'Keeping the fire' of Then in the Quan Ho region: Teaching and promoting heritage values

In the midst of the smooth Quan Ho region, the Tay and Nung people's songs and Tinh lutes resound as a unique feature in the Kinh Bac cultural picture. Each Then melody is a link between the past and the present, carrying with it the love for the homeland and the desire to preserve one's roots.

In the modern pace of life, the people here still quietly "keep the fire" so that the Then melody continues to resonate in the land of Quan Ho's affectionate heritage.

The thread connecting generations

Luc Ngan Commune, Bac Ninh Province is a locality with a large population of Tay and Nung people. Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee An Minh Tuan said that recently, the locality has implemented many practical activities to preserve and promote the value of Then singing and Tinh lute, a unique folk art form of the Tay and Nung people.

Propaganda work was promoted through loudspeakers, village and school activities. The commune established and maintained the Then singing and Tinh lute club, encouraging young people to participate; coordinated with artisans to open classes to teach, perform, and exchange at cultural events; and at the same time, initially recorded some ancient Then melodies for long-term preservation.

Teaching Then singing and Tinh lute to members of the Then singing and Tinh lute Club of Luc Ngan commune (Bac Ninh). (Photo: Danh Lam/VNA)

On weekends, in Cau Chet village, Luc Ngan commune, the sound of the Tinh zither echoes softly, blending with the cool breeze from the lychee hills. In a small cultural house, Tay and Nung women gather together, holding the zither in their hands, singing Then verses.

"Then is the thread that connects us to our ancestors," said Ms. Ha Thi Duong, Vice Director of the Then singing and Tinh lute club of Luc Ngan commune. She was one of the initiators of the club's establishment in 2011.

At that time, only a dozen members, mostly middle-aged, pooled their money to buy instruments and costumes to preserve their ancestors' tunes. After more than 10 years, the club now has nearly 60 members of three generations - from those in their seventies to children as young as ten.

Ms. Duong Thi Men, a young member of the club, came to Then through technology. Without learning directly from the artisans, she searched for videos and documents on the internet and attended online classes.

"Every time a Then melody plays, I feel like I'm returning to my village. I just hope that more young people will love Then, so that Then won't be alone in this noisy era," Ms. Men shared.

Not only in Luc Ngan, Then singing-tinh lute clubs are developing in many localities in the province. Currently, Bac Ninh has 20 Then singing-tinh lute clubs and art troupes, attracting hundreds of participants. Many clubs have become "nuclei" of grassroots culture, winning high prizes at festivals and performances.

Then now not only resounds in stilt houses and communal houses but is also present in community tours , bringing a new breath of the times.

Journey to keep Then soul

Since 2019, the Provincial Culture-Cinema Center has regularly organized Then singing-tinh lute classes for grassroots art talents.

Nearly 200 students were taught the skills of playing musical instruments, singing Then ancient and ritual songs, and performing arts. This is a bridge between artisans and the younger generation, helping to prevent heritage from being forgotten in modern life.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dap, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province, shared that after the Then practice heritage of the Tay, Nung and Thai people was recognized by UNESCO, the Provincial People's Committee has directed many synchronous solutions to preserve and promote its value, properly implementing its commitment to UNESCO and the National Action Program for the period 2022-2027. The focus is on linking heritage conservation with the community - the creative and practicing subjects of Then.

Encouraging people to participate in preserving, teaching and promoting the value of Then heritage is extremely important, because the community is the subject of creating and preserving heritage. When people directly participate in the process of teaching, club activities, performing in festivals or community tourism, the heritage is not only preserved vividly but also spreads and is sustainable in life.

However, the journey to preserve the Then spirit is not easy. A part of today's youth does not know the ethnic language, making learning and appreciating Then difficult. Traditional living spaces are shrinking, many ancient Then melodies are at risk of being lost. The research and composition team is still small, while investment resources have not met the requirements. In some places, elements such as costumes, props, and singing processes are mixed and gradually disappear.

Teaching Then singing and Tinh lute to members of the Then singing and Tinh lute Club of Luc Ngan commune (Bac Ninh). (Photo: Danh Lam/VNA)

In the context of international integration, the culture, sports and tourism sector of Bac Ninh province will continue to implement many synchronous solutions to preserve and promote Then heritage.

First of all, the province effectively implements the National Action Program and cultural preservation projects associated with tourism development; promotes documentation and digitization to preserve the unique values of Then heritage for a long time.

The province has increased the teaching of Then singing and Tinh lute in schools and clubs, and has policies to support artisans and encourage the community to participate. At the same time, Bac Ninh has promoted socialization and organized festivals and cultural events, creating spaces for artisans and mass actors to exchange and spread the Then heritage.

In particular, the culture, sports and tourism sector aims to turn Then heritage into a unique tourism product, regularly appearing in domestic and international cultural and tourism events, contributing to widely promoting the heritage, bringing Then practice heritage closer to the public and domestic and foreign tourists./.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/giu-lua-then-giua-mien-quan-ho-truyen-day-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-san-post1072402.vnp