Context:
The project draws inspiration from Vietnamese culture and was developed by our team after a research trip to Hue. Once a flourishing center for folk games, Hue holds an essential place in Vietnamese cultural heritage. With the aim of bringing a modern touch to a traditional game that was beloved in the past, this project came to life.

An Hien Garden House is a typical example of traditional residential architecture. This stands as an elegant and refined contrast amidst the grand imperial tombs and citadel. An Hien exudes a rustic yet unique charm. This location was a research site for our team, allowing us to explore aspects of history, architecture,… and especially the intricately carved patterns, which we aim to incorporate into our products.

Unlike other architectural structures in Hue that primarily use the motifs of dragons, lions, turtles, and phoenixes to symbolize power and longevity, the carvings at An Hien are mainly focused on landscapes and simple, rustic animals such as mice, deer, birds, and bats, which are emblematic of a typical residence during the Nguyen dynasty to wish for luck, prosperity, and nature harmony.

Xam Huong was commonly played within the royal court, specifically by members of the royal family,… Over time, the game spread beyond the palace and has been preserved in the ancient capital to this day. This project aims to bring tradition closer to the younger generation, spreading the values of the past through a modern approach.

Concept:
Each set of Xam Huong consists of a total of 63 cards, with inscriptions representing academic titles in the imperial examination system. The cards are divided as follows: Trang Nguyen, Tham Hoa, Bang Nhan, Hoi Nguyen, Tien si, Cu Nhan, Tu Tai with increasing point values approximately.

A distinctive pattern of An Hien, which we selected as the theme for our Xam Huong set after careful observation and research, is the dominant bat motif used in the house’s pattern. In Chinese, the word for “bat” (蝠) is homonymous with “luck” (福), symbolizing blessings and good fortune. Therefore, upon entering the house, one steps over a bat-shaped ceramic tile at the gate, with the belief that it brings luck to the homeowner. The arrangement of patterns follows a sequence from the exterior to the interior of the house, including its furniture.