The song of Pao Dung

Amidst the flow of modern life, when traditional values ​​are gradually fading away or are rarely noticed by young people, in Ban Ca, Nghia Ta commune, Thai Nguyen province, generations of Dao people always raise awareness of preserving, protecting and promoting the cultural heritage values ​​of their ancestors, including the Pao Dung melody.

The Dao people in Ban Ca sing Pao Dung while working in the fields.

Ban Ca village is home to 100% Dao Tien ethnic people. The Dao Tien people in Ban Ca still maintain the tradition of singing Pao Dung folk songs during traditional festivals, New Year celebrations, coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, or when young men and women from other places come to visit.

To learn more about the origins of this folk song, we met with Mr. Ban Van Cung, a holder of extensive knowledge of Dao ethnic culture and a respected figure in Ban Ca village.

Taking out dozens of books written in Dao script from a chest, Mr. Cung flipped through the pages containing Pao Dung songs and explained that, for the Dao Tien people, Pao Dung singing is an indispensable part of their daily lives.

Páo Dung has three types: ceremonial Páo Dung (songs used in initiation ceremonies, weddings, ceremonies honoring the King of the Underworld, funerals, and full moon celebrations); Páo Dung in daily life (lullabies, playful songs, courtship songs, and call-and-response songs between men and women); and Páo Dung in labor and production (songs praising labor and production, beautiful natural scenery, or experiences related to weather and seasons).

When discussing the preservation of the Páo Dung folk song in Bản Ca, it's impossible not to mention Bàn Văn Duy, a young man who is very active in preserving this folk song in the locality. Duy explained that, in the past, the ancient Páo Dung melodies were written in Dao Nôm script. However, those who knew Dao Nôm script were mainly shamans, and these shamans were mostly interested in songs used in religious rituals.

Therefore, the risk of the ancient pao dung songs being lost or forgotten is very high. Duy, like many people in Ban Ca village, has spent many years devoting his heart and mind to how to preserve and promote the heritage left by his Dao ancestors.

Implementing Project 6 on “Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development” under the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the Cultural Center of Bac Kan province (formerly) supported Ban Ca in building the village's Pao Dung singing club.

Initially, the entire village had only about 20 members of the Páo Dung singing club. Through preservation and teaching activities by the local government and relevant agencies, the number of Páo Dung singers in the village has increased significantly, and encouragingly, many young people have actively participated in learning.

A singing lesson for Dao Tien children in Ban Ca village, Nghia Ta commune.

As the Deputy Head of the Páo Dung Bản Ca Singing Club, since its establishment, Ms. Bàn Thị Dung has been the main instructor in the club members' lessons. She explained that to make it easier for the younger generation to learn the songs, she transcribed the syllables of the Nôm Dao script into Vietnamese. This allows the children in the village to learn the lyrics quickly. She is delighted to see the children and grandchildren in the village showing a strong desire to learn and absorbing the material very quickly.

Ban Thi Tuong Vy, a young woman from Ban Ca village who participated in the club's singing class, shared that Pao Dung singing is a very difficult folk melody to sing, especially the long sustained notes, which make it easy to run out of breath. However, she still tries her best to learn so that this folk melody of her ancestors will not fade away.

In an era where many young people chase after modern values, Mr. Ban Van Duy, Ms. Ban Thi Dung, and many other young people in Ban Ca village have chosen to preserve and spread the traditional cultural values ​​of the Dao Tien people. Thanks to this, the Pao Dung songs of the people in Ban Ca village continue to resonate in daily life and at festivals, like an ever-flowing stream.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202508/ban-ca-vang-dieu-pao-dung-ecd193f/