Lady Tri Hue, born in 1922, was raised in a royal family of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). She had the title of “Công Tôn Nữ” as the granddaughter of the Duke. Trí Huệ was a descendant of King Minh Mang, namely his great-granddaughter. Additionally, she was the descendant of Nguyễn Phúc Miên Lâm, who was the 57th offspring of King Minh Mang.
Lady Tri Hue enrolled in the Hue Citadel to acquire skills in sewing and embroidery when she was seventeen years old. She, like other Cong Ton Nu, got the chance to learn about the royal family’s hand-crafted arm pillows. Lady Tri Hue’s cushions were highly esteemed by both Duc Tu Cung and King Bao Dai. The king frequently requested her to create these distinctive pillows as presents.
In royal palaces and among the wealthy, armrest cushions—sometimes called folded pillows or leaning pillows—were popular. Numerous folds can be opened and closed to suit your needs. These were used by kings and courtiers as a place to rest their heads, sit back and read, sip tea, write poetry, or debate state matters. Besides its cultural and historical importance, the armrest cushion is a symbol of good fortune and favors.
The family of Lady Tri Hue got back into farming in 1992. They began making a living by creating traditional long dresses, known as Ao Dai. Because cushions were no longer needed, Lady Tri Hue resorted to making them out of spare cloth as a way to remember her artistic talents.
Lady Tri Hue just peacefully passed away at 101 age, leaving a deep regret to everyone. She will be remembered as a skilled craftswoman who loved creating royal pillows and wished to share her expertise with the next generation.
