Truth, goodness, and beauty in the religious paintings of ethnic minorities.

Young people of the San Diu ethnic group learn about ancestral paintings and traditional rituals of their community.

Most ethnic minority people in Tuyen Quang have the custom of using ancestral paintings in rituals such as coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and other important events of the village, hamlet, clan, and family.

Religious paintings of various ethnic groups often depict deities symbolizing supernatural power and authority that influences spiritual life. They use these paintings as intermediaries to communicate between humans and the divine. These paintings express reverence for the gods and reflect the belief that after death, humans have an afterlife in another world . The content of the paintings is quite interesting; important, majestic, and powerful deities are depicted in large, prominent positions, while lesser deities are shown in a more orderly manner. Some paintings feature more than seventy faces.

Mr. Ban Van Quang, a Dao ethnic minority from Na La village, Son Phu commune, Na Hang district, shared that in important life events for the Dao people, such as the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, the New Year's Dance, and funerals, ancestral paintings are indispensable. These paintings serve as a deterrent and educational tool – teaching that if one lives wickedly in this world, they will suffer harsh punishments after death. This is a truth that guides the Dao people towards living virtuously.

According to Mr. Hoang Xuan Duc, Head of the Front Committee of Thai Ba village, Thien Ke commune, Son Duong district: The San Diu ethnic group believes the world has three levels: The upper level is the world of ancestors and revered deities; the middle level is where mortals exist in human form; and the lower level is the underworld, hell. San Diu people's ancestral paintings vividly reflect this worldview, spanning time from the past to the present, from the illusory to the real.

Paintings depicting the Three Pure Ones appear in most rituals of the San Diu people.

For example, the set of three ancestral portraits of the San Diu people is closely linked to a person's destiny, so they are often used by shamans when the family holds a funeral or performs major rituals such as initiation ceremonies or offering prayers to ward off bad luck. Through these portraits, with their simple and familiar features, one can concretely visualize the saints and Buddhas they often revere, and express their wishes for a life filled with good fortune and to ward off bad luck in the coming year.

Most commonly, the painting of the Three Saints appears in almost all rituals of the San Diu people. The three Saints symbolize three protective deities who safeguard the villagers. In the village, hamlet, or family, whether it's a major or minor event, the presence of the Three Saints is felt through the prayers of the shaman. When the sound of horns, bells, and cymbals rises, reaching the heavens, the villagers' invitation reaches the Three Saints, who will come to attend, witness the important event, bestow blessings, ward off evil spirits, and ensure smooth progress.

Anh Duc added that, in the culture of the San Diu people, only families with a shaman (spirit medium, Taoist priest, etc.) hang ancestral portraits; families without a shaman only hang them during rituals.

Currently, the practice of painting ancestral altars is still maintained within the community. Mr. Ly Van Duong, from Ninh Lai commune, now over 30 years old, knows how to paint ancestral altars of the ethnic minority people. He shared that painting ancestral altars is not simply about copying ancient paintings according to traditional models, but also about conveying the spirit through the painting. To do this, one must understand the traditional culture of the ethnic group, the profound meaning in the painting, and each character in the painting. Therefore, he is studying to become a master painter, to better understand the origins of his ethnic group, so that he can not only preserve ancestral altar paintings within the community but also safeguard the beautiful traditional rituals passed down through generations of the San Diu people.

Recently, at the Ethnic Culture Festival in Thien Ke commune, Son Duong district, the booth displaying ancestral worship paintings of the San Diu ethnic group attracted many visitors who came to explore and learn. This shows that traditional culture, customs, and practices always have a place and value within the community. Preserving, conserving, and developing these traditions needs to be done in a diverse, rich, and in-depth manner so that the age-old culture of the ethnic group can endure through time.

Source: https://baophutho.vn/chan-thien-my-trong-tranh-tho-cua-dong-bao-dan-toc-224048.htm