(HBO) - The People’s Committee of northern Hoa Binh province promulgated a plan in October 2016 to bring the Muong ethnic minority group’s scripts into life in order to preserve and promote its traditional cultural values.
A group of Muong folk art collectors meet with
artisans in Nang hamlet, Chi Thien commune, Lac Son district, to introduce the Muong
ethnic minority group’s scripts to local people.
To implement the teaching and learning of the Muong
scripts, from early 2017, the provincial information portal updated direction
documents of the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee on
implementing communications in the field.
The Hoa Binh Newspaper has opened a Muong language
page integrated on its e-newspaper, including sections: politics, economy,
culture-tourism, education, defence-security, and sports. It also produces
three clips for Muong online television programme a month.
Besides the Hoa Binh Newspaper and Television,
most of departments and sectors in the province have encouraged officials and
people to learn about the Muong ethnic scripts.
In 2019, the provincial Department of Science
and Technology approved the outcome of a project compiling teaching and
learning materials of the Muong scripts, which enable Muong language speakers
to use in their daily work.
In January 2019, the provincial Party
Committee’s Board for Information and Education and the Department of Science
and Technology jointly organised a conference to hand over the Muong teaching
and learning materials to the Department of Science and Technology, the
Department of Information and Communications, the Department of Education and
Training, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the provincial Television,
the political school, and the Hoa Binh Newspaper to bring the Muong ethnic
scripts to life.
In late October 2019, the provincial political
school opened a training course on the Muong ethnic scripts for 50 trainees who
are officials and lecturers at school./.
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.
.jpg)
