Preserving Dao ethnic culture

Dao ethnic people in Suoi Tut village, Quang Chieu commune perform traditional Dao ethnic art.

Thach An village, Cam Thach commune has 88 households, 400 people, mainly Dao ethnic people. Along with the Dao language used in daily communication, Dao women's costumes are used on holidays and Tet. In May 2022, Thach An village also established a Dao folk song and dance preservation club with 21 members, holding regular meetings twice a month to teach members songs and dances of the Dao ethnic people. In addition, the club also coordinates with the village's women's association to encourage women to learn the traditional embroidery craft of the Dao ethnic people.

Ms. Phung Thi An in Thach An village - who actively participates in the club's activities, said: "Realizing my responsibility in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, I regularly encourage women in the village to participate in learning embroidery, singing folk songs and dances of the Dao ethnic group. Therefore, the number of women in the village who know how to embroider and sing folk songs is increasing."

Chairman of Cam Thach Commune People's Committee Ha Thanh Son said: "Currently, the Dao ethnic people in Cam Thach commune live in the villages of Thach An, Binh Yen, and Binh Son. To preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of the Dao ethnic people, every year the commune organizes an art festival for the Dao ethnic art troupes to participate, thereby finding new nuclei to be the next force to preserve the identity of the Dao ethnic people. At the same time, the commune focuses on mobilizing people to participate in learning Nom Dao script, learning embroidery; wearing costumes, speaking the Dao ethnic language"...

In Quang Chieu commune, along with focusing on economic development and improving people's lives, every year the commune has proactively built a plan to propagate and mobilize people to preserve the traditional cultural values of the Dao ethnic group. Two cultural and artistic clubs were established in Suoi Tut and Con Dao villages to pass on folk songs and dances to the younger generation. The commune also coordinated with the Thanh Hoa Province Association of Ethnology and Anthropology to organize four classes to teach Dao Nom writing for 120 students.

Currently, there are more than 7,000 Dao people living in the communes of Nguyet An, Ngoc Lac, Thach Lap, Cam Thach, Cam Van, Quang Chieu, Pu Nhi. In recent years, localities with Dao people living have always paid attention to the work of propagating the preservation of Dao ethnic cultural identity. Thanks to that, the traditional cultural values of language, writing, costumes, cultural activities, beliefs, and spirituality have been promoted in the community. In addition, localities have actively encouraged people to participate in learning Nom Dao script. From 2017 to now, the Thanh Hoa Province Association of Ethnology and Anthropology has coordinated with communes with Dao people living to organize 32 Nom Dao script classes with 1,175 students participating. Thanks to that, the number of people who can read and write Nom Dao script is increasing.

The Dao ethnic group has built and developed a unique culture that has been preserved for generations. However, the process of innovation and the impact of the market economy has caused the traditional culture of the Dao ethnic group to change in both positive and negative directions. Therefore, the participation of local Party committees, authorities, mass organizations, and cultural management agencies at all levels with the role of guiding and creating resources in preserving and promoting the national cultural identity and raising the self-awareness of the Dao ethnic group is extremely necessary.

Article and photos: Manh Hai

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/gin-giu-van-hoa-dan-toc-dao-268894.htm