Spreading cultural identity in literature

Son La, a land of diverse ethnic cultures and majestic mountains and forests, has always been an endless source of inspiration for literature. Not content with merely describing the pure beauty of nature, writers have been striving to transform literature into a cultural "archive," where traditional values ​​are preserved, honored, and powerfully disseminated to the public.

Members of the Provincial Union of Literature and Arts create works at the grassroots level.

Looking back at the development journey, if the generation of renowned writers such as To Hoai, Ma Van Khang, and Nguyen Ngoc laid the first bricks for the Northwest-themed genre, the current generation of writers of the Son La Provincial Association of Literature and Arts is continuing that tradition with a modern artistic mindset yet deeply rooted in local culture. This is a new generation full of enthusiasm, including writers like Kieu Duy Khanh, Tran Nguyen My, Hoang Le Thuy, and Luong My Hanh... They write not only from their life experiences but also with the responsibility of being born and raised in the villages, nurtured within the rich and inexhaustible source of folk culture of the ethnic groups, with the desire to position Son La literature within the mainstream of contemporary Vietnamese literature.

Ms. Lo Thi Na Ly, Permanent Vice President of the Provincial Union of Literature and Arts, said: "The Union currently has 261 members, with over 60% active in the fields of literature, folk art, and literary criticism. In their creative works, authors skillfully blend tradition and modernity, national identity and the trend of integration, creating a literary landscape that is both authentic and humane, possessing profound value, and contributing to the preservation of the cultural identity of Son La - Northwest Vietnam amidst the constant changes of modern life."

Members of the Folk Arts Association branch discuss published works.

Among the prominent figures, writer Kieu Duy Khanh stands out as a phenomenon with his abundant creativity. With 7 collections of short stories and 1 collection of poems published, along with hundreds of poems, short stories, and essays published in central and provincial newspapers and magazines, mostly focusing on ethnic culture, Kieu Duy Khanh's works offer diverse perspectives and emotional depth on spiritual life, folk culture, and the people of the Northwest region. Notable works include: the short story collections "Secrets Under the Deep Abyss," "The Last Hunting Trip," "Returning to the Mountains," and "Evening Smoke on the Border"; the short story "The Soul of Pieu"; the essay "The Silver Bracelet of the Spirit"; and the poems "Grandma's Silver Coin" and "The Spirit of the Gong Keeping the Spirit"...

Writer Kieu Duy Khanh shared: "Born and raised in Son La, I am deeply connected to the life of the villages. My love and passion for traditional culture have been nurtured and grown, so most of my works are related to ethnic culture. I want to use my pen to portray the beauty of life and the culture of our roots that generations of people here have painstakingly built."

Besides Kieu Duy Khanh, contemporary Son La literature also boasts many authors with unique creative personalities and rich literary styles. Notable examples include Tran Nguyen My with his short story collections "Smiling Label," "The Deer's Horn," and novels like "The Muong Flood" and "Tiger Cave Village," which offer a direct look at the daily lives of ethnic minorities, where cultural conflicts are resolved through human kindness and tolerance. Hoang Le Thuy, with her short stories "The East Wind's Cry" and "Returning to Pa Cha," adds a haunting yet warm and realistic portrayal of the borderland and the difficult but resilient lives of its people. Furthermore, Luong My Hanh has published three poetry collections and hundreds of other poems and short stories with a consistent theme of the culture of the ethnic minorities in the Northwest region, further enriching contemporary Son La literature.

Author Tran Nguyen My with his published and posted works.

A particular highlight of Son La literature is its collection of ethnic language poetry. Works such as "Spring Comes to the Lao Kho Highlands" by Dinh Van Lien, "Uncle Ho in the Hearts of the Son La People" by Ca Thi Hoan, "The Ban Tree on the Hillside" by Lo Xuan Thuong, "Uncle Ho Goes to Find a Way to Save the Nation" by Cam Thi Chieu, and other prominent authors such as Ho A Di, Cam Vui, Lo Thi Na Ly, Lo Thanh Xuan, Dinh Quang Chuong... play a crucial role in preserving ethnic languages ​​and scripts. This is the most direct way for the ancestral culture to be preserved and permeate the spiritual life of the people.

With the dedication of its writers, Son La literature has been contributing to the preservation of its cultural roots in its own unique way, spreading the beauty of the spirit and resilience of the people of the highlands to the world . The works of Son La writers today are a bridge connecting the past with the future, a way to ensure that Northwest culture remains an inseparable part of the flow of Vietnamese culture.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/lan-toa-ban-sac-trong-van-hoc-EKY8qxVvR.html