The one who keeps the amulet at the foot of the waves

Intoxicated by the charm

Spring has come to the southern countryside of Quang Ngai , bringing joy to the countryside. Emotions surged as we watched the Tan Diem residential group (Pho Thanh Ward, Duc Pho Town, Quang Ngai) perform an art form passed down through generations.

At the age of 65, Mr. Cai (team leader) Le Co is still absorbed in the art of talismans despite many worries. Looking back, he has been attached to the art of talismans for more than half a century. He said that when he was a child, he was fascinated by watching the art of talismans singing and dancing during the spring, when the village was less worried about the smoke and fire of war...

Amulet performance in Sa Huynh

Mr. Cai's calloused hands, after many days of rowing the boat and casting nets or toiling in the salt fields, beat the drum quite skillfully. The musician played the wooden clappers skillfully like a real artist. The senh tien in the young man's hands shook, creating a lively sound that harmonized with the folk songs of the countryside.

At the age of thirteen, Mr. Co and his friends followed the village elders on a spring outing with the talisman dance. In the fading afternoon sun, the talisman troupe came to the theater to dance at the request of the local people. First was the opening song with the folk lyrics: "Open the gate, open the gate/The top ring is still threaded/The bottom pin is still fastened... ".

Then the homeowner opened the door, his face beaming with joy, inviting the singing team into the house. After singing and dancing, paying respect to the ancestors and blessing the homeowner, the singing team received their reward and thanks, and moved on to serve the next house as requested by the homeowner.

The wind from the sea blew to the shore, sweeping over the village roads in the chilly spring night. However, many people eagerly followed. They enjoyed the graceful dance of Mr. Co and his friends, the singing mixed with the lively music.

Mr. Le Co (red shirt) and the Sac Ngu singing and dancing team perform at the fishing festival.

The soft, shimmering lantern dance in the dark night created a magical scene, attracting viewers. Some people were so engrossed in watching that they invited the lantern troupe to their homes to perform in front of their ancestral altars.

"The Tet holiday in the village was very happy. Many people who liked the talisman invited us to their house to sing and dance to wish them good luck. The salary was not much, but serving the villagers was a joy," Mr. Co recalled.

"Passing on the torch" to the younger generation

More than ten years ago, Mr. Co took on the role of Mr. Cai in the talisman-making team, replacing the elders. He was worried that the talisman would be lost in the era of open information technology and many audio-visual methods today. So he and his close friend Nguyen Hung Liem found a way to "keep the fire" of talisman-making for the teenagers in the team, creating conditions for them to sing and dance whenever they had the chance.

Near Tet, the two men and the children practiced diligently. Mr. Co enthusiastically guided the children in each dance movement; taught them how to sing smoothly and emphasize the lyrics to captivate the listeners. After a few years, the children went to study far away, he persuaded new members to join the team and enthusiastically guided them.

"At first, learning to sing and dance Sac Bua was very difficult, but Uncle Co always encouraged and enthusiastically instructed us, so we tried to practice. We sang a lot and got used to it. Thanks to him, we learned to sing and love Sac Bua...", Ngo Thi Tuyet Ngan confided.

Mr. Le Co (right) and Mr. Nguyen Hung Liem edited the lyrics of the spell song

On the morning of the first day of Lunar New Year, the team members gathered in the yard of the neighborhood cultural house to salute the flag at the beginning of the year. After listening to the President 's New Year's letter, the team performed with a lively melody to celebrate the coming of spring. After the singing and dancing performance, there was a long round of applause.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the whole team dressed up in scarves and dresses sang and danced at the fishing festival at Sa Huynh estuary. Everyone attentively watched the graceful dance and listened to the melodious songs in the early morning sun. The songs urged the fishermen to steer their fishing boats to go out to sea...

Many tourists come to Sa Huynh to enjoy the wild and poetic scenery, learn about Sa Huynh culture dating back about 3,000 years, and enjoy delicious dishes made from seafood just caught from the sea. They are excited to experience the work of salt workers on the Sa Huynh salt fields. Many people stay here and say they are very interested in watching the Sac Bua singing and dancing...

"The performance fee is only enough to take the children out for a cup of sweet soup or a bowl of porridge, but it's a lot of fun. Through that, we have the opportunity to introduce the land and people of Sa Huynh to visitors from far away...", Mr. Co confided.

According to Mr. Le Minh Phung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Pho Thanh Ward, Mr. Le Co and Mr. Nguyen Hung Liem actively preserve the art of talisman making. Mr. Co is diligent in researching and composing songs with new lyrics, promptly reflecting the changes of his homeland.

"His songs encourage people after tiring working hours, contributing to preserving the local cultural identity. Mr. Co and his team promote indigenous culture to tourists, participate in community activities in environmental protection, preserve traditional salt fields... His contributions are trusted and admired by officials and people," said Mr. Phung.

The song urges people's hearts

According to the elders in Pho Thanh Ward, it is not clear when the talisman originated. They only know that "country artists" dressed in red, blue or yellow clothes would sing and dance enthusiastically, captivating the audience. The talisman was performed at festivals, introducing the land and people of Sa Huynh, and singing to welcome visitors at the beginning of spring. The lyrics were adapted to suit the changes of life.

The song's lyrics urge fishermen to stick to the sea, contributing to protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands: "Here is Hoang Sa - there is Truong Sa/Two archipelagos of our country for generations/Boats sail out to sea/Catching seafood in the vast sea and sky/Hoang Sa is very close to Truong Sa/This is the archipelago passed down from our ancestors... Today the new year begins/Wishing the sea and islands eternal peace".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-luu-giu-sac-bua-ben-chan-song-185250128104648142.htm