It is this quiet preservation of the flame that nurtures the hope that the art of Chau Van singing will have more opportunities to be present, contributing to enriching the traditional cultural and artistic life in Quang Nam province.
The soul of the spirit medium ritual
The Vietnamese belief in the worship of the Three Mother Goddesses was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. Within this context, the Buu Dan Thanh Mau De Tam Thoai Cung Festival (Hoa Xuan Ward) is one of the typical traditional cultural activities that has been preserved, maintained, and developed locally. This year, the festival was organized on a large scale, with the Chau Van performance attracting a large audience and becoming a distinctive feature of the event.
According to Mr. Tran Van Hoa, Head of the Management Board of Tam Giang Sacred Temple (Hoa Xuan Ward), in the spirit medium ritual, the mediums transform into saints, performing graceful dances and solemn ceremonies depending on each "spirit possession."
But it is the refined lyrics and gentle melodies of the Chau Van ritual that contribute to bringing the medium into a state of transcendence, soaring, and otherworldly bliss, connecting people with the spiritual world .
Chau Van singing developed alongside the Mother Goddess worship – a belief that honors the image of the Mother, a symbol of fertility and protection. According to researchers, this art form emerged around the 15th-16th centuries, flourished during the Le-Nguyen dynasties, and reached its peak in the late 19th-early 20th centuries…
Chau Van singing in the Hau Dong ritual is a unique form of folk art, combining folk poetry, traditional music , and performance art to create a whole that is both aesthetically rich and deeply spiritual.
The chanted verses are usually written in the lục bát or song thất lục bát meter, rich in imagery, praising the virtues of the saints, reenacting ancient stories, and conveying wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and family happiness.
Depending on each "stage" (out of 36 "stages"), the lyrics also differ, but basically they tell a story about the origin and glorify the virtues, miracles, and beauty of the saints; at the same time, the costumes, dances, and props are also different in each "stage".
Compared to Northern Vietnamese folk singing, Central Vietnamese folk singing has its own unique characteristics due to the fusion with Hue folk songs, Cheo opera, folk songs from Zone 5, melodies of ethnic minorities, and Cham music, creating a distinct and unique diversity.
Mr. Hoa said that there are currently more than 60 folk singers of Chau Van singing under the management of the Tam Giang Sacred Temple Management Board. Most of them follow the tradition of passing the craft down from father to son, singing at spirit medium rituals because they are passionate about this art form and make a living through various other occupations.
Sharing more about this unique folk art form, Phan Van Phuoc (34 years old, from Hue City), who has been involved with Chau Van singing for over 15 years, said that he has loved Chau Van since childhood, thanks to his father. According to him, the lyrics in Chau Van originate from historical stories, recreating the heroic spirit of our ancestors, helping listeners understand and appreciate national traditions even more.
Mr. Phuoc expressed his wish for the community to work together to preserve the values of Chau Van singing and the Mother Goddess worship so that the heritage can be sustainably preserved.
Bringing Chau Van (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style) to the community.
No longer confined to spiritual activities and festivals, Chau Van singing has gradually entered the world of music. In recent years, Chau Van singing has also been included in the comprehensive art program of the Nguyen Hien Dinh Traditional Opera Theatre (now the Da Nang Traditional Arts Theatre) to serve the people and tourists at Da Nang International Airport, on the theatre stage, and through street performances.
However, the number of actors and singers who can perform this type of singing is currently small. According to artist The Ngoc, to learn Chau Van singing, he went to Hue to research, watch spirit possession rituals, and listen to Chau Van singing at Hon Chen Temple…
With his natural voice and talent, artist The Ngoc quickly grasped the basic melodies of Chau Van singing and took on Chau Van singing performances in the theater's art programs.
Besides artist The Ngoc, young actress Hoai Thuong was taught Chau Van singing by People's Artist Phan Thi Bach Hac - a renowned artist in the preservation and development of Hue's Tuong and court dance art. Hoai Thuong shared that since discovering Chau Van, she has really liked this art form. However, to fully grasp its beauty, she needs to learn and practice more.
People's Artist Phan Văn Quang, Head of the Tuong Art Troupe (Da Nang Traditional Arts Theatre), said that the Chau Van singing performances by the theatre's artists were enjoyed and warmly appreciated by locals and tourists, contributing to enriching the theatre's artistic program.
Unlike the Chau Van singing in the Hau Dong ritual, Chau Van singing on stage praises the beauty of the homeland, the country, and the city of Da Nang, combined with cup dancing and lantern dancing…
According to Mr. Tran Van Hoa, there are quite a lot of folk singers of Chau Van singing, and he hopes to gather them into a community art performance space to serve the people and tourists, as well as to allow them to freely express themselves through their songs and voices.
Da Nang is a tourist city, so Chau Van singing here has its own unique "stage." "I'm thinking about the Bach Dang pedestrian street area; thinking about building a Chau Van club; thinking about a Chau Van singing performance program combined with a theatrical reenactment of the Hau Dong ritual..."
"The songs about the picturesque landscapes of Quang Nam - Da Nang are expressed in the graceful and captivating style of Chau Van singing. If I receive support from the government, these aspirations of mine will soon be realized, bringing the beauty and charm of Chau Van singing to the community," Mr. Hoa expressed.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/giu-lua-chau-van-3333202.html
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