(HBO) - In 2016, the gongs of the Muong ethnic group were honoured as national intangible cultural heritage. Through ups and downs, they have been respectfully preserved and affirmed a special position in the cultural life of people in the Hoa Binh.
Artisan Nguyen Thi Hinh (second
right), Lam Son commune (Luong Son) teaches Muong gongs to women in the area.
According to statistics, the province houses
about 10,000 Muong gongs. Fortunately, in recent years, the instruments have
been treasured by local families as a sacred and precious object in the house.
Many young people, even elementary and junior high school students, also know
how to play the gongs.
In order to promote the value of Muong gongs and
introduce them to domestic and international friends, in recent years, the
provincial centre for culture and cinema has opened classes teaching people in
homestay areas to play the instrument.
As a result, the tourist villages of Hien Luong,
Tien Phong, and Suoi Hoa communes have created their own imprints and
identities with gongs, attracting many tourists.
Meanwhile, Muong gong performance has become one
of the indispensable contents of local festivals at all levels. On the occasion
of the province's 125th founding anniversary, the performance of 1,000 people
from four Muong regions playing 1,000 gongs set a Guinness record. On Hoa
Binh’s 130th founding anniversary, the record was broken by a performance of
1,500 gongs.
Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that for the Muong people in
Hoa Binh, gongs are not just a musical instrument but have become an
indispensable cultural and spiritual value in their community life.
According to Linh, the local Muong ethnic group
currently has nearly 40 major festivals, 90 percent of which employ gong music.
Recently, Muong gong art has also been included in major political and cultural
events of the province in a unique way, leaving a deep impression on locals and
tourists at home and abroad. Many families have even bought 1-2 sets of gongs
to use and hang them in solemn positions in the house as a proof of love and
pride for the national cultural identity./.
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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