic research. The author used qualitative methodology to study the "Material culture" and "storytelling" of "silk culture" in Quang Nam, Central Vietnam, in the context of cultural revitalization.

The research results found that the Geographical location of Quang Nam is related to the social network system of the ancient Vietnamese state, which is centered in Hue. In the dimension of maritime interstate trade, Hoi An, part of Quang Nam, was the natural characteristic of the area suitable for growing mulberry and sericulture, affecting the formation and development of the silk weaving industry in Quang Nam. It has become a famous source of silk production in Vietnam since ancient times. It affects the economic and cultural system of producing Quang Nam silk, which is related to Vietnamese society and culture in the past. Notably, "Quang Nam silk" was made to serve the Hue court. Therefore, this affects the development of advanced weaving techniques. An exquisite pattern has become a "self" that has uniqueness, both the cutural trait of the fabric and the 'meaning' contained with Quang Nam silk. It has become an advanced silk product and is in demand among domestic and foreign consumers.

However, in the context that Vietnam has faced a social-political crisis and internal war. Especially the war to gain independence from the French colonies. Contact with the war with France as well as the war to unify North Vietnam and South Vietnam. As a result, the development of Quang Nam silk was cut off for a while until the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued the Doi Moi policy in 1986 to promote a wide-ranging economic and social system with the outside world. The above context has affected the revitalization of Quang Nam silk again. Local government and the Quang Nam public sector, especially the Quang Nam people who had ancestors who made silk in the past, have seriously revived and developed Quang Nam cloth. The said revitalization process consists of reproducing and presenting new stories. So present-day Quang Nam silk is linked to authenticity or authenticity with Quang Nam silk in the past through Various 'storytelling' so that current Quang Nam silk has a uniqueness that is different from general silk. It affects both sales value and social value. Today's Quang Nam silk is mainly linked to the past through storytelling, which plays an essential role in constructing self-identity. Quang Nam is now the land of Vietnamese silk and has become a 'material culture' that has meaning in the present again

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