Land and people of Hai Duong

Market in Nam Sach past and present

TAM HA July 31, 2024 07:48

Nam Sach District (Hai Duong) was formerly known as Thanh Lam District. This place developed agricultural production and traditional handicrafts, so the market system gradually became bustling, a place to gather, promote and consume products.

Thác bản văn bia “Khai thị bi ký”
The inscription of the "Khai thi bi ky" stele in Man Nhue commune previously recorded that in Van Nien village there was a small market, connected to the main road on all four sides.

According to some research sources, the name of Thanh Lam district was changed to Nam Sach district around the late 40s of the 20th century.

Bustling exchange, bpurchase

Similar to other localities, trading and exchange activities in Nam Sach are lively and bustling. The old market is often held at the village entrance, under the shade of ancient banyan trees or in front of the spacious communal house. District and prefectural markets are held periodically, in sessions during the month and are more crowded. The items for sale are quite diverse. According toDlocallittleHai Duong province through documents HNom caseAccording to Dinh Khac Thuan, the largest and most bustling market is Van Tai market, "with bustling traders, truly a metropolis". Because the capital of Nam Sach district in the past, and later of Thanh Lam district, Van Tai market is also Thanh Lam market.

According to the bookChVietnamese tradition through stele documentsby Dinh Khac Manh, in the year Dinh Ty (1677), Thanh Lam district market was built in Van Nien village, Man Nhue commune. According to the bookLiteraturedgrace HOcean,Thanh Lam district market is located in the center, has convenient water and road traffic, is the most developed commercial center in the region, is one of the big markets of Hai Duong province in the past. The main session used to be held on the 5th and 10th, the secondary session was held every day.

Thanh Lam Market is divided into areas: an area selling buffalo, cows, pigs and chickens; an area selling cloth, textiles and agricultural products, aquatic products, industrial products and handicrafts. Along with the market are streets with Vietnamese shops and stores (usually small retail), interspersed with Chinese shops (with many large shops). Traders come from many neighboring places and surrounding districts and prefectures such as Chi Linh, Kinh Mon, Luong Tai (Bac Ninh)...

In addition, there are many other markets here such as: Nhan Ly market in Nhan Ly commune with a buffalo and cattle trading ward; Van Nien market in Man Nhue commune, Van Long market in Ta Xa commune, An Lu commune market, Hop market... The steleOpening the bookideaIn Man Nhue commune, it was said that in the past, in Van Nien village, there was a small market, connected to the main road on all four sides, and next to the ferry, so the number of customers coming to trade increased day by day. Some villagers voluntarily sold their fields to save space to expand the market. Later, the market tax collected in January every year would be used to make offerings to the gods, and those who had the merit of donating land to expand the market would be allowed to participate in the offering.

SteleVan Long's funeralIn Van Long village, it is also described that this market has existed for a long time, located in a beautiful location, open to all four directions, making it very convenient for people in the area to travel, making trading easy and convenient. The association leaders of the three districts of Chi Linh, Thanh Lam and Thanh Ha, headed by Mr. Mac Khac Chieu (alias Phuc Nhan) contributed money to build two new rows of shops in the market, contributing to increasing prosperity in the area.

2Thác bản văn bia “Văn Lộng thị bi”
The stele inscription "Van Long Thi Bi" in Van Long village also describes that this market has existed for a long time, located in a beautiful location.

The traders at the markets are mainly farmers, craftsmen, and small traders. Market-goers can bring surplus goods to the market to sell and buy necessities for their families. Traders at the village market often carry goods to the market, and those with better conditions use buffalo and ox carts. Goods brought to the market are also mainly stored in baskets, trays, and baskets, and displayed on the baskets in a rather simple manner. The products traded are mainly farmed agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, shrimp, crabs, and fish; handicrafts such as sedge mats, silk, pottery, and agricultural tools... The specialties traded in Nam Sach have entered folk songs and folklore:Who?About Thanh L district marketminus/Give me gsilk fabrich soundrush

Hop village has l for sale.baby/LQuao hasclay pot

Chold burp covered everywhere

Hàng nón lá ở chợ huyện Nam Sách hiện nay
Conical hat stalls at Nam Sach district market today

The market is always the “face” of a countryside. It reflects quite fully the entire economy, culture, and society of a region, of a historical period.

Like some other districts in Nam Sach district, Thanh Lam district used to mainly produce agriculture, in which "in terms of products, Thanh Lam district has a lot of autumn rice, little summer rice, and scattered potatoes, beans, and cotton". In addition, the products here also include tobacco in Quan San commune; sea rice in An Duoc commune and Man De commune; and crabs, eels available in the river areas of Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Thuong Triet, and Lai Ha communes.

There are many traditional crafts developed here, such as: Vu La commune has iron forging, specializing in forging harrows and saws; Don Boi commune has silk weaving and selling pupae; Thuong Triet commune has mat weaving; Van Xa commune has drum carrying; Dong Giang commune produces fragrant fish sauce; Uong Thuong, Uong Ha, Mac Xa, Dang Xa communes all produce sedge mats; Quan Dinh has hammock weaving; Lam Xuyen has pots and earthenware kettles... Folk songs and proverbs in the district have praised: "Dong Nam has a golden loom/Dong Thung, Dong Tinh have silk weavers; Van Tai has jute growing/In Phu Lien, they often go fishing".

In particular, Chu Dau and My Xa pottery (formerly belonging to Thuong Triet commune, now belonging to Minh Tan and Thai Tan communes) are very famous, not only in the region but also in Dai Viet and the world. It is the development of agricultural production and traditional handicrafts that have created agricultural products, household goods and essential production tools serving human life. The market system has gradually been formed in all villages and communes, which is a place to gather, promote and consume products and also a place to buy and sell necessary items for life and production.

Nowadays, the market has changed a lot, only traces of rural markets in villages and communes remain, while district markets have become large trading centers in the region. In the past, district markets only met twice a month, but today, the market meets 5-6 times a month with a variety of rich and diverse goods of the market economy period.

Looking back at historical documents about the old market to remember a time of self-sufficiency in the rural market with baskets, trays, trays, and sieves filled with humanity in the abundant scent of fields and the countryside breeze of Nam Sach.

TAM HA
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Market in Nam Sach past and present