HBO – Mo is used by Muong ethnic people to practice a variety of rituals in daily life. There are 23 Mo-related rituals in four main groups, namely the rituals praying for happiness and prosperity, the rituals to summon souls, the rituals to eliminate devils and pray for peace and health, and funeral rituals. Therefore, Mo rituals go closely with one person from birth, marriage, peace, health, to death.
Officials
from the Hoa Binh Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST) are
reviewing Tui Khot (ritual bags) of thay mo, or sorcerers in Kim Boi district.
In the
Hoa Binh Culture in local Muong Hoa Binh ethnic area, Mo has been formed,
thrived and is on path to becoming a national intangible cultural heritage.
Mo
Muong holds unique human value. Mo reproduces the mankind’s history in the
legends of earth, water, fire, Cun Can’s marriage (Cun Can was the head of a
Muong ethnic area), reflecting the development of mankind’s society, and their
creativity in their lives. Mo Muong also tells lessons about community life and
society, such as the recitations about using Chu Dong tree to build house,
setting fire on the house of the Muong ethnic people’s God King Dit Dang,
taking care of animals, flower garden in Coi Mountain. They are lessons about
solidarity, ingratitude, sufferings in wrong love affairs. Mo Muong has a
long-lasting life because it comprises all folk cultural values of the ethnic
Muong people, including fork literature, folk singing, folk rituals telling
about people’s knowledge and behavior.
Mo
Muong is the essence of experience in labour, production, cultural behavior and
philosophy of life, reflecting the love of life, people and hometown. It shows
the courage and personality of the Muong ethnic people and
land of
Muong Hoa Binh.
Mo Muong reflects the characteristics, the soul and moral principles of the
Muong ethnic minority people. Over the past time, generations of Muong people
have preserved, passed down and promoted Mo Muong values in a sustainable
manner, giving vitality and inspiring capability of the intangible cultural
heritage.
According
to statistics of the DoCST, the province is home to 241 eligible sorcerers. They are the "living archive”
holding especially important values in exploring and summarizing the unique
cultural values of Mo Muong.
Bui Van
Keng, a sorcerer in Cuoi Ha commune,
Kim Boi district said the number of sorcerersreduced sharply, Mo rituals did, too. Most of the sorcerers are old. They have difficulties in passing down the
rituals because young people cannot learn or don’t have passion to learn. He
expressed his hope that authorities will collect documents on
Muong
Mo,
keep them in record to pass down to the next generations.
In
order to protect and promote the Muong ethnic culture in general and Mo Muong
in particular, in early 2017, Muong ethnic letters were announced. The DoCST
developed projects to select contents of Mo Muong cultural heritage to include
in teaching programmes at schools, and to preserve Mo Muong values.
Compilation
of books on Mo Muong is also underway, using the new letters. Relevant bodies
prepare resumes, propose legal framework to preserve the values of the Mo Muong
cultural heritage./.
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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