Preserving ancient Chinese characters of the Dao Quan Chet people

Ancient Chinese characters are considered the soul and culture of the Dao Quan Chet ethnic group in Phuc Thuan, Thai Nguyen.

In the ancient house in Dong Muon, the “treasure” of Meritorious Artisan Dang Van Tam is paper, brushes, ink and books that have darkened with time. Every day, he spends time reading, researching documents, taking notes and practicing writing. He carefully arranges the manuscripts to use in composing, serving community ceremonies and as documents to pass on to his descendants. He has been doing this quiet work for the past 70 years, since he had the opportunity to come into contact with the ancient Chinese characters of his people through his grandparents, at the age of 10.

According to him, ancient Chinese characters were once commonly used by the Dao Quan Chet people in traditional rituals and customs. It is not only a written language but also a system of knowledge reflecting the history, beliefs and culture of the community. However, with the changes of modern life, the use of ancient Chinese characters has gradually decreased, there are not many people who can read and write, and the risk of extinction exists. It is this reality that makes Mr. Tam determined to preserve, collect documents, record, systematize and teach within the family.

His work seems trivial but requires perseverance from searching for old books, recording texts, comparing different versions, annotating difficult symbols, and then arranging them into clear documents, convenient for learning and practice. He pays special attention to the selection of paper, brushes and ink, because according to him, these are the decisive factors for writing to be both clear and durable over time.

Thanks to that meticulousness, the collection of documents on ancient Chinese characters at his house is increasingly full, becoming a valuable "treasure" for preservation and teaching.

Ancient Chinese characters are part of the culture of the Dao Quan Chet people.

Despite his old age, he still maintains his research, reading, recording, writing, and systematizing ancient Chinese characters. He does not use elaborate, flowery words but focuses on preserving the true roots of the writing, documents, and usage in the context of his people's rituals.

Dong Muon residential group has 67 households, of which 97% are Dao Quan Chet ethnic people. The cultural and spiritual life here is rich, expressed in daily activities and important occasions such as the Cap Sac ceremony, holidays, Tet, and many local cultural and artistic movements.

In that context, the research and application of ancient Chinese characters to compose song lyrics, melodies, and traditional rituals by artisan Dang Van Tam has become a meaningful work. This is a way for him to preserve the language and writing of the nation, contributing to the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural values, creating community cohesion and nurturing pride in national identity.

“Ancient Chinese characters are not simply written words, but contain within them the knowledge, beliefs and customs of the Dao Quan Chet people. When this type of writing is preserved, the cultural values associated with it are also preserved and continued, from the Cap sac ceremony to folk melodies and songs. That nurtures the sense of respect for one’s roots in each person, helping the cultural identity of the community not to be lost,” Mr. Tam shared.

Preserving the ancient Chinese characters of the Dao Quan Chet ethnic group in Phuc Thuan has always been Mr. Dang Van Tam's passion.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Minh, Head of Dong Muon Residential Group, commented: Mr. Dang Van Tam is not only a person with deep knowledge of ancient Chinese characters, but also an example of perseverance and responsibility for the cultural heritage of the nation. The knowledge and documents that he preserves and teaches not only help the younger generation in his family and clan understand their roots, but also contribute to preserving the cultural identity of the entire Dao Quan Chet community in the locality.

Having been attached to ancient Chinese characters for 70 years, and despite his advanced age, Mr. Dang Van Tam has remained quiet and persistent in his work of collecting, researching, and teaching. His perseverance has contributed to preserving the “treasure” of ancient Chinese characters of the Dao Quan Chet people, an important part of the community’s cultural identity.

In 2022, he was honored to receive the title of Meritorious Artisan by the President for his outstanding contributions in preserving and promoting the nation's intangible cultural heritage.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202508/giu-gin-chu-nho-co-cua-nguoi-dao-quan-chet-3d70a37/