(HBO) - The entire political system and people of Hoa Binh province have joined hands in carrying out synchronous and long-term solutions to help Mo Muong win the UNESCO’s recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Mo Muong is a rite of reciting Mo (poetry) during rituals of the Muong people, in which the Thay mo (shaman) plays the main role.
Mo Muong recitations are part of 23 Muong rituals, including funerals, in which
tens of thousands of Mo lines are recited throughout 12 days and nights, which
demonstrates the essence and core values of the Mo tradition. Currently, there
are many collections of Mo versions, of which three main ones have been
published.
Mo Muong ritual is enacted at the art performance "Hoa Binh – Thanh am
xu Muong” in 2022.
The provincial authorities received the sponsorship of the Vietnam Federation
of UNESCO Associations to preserve and promote Mo Muong in 2015.
Since 2016, special heed has been paid to protecting and promoting the cultural
heritage. The provincial People's Committee established a Steering Committee
for Mo Muong Hoa Binh and thanks to the province's efforts, the heritage was
listed among the national intangible cultural heritage.
Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bui Thi
Niem said a series of specific measure have been taken to preserve and uphold
the value of the intangible cultural heritage.
Accordingly, the locality is actively conducting a project on preserving and
promoting the unique cultural values of the Mo Muong Hoa Binh cultural heritage
in 2019 - 2025 period and the following years, focusing on building a dossier
to seek the UNESCO’s recognition for Mo Muong to be included in the UNESCO List
of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
This aims to raise awareness and responsibility of the local community and
people nationwide about the value of intangible cultural heritage, and
encourage the community to join in the preservation work.
Nguyen Van Toan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, head of
the Steering Committee for Mo Muong Hoa Binh, said every year, the committee
issued a plan of tasks to be implemented to preserve the Mo Muong cultural
heritage value.
In 2022, the committee has mobilised all resources and participation of all
sectors to well perform the tasks, he stressed./.
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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