Katuic cultural soul

Along the Truong Son mountain range, the Co Tu, Ta Oi, and Bru-Van Kieu ethnic communities have created a cultural space rich in identity, closely intertwined with the mountains and forests. In the modern era, preserving and promoting these values ​​is becoming an urgent requirement.

A festival of the Co Tu people. Photo: Alang Ngoc

For generations, the local people have maintained several traditional livelihoods such as slash-and-burn agriculture, hunting, gathering, and forest resource exploitation. These activities not only ensure their livelihoods but also accumulate a rich wealth of indigenous knowledge. The people understand the laws of the forest, know how to choose land, predict weather, use medicinal plants, and exploit resources rationally.

The spiritual life of Katuic communities is deeply marked by animism. They believe that supernatural forces exist in nature, such as forest spirits, mountain spirits, water spirits, and rice spirits. Rituals are held to express reverence and seek protection. This belief not only guides their behavior towards nature but also contributes to maintaining stability in their social lives.

Folk music and dance are the soul of the festivals. The Katuic people possess a rich system of musical instruments, mostly crafted from bamboo, rattan, and forest wood, such as drums, gongs, bamboo flutes, and mouth harps. Folk melodies like karlơiq, baboiq, and chachâp hold artistic value and contain production experience, life philosophy, and community memories.

Wood carving is a unique highlight of Katuic culture. Using rudimentary tools such as machetes, axes, and hand chisels, the people created exquisite works on communal houses (gươl houses), longhouses (rông houses), and household items. The images and patterns reflect the worldview and spiritual life of the people of the Trường Sơn Mountains.

Furthermore, traditional crafts continue to play an important role in daily life. Particularly noteworthy is the brocade weaving of the Ta Oi people, with their Dèng fabrics featuring exquisite patterns and harmonious colors. In addition, other crafts such as basket weaving, musical instrument making, and woodworking contribute to the unique cultural identity of the region.

In the modern context, the Katuic cultural space is facing many changes. The development of the market economy , cultural exchange, and the expansion of transportation infrastructure have brought many opportunities but also posed numerous challenges.

Some traditional rituals are no longer performed regularly or have been simplified in scale. Livelihoods have also changed as many communities have shifted to economic forestry, livestock farming, and engaging in new production activities. This has somewhat diminished the role of indigenous knowledge and risks the erosion of cultural identity.

For effective conservation, the community must be placed at the center. Development policies must respect and promote the role of the people as key stakeholders, while also being linked to sustainable development goals. The transmission of indigenous knowledge, the restoration of festivals, and the preservation of traditional crafts should be carried out in parallel with improving economic livelihoods.

The Katuic cultural space is the result of a long historical process, reflecting the close bond between people and the Truong Son mountain range. In the modern era, if properly preserved and promoted, these values ​​will not only contribute to maintaining cultural identity but also become an important resource for the cultural and tourism development of the Central region.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/hon-van-hoa-katuic-3335974.html