“Gen Z” spreads love for Quan Ho

BAC NINH - On Sunday morning, the ancient space of the special national relic Dinh Bang communal house (Tu Son ward) resounded with sweet Quan Ho songs from young people born in the digital age. Who said "Gen Z" (the group of people born from around 1997 to 2012. They are the generation that grew up with the explosion of information technology and are called "digital citizens) are indifferent to heritage?! In fact, today's youth not only love but also find their own way to preserve Quan Ho culture.

The "Quan Ho Intern" project held at Dinh Bang communal house on Sundays in July is a vivid demonstration of the journey of bringing Quan Ho into the life of "Gen Z".

There is no longer a gap between tradition and modernity. The project's activities have connected and created opportunities for young people to approach Quan Ho culture naturally, from singing skills to behavior; from the way of making betel leaves, wearing Ao Tu Than (traditional Vietnamese dress), wearing a scarf with a crow's beak, to holding an umbrella, covering a conical hat, walking, and speaking of Quan Ho people...

The initiator of the project is Nguyen Thi Thuy Nguyen - a young person full of enthusiasm for Kinh Bac culture. She shared: "At first, I just thought simply, as a Bac Ninh person, I must know how to sing Quan Ho. From that simple wish, we launched this non-profit project, creating opportunities for young people to learn Quan Ho to better understand, love and be proud of the precious heritage of our homeland. We thank the companionship and support of the Dinh Bang Communal House Relic Management Board so that the project can take place in a space imbued with Kinh Bac culture." "For me, Quan Ho is a source of pride, a story that I want to share and spread with friends everywhere. The more I learn, the more beautiful I find Quan Ho. My big dream is to create a young community that loves Quan Ho, thereby spreading the mission of preserving heritage" - Thuy Nguyen expressed.

Young people and artists from Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theater participate in the "Quan Ho Intern" project at Dinh Bang communal house relic.

"Quan Ho Intern" is a series of experiential activities, oriented towards education for young people, aiming to preserve and spread Bac Ninh Quan Ho in a close, easy-to-understand and easy-to-apply approach in life. Without stereotypes, without imposition, the project opens up a space for exchange that is true to the spirit of young people. The project also attracts the participation of young people in other provinces and cities. For example, Bui Quang Huy was born in Dak Lak, studied in Ho Chi Minh City and worked in Hanoi. Huy came to Quan Ho because of his love of folk songs inherited from his mother. He confided: "Since I was little, I heard my mother sing Southern folk songs. When I came to Hanoi to work, I learned about Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs, wanted to learn more about the special features of that culture, so I signed up to participate. After an experience, I was really surprised by many interesting things. The most impressive thing was the custom of making friends in Quan Ho".

Similarly, Nguyen Tran Thu Mai, born in 2003 from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: "I like writing and telling stories, but to tell good stories, you need to have real material. Experiences like this help me not only understand but also feel the beauty of Quan Ho culture. From there, I can share with other friends about those unique stories through digital platforms."

Behind the innocence and youthfulness of “Gen Z” is a serious, inquisitive and responsible working attitude. Young people understand that Quan Ho is not just singing, but also a way of behaving, a way of living imbued with philosophy of life. From the four-panel dress, the betel leaf wrapped in phoenix wings to the greetings and songs, all contain layers and depth of culture passed down through generations.

Accompanying the young people in the role of instructor on how to wear Quan Ho costumes, Meritorious Artist Minh Thuy, Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theater commented: "At first, the children were still clumsy, their singing was not clear, their scarves were not beautiful, but I was happy because they took the initiative to learn, create and renew the heritage in the way of their generation. I believe in the talent, love and creativity of today's young people."

Not only learning to sing Quan Ho, the young generation also takes advantage of social networks and technology to create images, short videos, and emotional stories about customs, rituals, manners, and the way Quan Ho people sing in response. In particular, they also design Quan Ho identities in a modern, youthful style, from handmade products such as Kinh Bac teddy bears, Lien Anh and Lien Chi T-shirts to the way drinks are named, all inspired by Non Quai Thao, Ao Tu Than, Khan Mo Qua...

Having traveled to many places and directly participated in teaching Quan Ho to many young people, artist Huu Duy, Deputy Head of Art Group 2, Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theater, affirmed: “Today's youth love traditional culture in their own way. Folk songs are the national soul and quintessence of the nation. Young people should continue to love and preserve folk songs, which are the soul and source of our ancestors that need to be preserved and passed on to future generations. And models like "Quan Ho Intern" are showing a promising direction, both exploiting young creativity and connecting heritage with today's life."

Although it is just a small project in a series of activities connecting traditional culture with young people, “Quan Ho Intern” and hundreds of Quan Ho classes for youth, teenagers and children inside and outside the province all have practical meaning. These activities contribute to arousing love, pride and awareness of preserving and spreading Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac culture in the young generation. Perhaps when the project ends, not everyone will become a real “lien anh, lien chi”, but certainly the aesthetic values ​​and cultural spirit of the homeland will be cultivated, nurtured and continue to spread.

Concord

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/gen-z-lan-toa-tinh-yeu-quan-ho-postid421864.bbg