PROMOTING THE VALUE OF FOLK KNOWLEDGE IN DO PAPER PRODUCTION USING TRADITIONAL MANUAL METHODS OF THE NUNG AN PEOPLE IN CAO BANG PROVINCE

Abstract

   The Nung An people residing in Cao Bang province exhibits a distinctive artisanal proficiency in the creation of Do paper, a specialized product derived from the fibrous bark of the Do tree or Duong tree. Over several centuries, this community has conserved, transmitted, inherited, and refined a corpus of folk knowledge integral to the traditional, manual production of Do paper, spanning multiple generations. The production of Do paper necessitates the adept execution of numerous stages within a wholly manual paper-making process, demanding a high degree of experiential skill from the artisan. This article adopts a cultural anthropology research framework to scrutinize the indigenous knowledge preserved and disseminated within the Nung An community in Phuc Sen commune, Quang Hoa district, Cao Bang Province. The scope of this analysis includes the intricate stages of selecting and exploiting raw materials, processing said materials, employing paper-coating techniques, applying pressing and drying methodologies, and the practice of using Do paper in the cultural life of the Nung An people. That forms the scientific basis for this study to identify and evaluate the cultural heritage values inherent in the handmade Do paper-making profession, thereby providing direction for preserving and developing the craft in association with local community tourism.