(HBO) - The bronze drum is a valuable asset considered a treasure left by the great grandparents, a symbol of the civilization and culture of Vietnam during the time of national construction. Hoa Binh is the province that has discovered and stored the second largest drums in the country, with two main types, including Heger drum type I(Dong Son drums) and Heger drum type II.
The bronze drums are displayed at the Provincial Museum.
Bronze drums found in Hoa Binh are mostly Heger bronze drums
type II with different early or late groups. The date of Heger drum type II
lasted from the first to the seventeenth century.
According to the statistics, Hoa Binh province has
discovered over 100 bronze drums, of which the earliest discovered drum was the
Song Da drum (discovered in 1887). This is a Heger drum Type I and a Dong Son
drum of group A type I. This drum is currently stored at the Guimet Museum (in
France).
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thi, Director of the Provincial Museum, says
that the bronze drums type II have been attached to Muong ethnic people for a
long time. They have concentrated in the residence area of Muong ethnic people.
The bronze drum type II is a symbol of the vitality of the Dong Son
civilization, it is also a symbol of confirming the power of Vietnamese feudalism
over Lang Muong areas, demonstrating the political unity of Vietnam - Muong.
Bronze drums are closely associated with Muong ethnic people's life. The bronze
drum type II is a cultural symbol of Muong ethnic people, which is typical for
Muong identity. With the above meanings, Heger bronze drums type II can be
called Muong drums. Currently, 73 bronze drums are kept in the store of the
Provincial Museum, 15 pieces are kept in the warehouse of the People's
Committee of Kim Boi district, the rest is in the archive of some agencies and
localities in the province.
For Muong ethnic people, the bronze drum is a sacred
artifact, symbolizing the power and wealth of Lang class ... The bronze drum is
a friend of the living people, serving the physical and spiritual needs of the
living, and it is also a friend of the the dead and it is also a mourning for
the dead. Bronze drums are found in almost all districts in the province. Apart
from some drums found in ancient Muong tombs, the rest are mainly discovered by
chance when people dig ditches, build houses, build roads ...
If Dong Son drum is a symbol of Vietnamese culture and
civilization, then the bronze drum type II can be considered as a cultural
symbol of Muong ethnic people in Vietnam. The drum has its own beauty, with the
patterns created by the stamp-printing method, especially the fillet pattern,
which has has turned the drum face like a carpet woven with beautiful patterns,
repeating like patterns on the brocade plates of Muong ethnic people in Hoa
Binh.
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.