(HBO) - Mo Muong is a unique cultural heritage of Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province and Lac Son district in particular. Mo Muong in Lac Son district has 23 traditional rituals and over 50 artisans are practicing it. The district is effectively preserving and upholding activities of Mo Muong artisans, as well as restoring traditional Mo prayers and collecting those in oblivion to hand them down to later generations.
A shaman performs Mo rituals at Khoi communal house festival in An Nghia
commune, Lac Son district.
For Muong people, Mo holds significance in the
social life, helping motivate and relieve their mind in face of events. Mo is
performed by shamans who possess Mo knowledge, remember tens of thousands of Mo
sentences and are skilled in practicing rituals. In Muong ethnic society, Mo
performers are folk intellectuals and prestigious persons in the community. At
present, Lac Son district has nearly 20 Mo melodies in various types of folk
beliefs and festivals. The practice of Mo has so far been narrowed but its
essence remains.
In order to preserve, maintain and develop
traditional culture with the goal of inheriting and upholding unique cultural
values of Muong ethnic group, Lac Son district has made it easier for Mo Muong artisans
to perform. Additionally, Mo artisans and lovers also teach the art to their
children while linking Mo Muong culture with tourism activities to effectively promote
its value via traditional festivals such as Dinh Bang festival in Ngoc Lau
commune and But Khu Dung procession festival in Nhan Nghia commune. The
district also opened a course to teach Muong language and traditional Mo Muong
to young generations, laying a foundation for them to restore and preserve the
beauty and humanitarian value of Muong ethnic group, uphold Mo Muong art, and
organise culture-art activities to meet public demand.
Chief of the district Office of Culture and
Sports Nguyen The Hung said authorities of Lac Son district plan to build a
Muong cultural space preservation area on a site of over 10ha in Vanh village,
Yen Phu commune. Those under preservation include Mo Muong, Muong gongs, ethnic
musical instruments, Thuong rang and Bo meng singing, house on stilts and
customs of Muong ethnic people, contributing to raising the sense of
responsibility, especially among young generations, for preserving and
upholding the value of Muong cultural heritages, turning the Muong cultural
space into an outstanding tourist product, for the sake of economic and
socio-cultural development in the locality./.
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.