(HBO) – According to chief of Tan Lac district’s Culture and Sport Division Dinh Son Tung, in order to further enhance the preservation and upholding of cultural values in the locality, the district has continued directing and encouraging the establishment of Muong gong and folk singing clubs, especially Mo Muong clubs. In late March or early April, a district-level Mo Muong cultural value preservation club is scheduled to make its debut. Earlier, similar clubs were set up in Nhan My, My Hoa and Phong Phu communes.
Young generations in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac
district, practise mo rituals and perform Muong folk songs and gong during the Hoa
Binh Culture-Tourism Festival in Hanoi.
Four years ago, with the attention and guidance of the
Culture and Sport Division and in collaboration with the district’s Women’s Union,
the Muong ethnic culture preservation club was founded and put into operation in
Ngoi hamlet, Suoi Hoa commune, gathering many women as a core nucleus in local
culture-art movement.
joining the club, they were taught how to play gongs, sing
folk songs and perform folk dances. Additionally, they were able to join
regular cultural exchanges and hand them down to later generations. The club is
developing community tourism in Ngoi hamlet, contributing to popularising
cultural values. In late 2019, a similar club was set up in Dinh hamlet, Man
Duc town with the participation of many generations and members of associations
and mass organisations such as women, youths, farmers and the elderly.
In compliance with the Directive No.07-CT/HU dated October
19, 2016 on strengthening the Party leadership on the maintenance, preservation
and upholding of Mo Muong cultural values, six clubs were set up last year with
more than 100 Mo Muong artists and members. In Nhan My commune, there were four
inter-hamlet clubs, including Co – Thong – Ban – Doi with 10 members, Muong –
Da – Ta with six members, Ao – U – Chieng with 17 members, Trang – Song – Khi
with 14 members, Phong Phu commune’s club with 32 members, My Hoa commune’s
club with 35 members.
Also according to Tung, residents of Muong Bi ancient land –
the cradle of Hoa Binh culture - are striving to preserve special cultural values
of the locality. In recent years, many traditional festivals such as summer
festival, fishing festival in Lo Son commune, and Ke pagoda festival in Phu Vinh
commune have been restored, thereby raising public awareness of preserving and
maintaining traditional culture while enriching local residents’ spiritual
lives. Each year, the district opened training courses on playing Muong gongs
and singing folk songs. More than 1,000 Muong gongs were preserved.
The establishment of clubs aims to raise public awareness of
the effort. The local Party Committee and authorities always encourage and offer
support to clubs, especially those involved in preservation and upholding of
cultural values in hamlets and communes. The district also encourages artisan
clubs to continue practice and teaching, combine cultural identity with
community-based tourism activities, thereby contributing to making positive
changes in the effort./.
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.