Folk origins
Chầu văn, also known as hát văn or hát bóng, is a form of folk art associated with the spirit medium rituals in the Vietnamese belief system of worshipping the Three and Four Realms. From the 16th and 17th centuries, Chầu văn emerged and gradually took shape in the communities of the Northern Delta and midland regions. However, in Phu Tho , especially in the Tay Thien area (Dai Dinh commune, Tam Dao district, former Vinh Phuc province), Chầu văn art plays a special role and holds a unique position, as it is considered one of the largest and most sacred centers of the Mother Goddess worship in Northern Vietnam.
The Tay Thien Festival is the time of year when the Hau Dong and Chau Van singing performances are at their most vibrant, catering to the cultural enjoyment needs of numerous tourists.
The Tay Thien National Mother Temple – dedicated to National Mother Lang Thi Tieu, wife of Hung Chieu Vuong VII – is a sacred space that has nurtured the art of Chau Van singing for centuries. Within this space, Chau Van is both a form of performance and ceremonial music used in spirit medium rituals – a characteristic ceremony of the Mother Goddess religion.
Historically, Chầu văn (a form of Vietnamese folk singing) flourished in provinces such as Nam Định, Hà Nam, and Hưng Yên (formerly)... but in the former Vĩnh Phúc province, now Phú Thọ, Chầu văn takes on a unique character closely associated with the worship of the Tây Thiên Mother Goddess. With its sacred forests, deep mountains, and ancient temples, the annual Tây Thiên festival provides an opportunity for artisans, mediums, and the religious community to perform Chầu văn, creating performances that are both solemn and vibrant with cultural colors.
Since the early 21st century, when the Mother Goddess worship belief gradually gained recognition for its true value and was recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity (in 2016), the art of Chau Van singing has revived and developed strongly, with many Chau Van singing clubs being established. Elderly artisans have become passionate mentors to the younger generation. The image of a Chau Van performance with the lively sounds of the moon lute, drums, and the melodious singing voices in the temple courtyard has become a familiar part of local festivals.
Potential and challenges
Despite its solid foundation and rich tradition, the Chầu văn art form in our province is currently facing many difficulties. First and foremost is the risk of decline due to the small number of successor artists, and the shrinking performance environment as traditional ritual spaces are gradually commercialized or distorted.
Secondly, misunderstandings about Chầu văn and Hầu đồng (spirit mediumship) among some people and society are also a significant obstacle. Many people associate Chầu văn with superstition, preventing this art form from receiving the attention and investment it deserves. In reality, Chầu văn is a comprehensive art form – encompassing music , literature, dance, and costumes – with profound humanistic values, helping people connect with their spiritual roots and national traditions.
However, a positive sign is that recently, local authorities and relevant agencies have clearly recognized the value of this art form. Activities to revive traditional festivals, folk singing competitions, and art programs introducing the Mother Goddess religion and Chau Van singing are regularly organized. Many artisans have been awarded the titles of "Outstanding Artisan" and "People's Artisan," creating great motivation for preservation efforts.
Widespread socio-cultural benefits
Beyond being a unique cultural heritage, Chầu văn also brings practical benefits to community life. These include traditional educational value, as through the Chầu văn songs, the younger generation gains access to the treasure trove of national history, legendary figures, and moral values such as loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness.
Chầu văn also contributes to preserving local identity and enriching the intangible cultural heritage. These performances not only serve spiritual needs but also provide a healthy artistic platform, fostering community cohesion and nurturing a humane spirit.
A performance of Chau Van singing, rich in folk culture.
In particular, Chau Van is opening up a direction for the development of cultural and spiritual tourism for the province because, with the position of Tay Thien - Tam Dao on the tourism map of Northern Vietnam, combining festivals, tourism and Chau Van performances can attract a large number of tourists, create income for the people and develop the local economy.
For Chầu văn (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style) in Phú Thọ to continue developing sustainably, a comprehensive strategy combining preservation and innovation is needed. First and foremost, this involves establishing structured training programs, connecting artisans with schools and cultural centers to pass on their skills to the younger generation. Digitizing ancient melodies and texts, and documenting ritual processes, will provide a foundation for long-term preservation.
In addition, it is necessary to encourage artists to create within the framework of traditional values, such as combining Chau Van with contemporary art (music, theater, film), and organizing folk culture festivals to bring Chau Van out of the realm of rituals and make it more accessible to the public, especially young people.
The involvement of local authorities is also crucial. Policies are needed to support artisans, provide funding for clubs, preserve traditional cultural spaces, and integrate the development of Chau Van art with the province's cultural and spiritual tourism planning.
Chau Van singing is not only a sacred offering to the gods, a language connecting humanity and the divine, but also a vibrant living heritage of national culture. Preserving and developing Chau Van is not only the responsibility of the artisans or the cultural sector alone, but a shared mission of the entire society. When Chau Van is honored for its true value, it will continue to shine like a sacred lamp in the spiritual and cultural life of the people of the ancestral land and the whole country.
Quang Nam
Source: https://baophutho.vn/chau-van--net-van-hoa-dac-sac-phu-tho-237551.htm
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