(HBO) – The Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee recently issued Plan No. 65/KH-UBND on implementing the project on preserving and bringing into play the value of outstanding intangible cultural heritage elements of local ethnic groups for 2020-2030. The project covers prominent intangible cultural heritage items of the Muong, Thai, Tay, Dao and Mong ethnic minority groups in 10 district-level localities of the province.
The
gongs of the Muong ethnic group are among the outstanding intangible heritage
elements in Hoa Binh province.
The project for 2020-2030 consists of four
sub-projects which focus on listing; collecting and documenting; introducing,
popularising and teaching; and building a database on outstanding intangible
cultural heritage elements of ethnic groups in Hoa Binh.
In its implementation plan, the provincial
administration set several main tasks, including collecting documents and
artefacts linked with the intangible cultural heritage elements, and completing
heritage listing and documentation.
Relevant agencies are set to compile scientific
dossiers on 10 outstanding elements to seek the Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism’s recognition of them as part of the national intangible cultural
heritage. They will also finalise a dossier on the Mo Muong Hoa Binh to be
submitted to UNESCO to seek inscription in the list of intangible cultural
heritage of humanity.
Local authorities will also carry out some
teaching projects for the art of Muong gong playing, the building of
traditional stilt houses of the Muong ethnic group, the Thuong Dang and Bo Meng
singing, the ancient calendar of Muong people, and the Khap singing of the Tay
and Thai communities.
Publications introducing the heritage elements
will also be compiled, published and distributed. Besides, in-depth training in
heritage collection, preservation, display, performance and communications will
be provided for specialised staff members at the provincial Department of
Culture, Sports and Tourism, and in localities.
The provincial People’s Committee assigned the
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinate with the Department of
Finance, the Department of Information and Communications, the province’s Radio
and Television Station, the Hoa Binh Newspaper, the Board for Ethnic Minority
Affairs, the district-level People’s Committees to build annual implementation
plans. The agencies and individuals in charge of the issue were also ordered to
create conditions for relevant sides to fulfill their tasks./.
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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