13th generation descendant of famous wood carving family

(Dan Tri) - Mr. Huynh Suong, who has made great contributions to the "revival" of Kim Bong carpentry village, Hoi An city. He was recently awarded the title of People's Artisan by the President.

Kim Bong carpentry village, a brand associated with the ancient town of Hoi An ( Quang Nam ) for more than 600 years of history, has gone through many ups and downs. However, thanks to the continuous efforts of generations of successors, this traditional carpentry profession is still preserved and developed.

Artisan Huynh Suong (56 years old), the 13th generation descendant of the Huynh family, has emerged as an important factor, making great contributions to the "revival" of the craft village.

Artisan Huynh Suong, who has led many generations of Kim Bong carpentry village (Photo: Ngo Linh).

With a warm smile and a familiar Quang Nam accent, Mr. Suong shared about his passion for carpentry that has been ingrained in his blood. After many years of working hard, he decided to return to his hometown and revive the family's traditional carpentry workshop with his father.

In 1996, when Kim Bong carpentry received support from UNESCO and Hoi An City People's Committee for reconstruction, artisan Huynh Suong made a turning point decision.

He convinced his father, artisan Huynh Ry, to break the concept of only passing on the profession within the family, expanding teaching and passing on the profession to young people with passion and enthusiasm.

“Carpentry is a very selective profession; only those who are truly dedicated, persistent and creative can stick with it for a long time. With the mindset of the younger generation, I believe that the name of Kim Bong carpentry will continue to grow and develop even more strongly,” Mr. Suong shared.

Artisan Huynh Suong next to the work "Origin" carved with 1,000 dragons (Photo: Ngo Linh).

These efforts were duly rewarded when in June 2016, Kim Bong carpentry was officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. According to Mr. Huynh Suong's calculations, Kim Bong carpentry village has more than 200 workers working in 20 establishments.

At his workshop, Mr. Suong still maintains the main method of manual production, ensuring that each wooden product not only retains its traditional beauty but also achieves sophistication and eye-catching.

According to Mr. Suong, carpentry is neither too difficult nor too easy; the most important thing is that the craftsman must have love and passion. In addition, sublimation and creativity are indispensable factors to "breathe life" into each work.

Artisan Huynh Suong guides visitors through wood carving at his facility (Photo: Ngo Linh).

He emphasized: “Only creativity can help traditional wooden products become new, diverse, increase value and meet the increasing needs of customers. Although developing according to the trend of the times, traditional wooden products must still be preserved, conserved and promoted.”

His carpentry workshop currently provides stable jobs for 10 local workers with a salary of 15 million VND/person/month. Every year, the facility also undertakes dozens of architectural and renovation projects, creating seasonal jobs for 20-50 other workers.

In recognition of his tireless contributions, in 2013, Mr. Huynh Suong was awarded the title of Meritorious Artisan.

And most recently,the President signed a decision to award Mr. Huynh Suong the title of People's Artisan, honoring his outstanding contributions in preserving and promoting the value of national cultural heritage in the field of handicrafts.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/lao-dong-viec-lam/truyen-nhan-doi-thu-13-cua-gia-toc-dieu-khac-go-noi-tieng-20250622080803934.htm