(HBO) - Gong of Muong ethnic people has been present for a long time in the daily life and activities of Muong Thang area - Cao Phong. In the past years, the Party committees, the authorities and the local people have been paying great attention to conserving and preserving gong of Muong ethnic people.
The team of gong of Muong ethnic people in Yen Thuong commune (Cao Phong) has been established and performed in cultural activities, sports and major events in the area.
Mr. Bui Yen Minh, the staff from Cao Phong Center for Culture, Sports and Information says that Muong Thang is one of the four big Muong areas of the province. It is the land which is rich in cultural traditions, still holding many precious gongs. Gongs of Muong ethnic have existed for a long time in the cultural life of Muong ethnic people. Gongs have witnessed the birth cry of a child. They have been used to pray for a good harvest, bringing happiness and peace. When returning to the sky of Muong, the sound of gongs has followed the soul of the deceased. Every commune has a gong performance team. After hard working hours, people often converge on the culture house of the village or commune to practice the traditional gongs. The elderly people teach their young children how to beat the gongs. Just like that, the previous generation has passed on to the next generation, the gong echoes over time.
Cao Phong district has paid attention to preserving and preserving the beauty of gongs of Muong ethnic people. Many communes have built resolutions and plans to preserve gongs of Muong ethnic people such as Xuan Phong, Dung Phong, Dong Phong and so on. Many artists have devoted themselves to preserving the culture of gongs of Muong ethnic people. Among them, Mr. Bui Ngoc Thuan, Bung 1 hamlet, Thu Phong commune has set up a folk culture club, wishing to gather those who are passionate for the traditional instruments and singing to practice, compose and perform. Thereby, they can contribute to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural capital imbued with the local ethnic identity. Mr. Bui Van Meo in Dung Phong commune has spent a lot of enthusiasm collecting and teaching people how to beat the melody of gongs of Muong ethnic people.
In Muong Thang area, gongs of Muong ethnic people are performed in all important events taking place in the villages and communes. In particular, it is indispensable for the melody of gongs for opening the traditional festivals of Muong Thang people. Gongs of Muong ethnic people are present at all major festivals in Cao Phong such as the Muong Thang season opening festival, Bo temple festival, Khanh pagoda festival and so on. Cao Phong is also one of the main districts participating in the great cultural festivals and events of the province as the 130th anniversary of the foundation, 25 years of provincial re-establishment, the street gong festival, Gymnastics and sports congress ... There have been about 20 gong teams with about 3,000 gongs and 20 artists who can beat the ancient melody of gongs. In particular, Xuan Phong and Dung Phong are the two communes with the largest number of gongs.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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