Born and raised in a Dao family, Hoang Huu Dinh was intimately familiar with the sound of the bamboo flute from his childhood. Growing up surrounded by the sound of the flute, he absorbed every melody and every "rhythm" of his people's culture.
“For the White Dao people, the bamboo flute is not just a musical instrument, but a companion from birth to death. In coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, harvest prayers, or village festivals, the sound of the flute is always present as a sacred thread connecting people to the community and to the heavens and earth,” Mr. Dinh shared.
In the ever-changing flow of time, the gradual forgetting of many traditional values has become a major concern for someone deeply committed to national culture like Mr. Dinh.
Not only did he keep his passion for the bamboo flute to himself, but he also devoted his heart and soul to preserving and spreading the art of bamboo flute playing to the community.
For many years, artisan Hoang Huu Dinh has diligently offered free flute-playing lessons right in his home. He meticulously teaches the villagers, especially the younger generation, every breath, the way to adjust the bamboo tube, and how to feel the rhythm.
Mr. Dinh confided: "Teaching someone to play the bamboo flute is difficult, but teaching them to love the sound of the flute is even harder." However, he never gave up. Thanks to his perseverance, more and more children in the village came to learn. Initially, it was out of curiosity, then it turned into love and passion. Now, the melodious sounds of the bamboo flute resonate not only from his hands, but also from successive generations – a way for culture to live on in the national tradition.
Hoang Thanh Thuy happily shared: "At first, I found it very difficult, but with Mr. Dinh's dedicated teaching, I can now play a few melodies. Listening to him tell stories through the sound of the mouth organ, I feel even more in love with my ethnic culture."
In 2022, Mr. Hoang Huu Dinh was honored by the State with the title of "Outstanding Artisan" - a well-deserved reward for his persistent efforts in preserving the traditional cultural values of the Dao ethnic group. However, for him, the title is just a milestone; the most important thing is that the sound of the bamboo flute still resonates in the village and is being carried on by future generations.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Ha, Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Yen Thanh commune, assessed: "Outstanding Artisan Hoang Huu Dinh is a shining example in the preservation and promotion of ethnic culture in the locality. He is always enthusiastic in teaching the children in the village and commune, helping them not only to play the bamboo flute but also to deeply understand the cultural values of their ethnic group. At the same time, he also opens classes to teach reading and writing Dao Nôm script and preserve the cultural values of the Dao ethnic group in general. The local government always cooperates with him to organize these classes, contributing to maintaining and promoting ethnic identity in the context of current integration."
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, the perseverance and dedication of Meritorious Artisan Hoang Huu Dinh serve as a precious pause, awakening the community to remember their cultural roots and enduring values. Thanks to him – the "silent storyteller" through the sound of the bamboo flute – the culture of the White-Clad Dao people is preserved, continued, and spread through generations.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ke-chuyen-qua-tieng-khen-post882557.html
