The distinctive allure of the Non Nuoc Stone Carving Memory Museum has compelled us to meet the museum’s director, 45-year-old Le Van Hoa, who has devoted his heart to collecting, preserving, and showcasing over 300 artefacts connected to the 400-year-old Non Nuoc stone carving village.

To obtain chisels of various sizes, Mr. Hoa spent considerable time seeking them out from the long-standing stone carving workshops in the locality. Photo: T.Y

Memories of the craft village

In the 2,000-square-metre museum displaying over 300 artefacts, this middle-aged man speaks passionately about stone carving, as if all his emotions at this moment are wholly devoted to the tradition of the village where he was born and raised.

This is a picturesque village nestled at the foot of the Marble Mountains, where the childhood lullabies are not the soothing songs but rather the rhythmic sounds of hammers, chisels, and other tools echoing off stones.

Like many young people in the village, Mr. Hoa packed his bags at the age of 12 to learn the craft under the tutelage of artisan Nguyen Sang. He recalls those days as arduous yet fulfilling. Over time, with the meticulous guidance of village artisans, he gradually mastered each basic technique and the intricacies of carving to create a finished product.

“Sometimes, a craftsman has to sit for hours just to polish a piece of stone to the desired smoothness or spend an entire week perfecting a simple piece. Despite the exhaustion, I was always thrilled as each detail slowly emerged under my hands. I believe that for a stone sculptor, every finished product is not just a work of art but also the result of patience, effort, and dedication”, Mr. Hoa said.

Although deeply passionate about stone carving, Mr. Hoa eventually realised that traditional techniques were increasingly being replaced by modern machinery. He decided to abandon the craft and shift towards tourism. However, stories of traditional craftsmanship, shared during his tours of the Marble Mountains, rekindled his connection to the past. He explains that each time he recounts the history of the village, it feels as though he is reliving his childhood, where the sounds of hammers and chisels resonated with the dust of the stone. This motivated him to begin his journey of collecting and preserving artefacts tied to the formation and development of the craft village.

From the moment the idea took hold, Mr. Hoa spent any available time visiting homes, and meeting artisans in search of tools linked to stone sculpture. He shared that each time he encountered an old item or a familiar tool once integral to the craft, he was overwhelmed by a unique emotion. Behind every artefact lies a part of the memory, a story of the history of the Non Nuoc stone carving village. Over more than 10 years of collecting, his initial simple collection gradually expanded to include numerous artefacts of historical and cultural value, some dating back 50 to 100 years.

Among the most notable items are a stele crafted by Huynh Manh Phu (one of the most beautiful steles from the ancient Quang Khai Village, now Hoa Hai Ward), an iron hammer preserved for three generations by the family of Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Viet Minh, and a pair of pompano fish sculptures made from Marble Mountains stone by artisan Le Van Kit.

With a rich collection of artefacts, Mr. Hoa began developing a plan to establish a private museum, aiming to preserve and spread the historical, cultural, and artistic values of the Non Nuoc stone carving craft to future generations.

Spreading the craft village’s value together

The Non Nuoc Stone Carving Memory Museum at the Marble Mountains officially opened in mid-2023. Here, the artefacts on display weave a narrative. The stone mortars and rice grinders placed at the museum's entrance are among the first tools created by the village’s stone artisans for household needs.

The historical, cultural, and artistic values of the museum are also reflected in 250 statues and 73 pieces recognised as national relics. In establishing the museum, Mr. Hoa aimed not only to create a space for preserving precious artefacts but also to connect the past with the present, linking artisans with visitors.

Among the exhibited items, a stele belonging to Huynh Ba Quat, approximately 385 years old, stands out as one of the museum's most significant historical artefacts. Situated in the museum's most prestigious area, this stele showcases the craftsmanship and dedication of the artisans through its intricate carvings.

The combination of historical, cultural, and artistic values has helped the museum attract the interest of visitors, village artisans, and researchers alike. Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Viet Minh, Chairman of the Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, expressed his deep appreciation for the museum's space and displayed artefacts, as they reflect the respect and honour bestowed upon the stone carving craft to which he and generations of artisans have devoted their lives.

“Every artefact here tells its own story, marking the creativity and tireless labour of the village’s craftsmen. Standing before these works, I feel both pride and a profound sense of responsibility to pass on the craft’s essence to future generations” Mr. Minh shared.

With the support of the artisan community, the museum is increasingly asserting its position as a prominent cultural symbol in Da Nang. Mr. Hoa shared that the museum's success is not only his pride but also that of the Non Nuoc stone sculpture village community.

In the future, he hopes the local authorities will facilitate the expansion of the exhibition space at the vacant land at the foot of Thuy Son (Mountain of Water), where he envisions creating a "museum garden" to provide easier access for the public and visitors.

At this new location, he plans to organise thematic exhibitions and create a space for hands-on stone sculpting experiences. Furthermore, if the museum admission could be combined with the Marble Mountains tour ticket, it would support the museum’s sustainability and growth.

“We believe that when the values of the craft village are recognised and spread, only then can the Non Nuoc stone sculpting craft be truly preserved and sustainably developed in the future,” Mr. Hoa passionately remarked.

Reporting by TIEU YEN - Translating by TRUC VY