Promoting the cultural heritage of traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh

Promoting the cultural heritage of traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh

The preparation of a dossier to submit to UNESCO to recognize Binh Dinh traditional martial arts as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity is not only a national task, but also an opportunity for Vietnam to introduce to the world a part of the nation's unique cultural quintessence. The biggest goal is to preserve the martial arts heritage for current and future generations, while enhancing the position of Binh Dinh in particular and Vietnam in general on the global cultural heritage map.

This is the main content discussed at the International Scientific Conference with the theme "Protecting and promoting intangible cultural heritage and traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh", organized by the Provincial People's Committee in coordination with the Institute of Cultural Studies (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) on January 5, in Quy Nhon City.

Conference scene. Photo: NGUYEN DUNG

Attending the workshop were comrades: Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Nguyen Tuan Thanh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; representatives of units of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; scholars, scientists, researchers from UNESCO Committees; domestic and international experts on cultural heritage; grand masters, martial artists...

Living heritage, with unique identity

Speaking at the workshop, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tuan Thanh affirmed: "Binh Dinh is the cradle of many unique traditional arts, in which traditional martial arts are the soul of the land and people here. Not only a martial art, Binh Dinh traditional martial arts is also a means of training the mind, intellect, and physical strength, demonstrating martial spirit, self-reliance, and national character".

Traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh have existed and developed for thousands of years, closely associated with the footsteps of our ancestors in opening up new lands. Through the flow of history, traditional martial arts have become an indispensable part of the cultural life of the people of the land of martial arts. Martial arts techniques, forms, along with philosophies of life passed down from generation to generation, create a living heritage, carrying within it moral values, human personality, resilience and the ability to overcome challenges. Moreover, traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh not only appear in sports activities, but are also a form of moraleducation , intellectual development and nurturing of human qualities.

“The highest goal of the workshop is to mobilize the active participation of the heritage practice community, minimize the risk of heritage loss, and ensure the sustainable development of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts. This is a very important basis for Binh Dinh province to complete the scientific dossier “Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts” to submit to UNESCO”.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tuan Thanh

With a deep awareness of the importance of this heritage, Binh Dinh province has implemented a project to preserve and promote traditional martial arts, organize activities to collect martial arts exercises, weapons and research the positive effects of martial arts on community life. The province has also successfully organized the International Festival of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts since 2006, not only bringing traditional martial arts to the people in the country but also introducing it to the world.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong emphasized: Binh Dinh traditional martial arts with its historical, cultural and philosophical depth is one of the intangible heritages that need to be identified, protected and promoted. Binh Dinh traditional martial arts is not only a martial art, but also the crystallization of the martial spirit, self-reliance and noble culture of the Vietnamese people. The martial arts forms, martial arts techniques, martial arts medicine and martial arts are passed down from generation to generation, deeply expressing the identity of the land and people of Binh Dinh. Building a dossier to register Binh Dinh traditional martial arts on the list of representative intangible cultural heritages of humanity will bring great pride, and at the same time put on our shoulders the responsibility of protecting and promoting the heritage in a sustainable manner. As a cultural management agency, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will closely coordinate with authorities at all levels, the subject community and domestic and foreign experts to carry out this important task.

Considering that Binh Dinh traditional martial arts is a unified but also very diverse system, harmoniously combining elements of martial arts, ethics and community culture, Mr. Frank Proschan, former senior expert of UNESCO, shared: "The profound value of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts is not only technical movements, but also an inseparable part of cultural life, carrying within it philosophies of life on ethics, personality and relationships between people", and at the same time expecting that this heritage has the potential to spread globally, becoming a model in preserving and developing living heritage.

Directions for the future

The inscription of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts into the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity is an ambitious goal and will face many challenges. The big question raised at the workshop is how to both protect the heritage identity and promote its flexibility and sustainable development in the modern context.

At the 10th Phu Dong Sports Festival of Binh Dinh province - 2024, the combat content in traditional martial arts competition was included in the official competition program.   Photo: N.DUNG

Experts attending the workshop all agreed that Binh Dinh traditional martial arts should be protected as a living heritage, with continuous development and not be confined to a fixed model. This not only helps this heritage adapt to the times but also maintains a close connection with the community where it was born and developed.

To effectively protect and promote the value of this heritage, experts have made a number of important recommendations. Mr. Frank Proschan said that one of the key factors is “empowering the community”. That is, martial artists, martial artists and those involved in practicing traditional martial arts must be given the opportunity to protect and develop their heritage without excessive interference from external factors. This not only protects the core value of the heritage but also maintains the continuity and sustainability of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts through generations.

In addition, it is also important to establish clear criteria for evaluating and recognizing the quality of traditional martial arts in events and competitions. This will help maintain the quality and reputation of the martial art, while avoiding deviations in the practice and development of the heritage. An indispensable factor is to ensure a balance between economic development and heritage protection, in order to avoid excessive commercialization, which would destroy the original value of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts.

Along with the movement of practicing traditional martial arts increasingly developing widely among the masses, the promotion and dissemination of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts is also being strongly implemented.

- In the photo: Phan Tho martial arts school (Binh Nghi commune, Tay Son district) welcomes foreign tourists to visit and learn about the martial arts school. Photo: N.DUNG

Dr. Ho Minh Mong Hung (Quy Nhon University) said that it is very important to fully and accurately identify the values ​​of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on clarifying the historical, cultural, scientific values ​​and the ability of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts to be the foundation for the development of a new culture. Cultural elements related to martial arts, martial medicine and martial music need to be consolidated and developed to meet UNESCO's criteria. Studies have clearly identified these values, and are completing a solid theoretical and practical basis to submit a dossier to UNESCO to list Binh Dinh traditional martial arts as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Promoting and protecting this heritage is not only the responsibility of the government but also of the community, those who have directly practiced and been attached to this cultural heritage for centuries. Completing the scientific dossier to propose UNESCO to recognize Binh Dinh traditional martial arts is not only an important step in preserving cultural heritage but also creates an opportunity to spread these unique values ​​to the world.

• Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (Vietnam National University, Hanoi):

Strongly spreading the quintessence of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts

Traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh are not only a local heritage but also have widespread value at home and abroad. This needs to be clearly reflected in the dossier submitted to UNESCO. The presentations from 4 main groups of issues including: Traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh from the perspective of intangible cultural heritage; Local identity and the transformation and integration of traditional martial arts; Protecting and promoting heritage in the modern context; Lessons from other countries in protecting martial arts heritage and measures to protect intangible cultural heritage, will play an important role in shaping and completing the content of the dossier, ensuring completeness and persuasiveness; a solid foundation to help complete the dossier and enhance the possibility of UNESCO recognizing the heritage of Traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh.

• MSc. Dinh Khac Dien - former Vice President of Vietnam Traditional Martial Arts Federation, former President of Binh Dinh Martial Arts Federation:

Binh Dinh traditional martial arts formed many famous martial arts families and villages.

Traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh, through thousands of years of building and defending the country, have formed many famous martial arts clans and villages. For example, Long Phuoc pagoda (Phuoc Thuan commune, Tuy Phuoc district) preserves the book Luc tuong tang vuong pho minh binh thu chieu phap . The Truong Duc clan migrated to My Hoa (Phu My district) and still preserves 14 unique martial arts of talented generals of this clan; the Truong Van clan in An Thai, An Nhon taught many martial arts to Tay Son generals; the Bui clan in Phu Lac (Tay Son district) preserves the martial arts of female general Bui Thi Xuan; the Ho clan in Binh Thuan (Tay Son district) is famous for Roi Thuan Truyen and Quyen An Thai; the Ly clan in Dap Da (An Nhon town) is famous for Mieu Tay Dien ... Hundreds of other clans in Binh Dinh still preserve and practice traditional martial arts, collected by researchers Le Thi, Mai Van Muon, Pham Dinh Phong...

• MSc. Nguyen Thanh Son , Deputy Director of Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts Center:

Bringing Binh Dinh traditional martial arts into schools

In 2012, Binh Dinh Traditional Martial Arts was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. To protect and promote this unique intangible cultural heritage more effectively, from 2016 to present, Binh Dinh province has developed policies and implemented many activities to bring traditional martial arts into schools at all levels across the province. In addition to teaching traditional martial arts to students in extracurricular programs, high schools, universities and colleges have established traditional martial arts clubs, attracting a large number of students to participate in regular practice. Along with that, the provincial government also includes traditional martial arts in the content of exchanges, performances and competitions at Phu Dong Sports Festivals at all levels...

• Grandmaster Bui Trung Hieu , Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports:

Traditional education values ​​humanity and justice

Binh Dinh traditional martial arts not only helps improve people's physical strength and practice self-defense skills, but also arouses pride in the nation's martial arts tradition. In the martial arts village, martial arts learners must first be people with courage, using "morality" to control "evil". Traditional martial arts contribute to educating the tradition of respecting humanity and righteousness, martial arts learners are to protect themselves, protect their homes, save people, help the country, and help life when facing danger. The higher the martial arts skills, the more humble, not ostentatious, and arrogant they are. Traditional martial arts also educate the tradition of remembering the source of water when drinking water, respecting teachers and valuing morality. Martial arts students must cultivate morality, character, loyalty to the sect, obey the rules, especially respecting teachers and valuing morality, respecting ancestors, and sacrificing themselves for their roots.

• Prof. Dr. Weonmo Park - Director of the International Network on Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific region under the auspices of UNESCO:

Ensuring community in heritage

Dialogue and innovation are key to overcoming divisions and opportunities for cooperation in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Overall, we need to increase public participation, ensure community in the protection of cultural heritage; strengthen international cooperation to protect traditional culture to narrow the gap between tradition and modernity, and promote greater appreciation of culture in each individual.

• Dr., writer Tran Thi Huyen Trang:

Preserving and promoting traditional martial arts of Binh Dinh still faces difficulties and challenges.

The preservation and promotion of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts are currently facing many difficulties and challenges. Changes in the times and social demands for martial arts have a profound impact on the development of successors. In addition, the source of documents on traditional martial arts is mainly oral, limited in accuracy and completeness. The method of passing on the profession is still mainly introverted and exclusive in some martial arts lines and schools, leading to difficulties in accessing and developing widely. In addition, the promotion of the interests of the cultural community has not really been focused on.

To address these challenges, a new approach to the concept of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts heritage is needed, while at the same time implementing programs to preserve and promote the heritage’s value in a comprehensive manner. Special policies are needed to preserve and train successors, ensuring continuity in the practice of martial arts culture, avoiding fading or fragmentation of identity. More importantly, it is necessary to empower the cultural community to participate in the process of preserving and promoting the heritage.

To achieve this goal, diversifying forms of preservation and promoting international exchange and integration are necessary to improve the effectiveness of preserving and promoting Binh Dinh traditional martial arts. At the same time, building and implementing a comprehensive communication strategy will help promote more strongly the preservation and development of Binh Dinh traditional martial arts heritage to the domestic and foreign communities.

TRONG LOI - KIEU VY - Photo: N.DUNG

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