After hearing most poems, folk tales, and stories a few times, Mr. Ban Van Minh, a Dao ethnic minority from Phieng Ly village, Trung Ha commune, can both contemplate and recite them without missing a single word.
He said that those were words distilled over generations, cherished and preserved by his ancestors, so he too must find a way to let them naturally permeate his bloodstream and blend into his very being.
Mr. Ban Van Minh explains the meaning of the altar paintings to the Dao people.
PHOTO: THANH TUNG
"It's like a part of the body; if it's neglected or forgotten, it hurts like being pricked by thorns or needles," Mr. Minh said, using a metaphor.
After serving two terms as the head of Phiềng Ly village, due to his advanced age, Mr. Bàn Văn Minh handed over the responsibility to a younger person. Then he "assigned" himself a new task: to rediscover the cultural roots through ancient books.
He said that, over time, the Dao people recorded their knowledge and experience on pages written in the Dao vernacular. These included folk remedies, rituals, teachings, and ancient legends… which the Dao people call "zhiang amulets" (meaning "bag of wisdom").
He actively collects and translates books so that people can explore the treasure trove of knowledge of their people, and to date he owns nearly 100 ancient books.
To spread Dao culture, he also participated in teaching it, becoming a very special teacher for the villagers.
Ms. Ly Thi Yen from Phieng Ly village shared: "During holidays and gatherings, we always get to listen to folk tales, legends, and poems told by Mr. Minh. Our love for culture has grown stronger in our younger generation."
Persistently keeping the "flame" of Dao culture alive.
In Trung Ha, it's not just the elderly who tirelessly preserve the culture day and night, but also a generation of young people who are quietly and persistently "keeping the flame" of Dao ethnic culture alive. A prime example is Mr. Ban Van Nam (38 years old), residing in Phieng Ly village.
Mr. Ban Van Nam (third from the right) introduces the Dao ethnic culture to tourists.
PHOTO: THANH TUNG
Nam grew up in a family steeped in Dao culture, where everyone was skilled in singing pao dung songs, embroidery, dyeing fabric, and beeswax painting. Dao culture naturally permeated him through his family's daily work.
Recognizing that Trung Ha commune has over 6,000 Red Dao, Coin Dao, and Long-robed Dao people, representing great potential, Mr. Nam requested permission from the commune to establish the Trung Ha Commune Coin Dao Traditional Culture Club.
The club has 16 members, aged 32-65, all passionate about the Dao ethnic culture in the commune. Each member possesses a certain level of knowledge about Dao culture: some know the Dao script, some know how to sing pao dung songs, some know how to dance traditional dances, and some know embroidery and how to apply beeswax to fabric to create patterns...
The club usually holds regular meetings once a week or during periods of agricultural inactivity, where members learn singing, dancing, calligraphy, embroidery, and more. Those with more knowledge guide and share their skills with those with less. Afterwards, each member of the club continues to teach their relatives, children, and grandchildren.
In addition, the club regularly invites performing arts groups and Dao ethnic cultural preservation clubs from Yen Son, Na Hang, and Lam Binh districts ( Tuyen Quang province ) to the commune for exchanges and sharing of experiences.
In 2022, Mr. Nam continued to seek permission from the commune to establish the Dao Ethnic Folk Culture Club in Trung Ha commune. Currently, the club has 17 members, representing various Dao ethnic groups in the commune, with Mr. Nam as the chairman.
He divided the two clubs into groups, focusing on three areas: performing arts, traditional dances, and embroidery instruction. Ms. Ban Thi Hoa, from Lang Chua village, a member of the club, said that she and the other female members share embroidery techniques, pattern-making methods, and learn to sing and dance... Thanks to this, she has gained more knowledge to teach her children and grandchildren.
"Since joining the club, meeting and sharing feelings has brought everyone closer together, and we've grown to love and be proud of the beautiful culture of our nation," said Ms. Hoa.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giu-lua-van-hoa-dao-18525052718175933.htm
Comment (0)