For many years, Ms. Giàng Thị Nòn (born in 1976) has been the guardian of the Then Giáy tradition in Bát Xát commune, passing on this beautiful cultural heritage to many students. In the early days of the sixth lunar month, in her spacious house in Làng Pẳn village, Bát Xát commune, Ms. Nòn respectfully lights incense at the ancestral altar and prepares the necessary items for the ceremony before traveling to neighboring villages to perform Then rituals for the villagers. The bronze bell and the Then shaman's costume have accompanied her for over 30 years on her journeys to villages and hamlets, even on trips to distant provinces and cities such as Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Hải Phòng, and Hanoi …
As a Giáy ethnic minority, born and raised in Làng Pẳn village, Nòn has lived in a traditional village environment since childhood, deeply rooted in the cultural identity of the Giáy people.
In particular, from the age of 12, Nòn was fortunate to be taught the Then ritual and chanting by her foster mother, the Meritorious Artisan Phàn Thị Phổ – a valuable asset collected by her over decades of practicing the ritual.
After many trips to perform Then rituals with artisan Phan Thi Pho in various places, and with a passion and deep cultural heritage inherited from her foster mother, in 1995, Ms. Non was able to perform the Then ritual for families in the village.
Ms. Non explained that the Then ritual is a traditional ceremony of great significance to the Giáy people. The Then ritual is most commonly held in the first lunar month after the Lunar New Year, but it can also be held from the first to the seventh lunar month each year, depending on the circumstances and conditions of each family. During the Then ritual, the shaman prays for the family's good health, the elimination of illness, and a prosperous and happy life.
Having practiced the Then ritual for over 30 years, Ms. Non has mastered the various Then rituals of the Giáy ethnic group, such as: Then for fertility, Then "additional blessings" for the health of the elderly; Then "bridge-building" to call the spirits of the sick back to promote optimism and speedy recovery... Each Then ritual is accompanied by performance forms such as singing and dancing, combined with several ceremonial musical instruments that reflect the unique ethnic identity.
Ms. Non shared: "Although I am a Then shaman, I don't promote superstition or elaborate, expensive rituals. I always explain to the people that the Then rituals of the Giay people bring people faith in life, pray for health and happiness, and bring peace to people."
However, not everything can be resolved with these rituals. That's why I always advise anyone who is sick to go to the hospital for treatment. The Then ritual only helps people to be more optimistic, confident, and to overcome illness spiritually.”
With a love for Then Giáy art that burns brightly like a flame, for the past 30 years, Ms. Nòn has strived to preserve, teach, and bring the beauty of Then Giáy to many places. From 2015 to the present, Ms. Nòn has taught the Then ritual to many students such as: Vùi Thị Mắn, Châu Thị Dúm, Liều Thị Phỉ, Lùng Thị La, Vàng Thị Dúm…
As a respected Then shaman in the local community, in addition to promoting the preservation of ethnic cultural identity through rituals and ceremonies, Ms. Non also collects and preserves customs and traditions related to weddings, funerals, festivals, and experiences in labor and production. This serves as a source of information to pass on to future generations, helping them continue and develop traditions, and contributing to the preservation of ethnic cultural identity.
With her profound understanding of the customs, traditions, and cultural identity of the Giáy ethnic group, and her contributions to preserving traditional culture and passing on the Then Giáy art form to future generations, in 2024, Ms. Giàng Thị Nòn was recognized as a Folk Artisan by the Vietnam Folk Arts Association.
“My wish is that the younger generation of the Giáy people will always cherish and preserve the beauty of our ethnic culture, preventing it from fading away. Later, when I am old and frail, my children and grandchildren must take responsibility for preserving and continuing the traditional culture of their family and their ethnic group,” shared folk artist Giàng Thị Nòn.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/gin-giu-net-dep-van-hoa-then-giay-post648020.html
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