Tò He makers do not teach the craft to women because
the fathers fear their daughters will reveal precious trade secrets to their
husbands" families.
According to an old man in Xuan La Village, the recipe
for success in making Tò He lies in the preparation of the dough.
The craftsman first grinds rice into fine powder, then pours
water into the powder and mixes it until he achieves a sticky lump. He places
the lump in a pot of water, brings the water to a boil, and cooks the paste for
an hour. When the lump rises to the water's surface, dips, and rises again, the
craftsman removes it from the pot. Then he applies seven colors: white, black,
green, yellow, violet, pink, and red. Miraculously, the different colors never
stain one another when he assembles the parts of a To He figurine.
Many generations of Vietnamese children have been
overjoyed when their mothers return from market with a Tò He. Children can even
eat To He after playing with them. Each Xuan La craftsman embarking on the To He
trade learns to humor customers, especially children. The lesson of humanity is
the first one every Xuan La villager bears in mind. "If we love people,
they will surely come to us," To He makers say.
Making Tò He doesn't bring much profit. The
materials rice paste, bamboo-stick holders, and colorings are inexpensive and
locally available. A craftsman only charges customers for his patience and
care. A Tò He in a rural market costs between VND500 and VND 1,000. Makers who
travel farther afield to the larger cities can sell a Tò He for between VND
2,000 to VND 3,000.
Customers can place their orders, watch the
craftsman mould the toy, and be pleased with the results in minutes. A Tò He
can depict a person, a famous general, a folk-tale character, an animal, or a
flower. The makers remember the characteristics of every subject. They are
experts in using exactly the right amount of paste to form each separate part
of each kind of toy as if these skills were an inborn talent.
Mr. Dang Van To, an eighty-two year-old man, is the
oldest Tò He maker in Xuan La. He talks proudly about his life and career. Mr.
To's family has been making Tò He for ten generations. He learned the trade
when he was six and is nationally known. The Ministry of Culture and
Information often asks him to demonstrate To He making at festivals. Mr. To's
passion and skill have not lessened despite his age. He can make every kind of
Tò He from kings and mandarins with elaborate imperial costumes to complicated
dragons. He can finish an image of King Quang Trung, a national hero, in less
than ten minutes.
Mr. To also likes to teach children about the
underlying meaning of To He. He explains that the lifeline of the Tò He trade
is people's joy, not money. For example, as Mr. To creates a Tò He rat, he
explains that rats have pointed noses and long tails, that they destroy
farmers' crops, and that the children should help get rid of rats. The children
are fascinated to listen to Mr. To as they watch the Tò He emerge in his hands.
Today, plastic and electronic toys flood city and
countryside markets. Although Tò He cannot compete, Xuan La villagers still
struggle to maintain their traditional trade. At present, about 300 villagers
make Tò He. Chu Van Nghe, a sixty-seven-year-old war veteran, still pursues the
craft. His four-year-old granddaughter has asked him to teach her to make Tò He.
Nowadays, many women assist their husbands and families in preserving the
village trade. Everyday, Xuan La villagers travel to different corners of the
countryside - from hamlets to markets to parks - selling Tò He to children and
to the lovers.
Xuan La villagers take pride that, nowadays, To He
makers can be found nationwide and even abroad in China, Laos, Cambodia, and
Thailand. This proves that the craft has not entirely disappeared. Although a
Tò He is small, it embodies a lot of the sentiment, honor, and industry that began
with Xuan La villagers long, long ago.