Nguyen Thanh Lai: Journey to preserve and develop Dong Ngu water puppetry

Closely associated with the daily life of Kinh Bac residents, Dong Ngu water puppetry has its own historical depth and unique identity. In order to preserve this cultural value, artisan Nguyen Thanh Lai (born in 1971) has spent many years building and developing the Luy Lau Folk Culture Conservation Area - a place to preserve and spread the quintessence of water puppetry in the heart of Bac Ninh.

From a mechanic who returned to his village, he became deeply involved with water puppetry.

Artisan Nguyen Thanh Lai was born and raised in Dong Ngu village, Ngu Thai commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province (now Dong Ngu village, Song Lieu ward, Bac Ninh province) - a place deeply connected to the art of water puppetry. His childhood was filled with the sounds of festival drums, Quan Ho folk songs, and the image of wooden puppets by the village pond. Although he spent many years working as a mechanic, his love for water puppetry never faded. He shared: “There were times when I wondered if I was letting my youth pass by wasted. With the desire to contribute to my homeland, I temporarily set aside my engineering work and decided to return home, beginning the journey of preserving the traditional art of Kinh Bac - Dong Ngu water puppetry.”

Returning to the Dong Ngu water puppet village in 2000, he not only remained involved with the performances but also harbored a bigger dream: to build a comprehensive cultural preservation space. After many years of saving and campaigning, in 2009, he began construction of the Luy Lau Folk Culture Preservation Area, covering an area of ​​over 6,000 square meters. This is a diverse cultural space, encompassing water puppet stages, Quan Ho folk singing performances, traditional craft villages, and areas for experiencing puppet making, Dong Ho painting, and traditional cuisine …

Ten years is a proud milestone. In 2018, artisan Nguyen Thanh Lai was honored with a certificate of merit from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for his outstanding contributions to the implementation and organization of the Day of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures throughout the period 2008-2018. In addition, he has received numerous other prestigious awards from the ward, commune, and local authorities.

The period when the conservation area's first phase was inaugurated in 2019 coincided with the unexpected outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing all activities to a standstill. Recalling the difficulties of that time, he shared: “The artisans had no opportunity to perform, no income, and their spirits were low. But we encouraged each other, seeing this as a necessary pause to reflect on everything. During that time, we renovated the stage, repaired damaged puppets, created some new stories, and prepared for the days when we could welcome audiences back.”

Bringing the unique character of Kinh Bac into every folk performance.

What makes Dong Ngu water puppetry special is the combination of water puppetry art and Quan Ho folk songs – a unique feature found nowhere else. According to Mr. Lai, in many other puppet troupes across the country, the music is often accompanied by Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera), while in Dong Ngu, the audience can enjoy both puppetry and Quan Ho melodies, creating a performance space rich in Northern Vietnamese character.

The art of water puppetry combined with Quan Ho folk songs is a unique feature of Dong Ngu village in particular and Bac Ninh province in general.

 

“The stories and songs of Quan Ho folk puppetry are all connected to Dong Ho paintings and folk culture, making them easily accessible to viewers, especially children. I always believe that for audiences to love water puppetry, the stories must be relatable, fun, and still convey a cultural message,” he expressed.

In the traditional village performance space, the water stage is set right in the middle of the pond. The male and female singers don't stand in the wings, but sit on opposite banks of the water, singing in call-and-response style while the puppet show unfolds before the audience. Melodies like "Sitting by the Peach Blossom Window," "My Dear, Don't Leave," and "The Beautiful Bamboo Tree" resonate with heartfelt emotion, blending with the puppet movements to create a performance space that is both lively and deeply lyrical, reflecting the spirit of the Kinh Bac region.

Not only preserving traditional performances, artisan Nguyen Thanh Lai and his colleagues are constantly striving to create new acts to increase their appeal and suit the tastes of contemporary audiences. According to him, to attract young people to water puppetry, practitioners need to proactively bridge the gap, innovate the forms of expression without diminishing the inherent identity.

New storylines have been added to attract audiences of all ages to the Dong Ngu water puppet show.

Sowing the seeds of heritage for today and tomorrow.

Besides puppet shows, the conservation area also organizes many unique cultural activities such as learning to make Dong Ho folk paintings, enjoying Quan Ho folk singing, participating in folk games, etc. These things make Luy Lau not only a place to preserve culture but also a place to "live with heritage".

"I hope the conservation area will become a regular destination for students and international tourists, where young people can learn, try, and understand their ancestors' culture through real-life experiences," he shared.

Every day, artisan Nguyen Thanh Lai regularly performs and teaches, bringing the spirit of Kinh Bac closer to the public. For him, Dong Ngu water puppetry is not just a traditional art form, but also an integral part of his being, a silent yet powerful stream of Kinh Bac culture. In each puppet he carves, each story he writes, is the image of a peaceful village, the story passed down from his ancestors, the echo of past festivals. Water puppetry is not simply for performance, but to recount the memories of the village, to preserve the soul of Bac Ninh.

Students from the Academy of Journalism and Communication enjoyed the experience of transforming into the "liền chị" (female singers) in Quan Họ folk songs.

 

Not content with just domestic efforts, he is also actively connecting with international art organizations to bring Dong Ngu water puppetry to the world through performances, workshops, and exhibitions. The conservation area has already received commendations from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Bac Ninh province for its heritage preservation work. But for Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lai, the most precious reward remains the sparkling eyes of the children behind the puppet curtain, the resounding applause each time a performance ends. "Nothing is more joyful than seeing tradition not forgotten. As long as there are viewers and learners, folk art will continue to live," he affirmed.

Amidst the vibrant currents of the times, this artisan quietly maintains his "oar," creating a cultural space where ancient stories are retold with all his heart, faith, and unwavering will in the face of hardship. To the community, he is a dedicated artisan. To the younger generation, he is a teacher and a source of inspiration. And to the culture of Kinh Bac, he deserves to be considered the guardian of the essence, the enduring bridge connecting the past with the present and the future.

Text and photos: NGOC ANH

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/nguyen-thanh-lai-hanh-trinh-bao-ton-va-phat-trien-mua-roi-nuoc-dong-ngu-836246