Preserver of ancient Tay folk knowledge

baophutho.vn Currently, in Duc Nhan commune, there is a young man who is dedicated to preserving and passing on the ancient Tay script passed down from his ancestors. He is Sa Van Cam, born in 1986, and lives in Chieng Cang hamlet.

Mr. Sa Van Cam is dedicated to preserving the written culture of the Tay ethnic group.

Heirs of the ancient Tay script

The Tay ethnic community lives concentrated in the highland communes of the former Da Bac district, accounting for over 70% of the total population. Many tangible and intangible cultural heritages are still preserved among the people. However, the ancient Tay script folk knowledge is at risk of disappearing, and the number of people who still possess this heritage can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Six months ago, Mr. Sa Van Man (born in 1924) – considered a "living history book" preserving the written culture of the Tay ethnic community in the highlands of Da Bac – passed away. Of his nine children, only his son, Sa Van Cam, studied, understood, and was passionate about the ancient Tay script.

Cam confided: "When I was 11 or 12 years old, seeing my interest in learning, my grandfather taught me a little bit of ancient Tay script, but I soon neglected it. It wasn't until 2012, when I was selected to participate in an improved Thai language training course, that I truly focused on learning. Thanks to learning Thai, I gained more motivation and enthusiasm to preserve the ancient Tay script of my people."

These ancient books – the folk knowledge of the Tay people of Da Bac – are being preserved and collected by Mr. Sa Van Cam.

According to Sa Van Cam, the Thai and Tay scripts share many similarities (origin, language system, structure) but differ in script form, dialect, and development. The ancient Tay script is less well-known and is currently facing extinction. This is also the reason why he is determined and persistent in learning the script from his father, continuing the aspiration to prevent the Tay script from being lost.

Spreading love for the national script.

After many years of diligently studying the ancient Tay script under the guidance of Mr. Sa Van Man, Mr. Cam not only mastered the ancient Tay script but also learned the Tay calendar system to determine auspicious and inauspicious days and times according to the Chinese zodiac and the five elements of feng shui. Later, he applied what he had learned in his life and taught it to those who wanted to learn the Tay script so they could use it for themselves.

In recent years, the Party and the State have paid attention to the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic minorities. Aware of the role and importance of those who preserve this heritage, Mr. Cam actively teaches the ancient Tay script to those who love it and wish to contribute to the preservation of folk knowledge.

From 2015 to 2017, the Institute of Linguistics collaborated with local authorities to organize classes in the ancient Tay script. Mr. Cam was invited to be a teacher. The classes attracted a large number of students, mostly middle-aged and older, with a small number of young people. Many elderly people enthusiastically participated in learning the script.

From 2021 to the present, Mr. Cam has taught the Tay script to approximately 200 people. He has become a dedicated teacher, passionately transmitting the ancient Tay script to the communities in the highlands of Da Bac district. He runs several classes at his home, each lasting 3-4 months. Among his students, Mr. Cam highly regards their learning abilities are Mr. Ha Van Phoi and Mr. Ha Van Mai from Tan Pheo commune; and Mr. Sa Van Bang from Duc Nhan commune. In particular, Mr. Ha Van Phoi is one of the exemplary artisans who continues to preserve the Tay ethnic culture. Besides his skills in crafting and playing the oar flute, preserving the Tay tradition, Mr. Phoi quickly grasps and possesses a deep understanding of the ancient Tay script.

Mr. Sa Van Cam was the first person to write calligraphy using the ancient Tay script.

Besides books passed down through generations, Mr. Cam has collected dozens of ancient books, mainly ancient texts, divination books, and books on auspicious dates and times. For some valuable books that he couldn't acquire, he obtained permission from the owners to photograph and duplicate them, then spent time researching and studying them. He was also the first to invent calligraphy using the ancient Tay script. He incorporates sayings and proverbs from the past into his calligraphy, further spreading the cultural value of the Tay script.

Sa Van Cam's dedication and passion for folk knowledge have been recognized and praised, making him one of the leading exemplary individuals at the provincial level in 2024 with his model of "Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the ancient Tay script." Currently, Mr. Cam continues to collect, research, and teach the ancient Tay script folk knowledge to the people. He has also brought together people with knowledge and understanding of the language to exchange ideas and discuss, clarifying and enriching the folk knowledge of the Tay ethnic group's written script.

Source: https://baophutho.vn/nguoi-bao-ton-tri-thuc-dan-gian-chu-tay-co-245206.htm