Silently 'keeping the flame' of Tay ethnic culture alive.

Ms. Ma Thi Day is quietly preserving the Tay ethnic culture amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Born and raised in the Tay community, from a young age, Ms. Day was taught the sweet and poignant melodies of Then and Coi songs by her grandmother and mother. Her love for Tay culture grew, becoming a source of pride and a life ideal. From a simple passion of teaching herself tailoring to satisfy her desire to wear her ethnic group's traditional clothing, she gradually realized that she needed to do something to preserve and promote these unique cultural values.

Driven by a desire to preserve and spread Tay culture, she invested in opening a workshop for crafting Tinh musical instruments in Ban Luong village, Cam Giang commune, and Bao An Shop in Group 4, Duc Xuan ward, which specializes in tailoring traditional costumes, organizes classes to teach Tinh playing, and has become a familiar meeting place for those who love local culture.

To ensure a reliable supply of raw materials for crafting the Tinh lute, an important musical instrument in the spiritual life of the Tay people, Ms. Day has partnered with households in Ban Luong village and neighboring communes to cultivate specialized gourd plants on a combined area of approximately 1 hectare. In 2024, her workshop crafted over 2,000 Tinh lutes and sewed 4,000 sets of traditional Tay costumes.

The products not only serve domestic cultural activities but are also ordered by international communities with similar cultural backgrounds. What's special about her establishment is that customers come not just to buy but also to experience.

Amidst the authentic Tay culture, they were able to admire meticulously handcrafted costumes, exquisite in every detail, and learn about sacred items such as fans, bells, and yin-yang cards – important symbols in the traditional Then ritual.

Ms. Ma Thi Day's Tinh lute lessons help spread love for the Tay ethnic culture.

Currently, Ms. Ma Thi Day maintains a class teaching the Tinh zither with 16 students of various ages and professions. Classes are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Rain or shine, the students regularly attend, driven by their passion for traditional Vietnamese music and their desire to reconnect with their cultural roots. Ms. Day only charges a small fee for printing materials; students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive free lessons.

Ms. Nong Thi Thi, a teacher at Cam Giang Kindergarten, shared: "Participating in Ms. Day's class has made me appreciate the cultural values of my people more clearly. Each note of the Tinh instrument seems to draw me back to my roots. I love and am prouder of the traditions of my ancestors. Even more valuable is that I gain knowledge to inspire my students, helping them to cherish the cultural heritage of the Tay ethnic group."

Hoang Hai Dang, an 8th-grade student at Huyen Tung Secondary School in Duc Xuan ward, said: "I've seen my grandparents play the Tinh instrument but never had the chance to learn. Thanks to Ms. Day's class, I not only learned to play the instrument but also heard old stories and learned the meaning of each piece of music and each traditional costume."

For Ms. Ma Thi Day, opening classes to teach the Tinh lute, tailoring traditional costumes, and establishing a musical instrument workshop is not simply a means of livelihood, but a way for her to preserve and spread the Tay cultural identity amidst the modern world.

She confided: "I not only want young people to know how to play the Tinh instrument or wear traditional clothing, but also to understand the cultural value within it. Clothing is not just for performances; it's the soul of culture, reflecting the life, spirit, and customs of an entire ethnic group. And the sound of the Tinh instrument is the voice of the mountains and forests, of memories and identity. Preserving these things means preserving our own roots."

Quietly but persistently, Ms. Ma Thi Day's work is making a significant contribution to preserving and spreading the cultural values of the Tay ethnic group amidst modern life today.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202507/lang-tham-giu-lua-van-hoa-dan-toc-tay-f142564/