In the multi-ethnic picture of Lao Cai , the Cao Lan people stand out with their own distinct features, rich and unique cultural identity. When many traditional values are at risk of fading away, the Cao Lan people still persistently preserve and pass on the national cultural heritage that has been attached to their lives, spreading among the flow of modernity and integration.
One summer afternoon, I went to Khuân La village, Yên Bình commune - where the Cao Lan people have lived for generations. Walking on the winding village road, feeling the peace, where the rustic houses are hidden under the shade of trees, I felt like I was lost in another world . The fresh air carried the scent of the soil and the grass.
From afar, familiar and seductive sounds begin to permeate the space: the soulful and rhythmic singing of Sinh Ca, along with the bustling dances of “Xuc Tom”, “Chim Gau”, “Pang Loong”…
Not only is it simple music and dance, but it is also the soul and unique cultural identity of the Cao Lan people, which is being diligently practiced by members of the Cao Lan Folk Song and Dance Club in Khuân La village. These melodies are like invisible threads, weaving a vivid picture, telling about the life and soul of the Cao Lan people here through many generations.
The Cao Lan community always preserves and maintains their ethnic culture as a natural thing, like breath and the source of life.
Ms. Ninh Thi Tu, Head of the Cao Lan Folk Song and Dance Club in Khuan La village, welcomed me with a gentle smile and proud eyes. Ms. Tu shared: “The club has been established for more than 7 years. Every Saturday night, 30 students arrange their work to come and join in activities, dancing and singing together with the desire to preserve the cultural identity of their ethnic group.”
That sharing shows the voluntary spirit and consensus of the community in preserving culture. It is not only the effort of an individual or an organization, but also the collective strength, forged from a deep love for the origin. From the Club activities, folk songs, folk dances, traditional crafts are lived, spreading to every family.
More happily, the vitality of Cao Lan culture does not stop at the elderly but is being welcomed and nurtured by the next generation of young people.
Hoang Gia Bao Ngoc, 13 years old, Ngoi Vo village, Yen Binh commune excitedly said: “Participating in the Cao Lan ethnic folk culture teaching class, I was taught to dance and sing the melodies of my ethnic group by the ladies. I am very proud and will continue to preserve and promote the cultural beauty of my ethnic group.”
Along with Yen Binh commune, the Cao Lan ethnic group in the province is most concentrated in Tran Yen, Thac Ba, Xuan Ai communes and some neighboring communes with over 10,000 people living. Wherever they are, the Cao Lan community always preserves and maintains their ethnic culture as a natural thing, like the breath and source of life.
Deep in the soul of the Cao Lan people, each dance and song is a story about love of work, love of couples, the desire to rise up, and the attachment to the land and nature.
It is the source of emotional nourishment, the link between the past and the present. The previous generation diligently teaches their children, not only the lyrics and melodies, but also the way to feel and express the "soul" of national culture.
For more than 20 years, quietly teaching culture, restoring and performing Cao Lan ethnic folk art in the locality, excellent artisan Au Thi Chinh, Thac Ba commune, has always wondered how to preserve, promote and adapt Cao Lan culture to the modern context.
Ms. Chinh shared: “The Club members and I have created and staged many new performances, combining traditional dances with contemporary movements and melodies, while still maintaining the national characteristics. These performances have been performed in many local festivals and events, large and small, contributing to bringing Cao Lan culture closer to the public.”
In order for Ms. Chinh's concerns and the community's enthusiasm to become a living value that spreads in today's life, the attention and support of the authorities play a very important role. The local authorities have organized classes to teach ethnic languages and writing; traditional festivals; encouraged artisans to participate in teaching, collecting and restoring intangible culture. In particular, building and developing community tourism in Cao Lan villages and hamlets is also a promising direction, both developing the economy and preserving and promoting sustainable culture.
In the strong flow of integration, preserving traditional cultural values is not easy. However, with the persistent efforts of the community, the attention of the government and especially the love and deep pride of each Cao Lan child for their origin, we believe that the unique cultural identity of the Cao Lan people will continue to be continued, developed, and become a vibrant color in the diverse cultural picture of the Vietnamese ethnic groups.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/van-hoa-cao-lan-trong-dong-chay-hoi-nhap-post878851.html
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