People's Artist Pham Hai Hau

Việt Nam•19/08/2023

As the Chairman of the Ha Nam Province Chau Van Cultural Heritage Preservation and Promotion Club (hereinafter referred to as the Club), folk artist Pham Hai Hau has organized activities attracting over 150 members and taught the practice of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people to nearly 1000 people. In 2022, he was awarded the title of People's Artist by the President of Vietnam .

People's Artist Pham Hai Hau: The man who brought traditional art to the people. — ***Artisan Pham Hai Hau embodies the image of Quan Lon De Tam in bronze at Lanh Temple.***

A lifetime dedicated to the Three Realms belief system.

Born in a village on the banks of the Nhi Ha River, in Moc Nam commune, Duy Tien town, artisan Pham Hai Hau has dedicated his life to the rural life, full of warmth, affection, and rich cultural traditions. Lanh Giang Temple, a famous spiritual and cultural site in Ha Nam province, is associated with folk legends about the Three Water Gods (three generals from the Hung Dynasty who helped King Hung fight against Thuc Phan's army and were granted titles by the king) and the couple Princess Tien Dung and Chu Dong Tu.

In 1987, artisan Pham Hai Hau joined the Management Board of the Temple and practiced the religious rituals there. He recounted: “During this time, I studied the ritual practices, received ordination as a shaman, performed the initiation ceremony, and practiced the Tam Phu Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people from the shaman Nguyen Thi Phuc in Hanoi . Shaman Phuc had 50 years of experience practicing this religion and was well-known in Hanoi. She passed away in 1992. From 1989 to the present, thanks to my participation in practicing the Mother Goddess worship, I have visited many other historical sites throughout the country, such as: Dong Cuong Temple, Yen Bai; Tien Huong Mother Goddess Temple, Van Cat, Nam Dinh; Ong Hoang Muoi Temple, Nghe An; Chau Be Temple, Bac Giang; Tran Thuong Temple, Ha Nam; Dong Bang Temple, Thai Binh... to practice and teach the rituals.”

The Vietnamese belief in the worship of the Mother Goddesses of the Three and Four Realms has a long history, evolving and adapting to societal changes, focusing on people's present lives with aspirations for health, wealth, and good fortune. Among its distinctive features, the Chau Van ritual is a characteristic of this belief. The Chau Van ritual possesses many values of intangible cultural heritage, including: cultural value, expressed through its performance; spiritual value, expressed through the ability to enter a trance state; and aesthetic value, expressed through its ritual form.

In 2012, the Chau Van ritual of the Vietnamese people in Ha Nam was included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage. In December 2016, the Vietnamese practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms was officially inscribed by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Artisan Pham Hai Hau shared: “After more than 30 years of practicing the ritual and receiving instruction as a teacher, I have acquired sufficient knowledge about the rituals and performance skills of Chau Van. The spirit medium ritual in Chau Van performance combines many artistic elements, including singing, music, dancing, visual arts, and acting before the altar of the Mother Goddess of the Four Realms – a sacred, mystical setting, deeply imbued with spiritual significance. In that space and context, if the spirit medium ritual does not create a culturally appropriate and mystical spiritual connection, it can easily fall into superstition.”

Spirit mediumship is a ritual in the Chau Van singing tradition, deeply imbued with sacredness and national cultural identity, expressing the belief in seeking wealth and prosperity, bringing the spiritual world into real life... Artist Pham Hai Hau said: “Connected with the culture of worshipping the Mother Goddess, spirit mediumship is a way to express respect and reverence for the Holy Mother. This is a beautiful cultural aspect of our people, preserved and existing in the spiritual life of people for generations. Spirit mediumship is essentially a way to connect the yin and yang, a way for people to pray for health, good fortune, and success in life and career. People believe that doing so will bring blessings, and this creates a very profound spiritual influence on people. Those who cultivate virtue, live good and beautiful lives in this world will enjoy blessings and prosperity right here on earth.”

Recognizing the value of traditional folk art forms, artisan Pham Hai Hau has continuously propagated and promoted the value of Chau Van in social life and among the people. He has participated in typical historical sites festivals of the province, regional and national Chau Van performance festivals, and won many awards.

Mr. Pham Huy Cuong, from Moc Nam commune, Duy Tien town, one of the students taught by him the practice of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship in the Three Realms, commented: “Artisan Hau is a dedicated person, truly committed to this art form for a long time. Through his personal activities, the artisan is solely concerned with how to preserve Chau Van, integrate Chau Van into the cultural and spiritual life of the people, and educate people about gratitude towards the divine beings and saints who have contributed to the nation, its people, and the history of nation-building and national defense.”

Preserving and enhancing the beauty of Vietnamese cultural traditions.

The activities of artisan Pham Hai Hau at Lanh Giang Temple over the past time have always received the support and assistance of all levels of government, relevant agencies, and the people. With his tireless efforts, artisan Pham Hai Hau has become a key figure in creating an impressive cultural and tourism space in Ha Nam, an attractive destination for tourists from all over. Thousands of his students have studied the practice of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess worship of the Vietnamese people, continuing to spread the cultural values of this art form in daily life.

The artist said: "In 2014, I was appointed by the People's Committee of Ha Nam province to be the Chairman of the Club for Preserving and Promoting the Chau Van Cultural Heritage of Ha Nam province. Every 15th and 1st day of the lunar month, we organize performances at the central cultural center and the old Bien Hoa cinema (now the city's pedestrian cultural space) using funds entirely raised through social contributions. The number of members in the club has grown from only 62 to over 150."

Most members of the Traditional Vietnamese Singing Club are aware of their responsibility in spreading and preserving traditional Vietnamese singing. Furthermore, they are creative in their performances, singing both traditional and modern versions of traditional songs praising the beauty and people of Ha Nam today. They sing out of love for traditional Vietnamese singing, and out of a desire to contribute a small part to preserving and promoting the value of traditional Vietnamese singing in modern cultural and artistic life.”

Commenting on the activities of People's Artist Pham Hai Hau, Mr. Ngo Thanh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: After seeing the effectiveness of performing Van singing on stage, artist Pham Hai Hau has expanded his services to other districts. With sensitive issues surrounding the practice of spirit possession being debated over the past time—whether it's art or superstition—brought to stages separate from the spiritual environment, this is also a way to demonstrate the value and true nature of Van singing. It's a way to bring Van singing closer to the cultural and spiritual life of the people. Now, Van singing in the pedestrian area of Phu Ly city has become a beautiful cultural feature integrated into people's lives.

In 2015, Mr. Pham Hai Hau was awarded the title of "Outstanding Artisan" by the President of Vietnam. In 2022, he was further awarded the title of "People's Artisan". The artisan shared: “For me personally, after receiving this prestigious title from the President, I feel even more strongly my responsibility in preserving and promoting the value of the Chau Van cultural heritage. Through this activity, I want to contribute more to building, preserving, and promoting national cultural values, carrying out charitable and humanitarian work, and helping many disadvantaged people in society today…”

Jiangnan

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