VHO - On October 25, the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) sent Official Dispatch No. 1175/DSVH-PVT to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province, requesting to rectify the practice of distorting the heritage of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship belief that is taking place in the area.
The dispatch stated that on April 16, 2024, the Government issued Decree No. 39/2024/ND-CP stipulating measures to manage, protect and promote the values of intangible cultural heritage in the UNESCO Lists and the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage ( Decree No. 39/2024/ND-CP).
Regarding the rectification of wrongful activities in protecting and promoting the value of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worshiping Heritage - a heritage listed by UNESCO in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has continuously issued guidance documents in recent times.
Specifically, Official Dispatch No. 618/BVHTTDL-DSVH dated February 12, 2018 sent to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Culture and Information of provinces and centrally-run cities on rectifying the activities of spirit mediumship in practicing the heritage of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship; Official Dispatch No. 2973/BVHTTDL-DSVH dated July 21, 2023 on strengthening the management, protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage values.
However, on October 24, 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province coordinated with the People's Committee of Yen Phong district to organize the 2nd Bac Ninh Province Hat Van and Hat Chau Van Festival - 2024 at Ly Thuong Kiet Temple (Tam Giang Commune, Yen Phong District). The festival took place from October 24-25, 2024.
“Through actual inspection, the name of the activity is Hat Van and Hat Chau Van Festival, but the content taking place on the evening of October 24, 2024 is the performance of the practice of the Mother Goddess Worship on stage by a number of artisans and eminent artists inside and outside the province such as artisans Nguyen Tran Tuan Anh, Tran Thi Chung, Dao Dinh Hoc (Bac Ninh), eminent artist Nguyen Van Duoc (Hung Yen)…”, the Department of Cultural Heritage said.
The Department of Cultural Heritage also stated that this is a performance of the spirit mediumship that is not true to the nature and practice space of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship Practice Heritage; violates customs, taboos and distorts the value of intangible cultural heritage, is not in accordance with the spirit of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Law on Cultural Heritage, and violates Decree No. 39/2024/ND-CP stipulating measures for the management, protection and promotion of the value of intangible cultural heritage in the UNESCO Lists and the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Regarding the principles in practicing intangible cultural heritage: “The subject community must ensure the continuity in practicing intangible cultural heritage in accordance with the value, nature and function of the heritage; reduce the risk of fading and loss; Ensure the preservation of the value of the heritage with related forms of expression, knowledge, skills, techniques and practice spaces; do not introduce inappropriate elements into the heritage; Do not disseminate and practice the content of the heritage in a distorted way; Ensure respect and protection of the religious values, beliefs, customs, sacredness of rituals and practice spaces of intangible cultural heritage” (Points a, b, d, e, Clause 1, Article 4).
Regarding the principles in using and exploiting intangible cultural heritage outside of practical activities: “Do not interfere to change or distort customs, beliefs, sacredness, taboos, or secrets in practicing intangible cultural heritage” (Clause 4, Article 5).
Vietnam is preparing a National Periodic Report to submit to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003, to be submitted on December 15, 2024. Bac Ninh recently participated in the Report Preparation Training organized by the Department of Cultural Heritage on October 17-18, 2024 in Hung Yen.
“In case of serious violations of the 2003 Convention and the Ethical Principles for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO as above, if shown in the National Report, UNESCO may warn, even consider, withdraw the title and will affect the heritage subject community in more than 22 provinces and cities of Vietnam, especially affecting the reputation and image of Vietnam as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention of UNESCO for the term 2022-2026”, the Department of Cultural Heritage recommended.
Therefore, in this rectification document, the Department of Cultural Heritage requests the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province to immediately rectify the Hau Dong activities that are not in accordance with regulations in the area, comply with the directives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, ensure strict implementation of Articles 4 and 5 of Decree No. 39/2024/ND-CP stipulating principles in the practice, management, protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage values; report the results of the handling to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (through the Department of Cultural Heritage) before November 1, 2024.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/bac-ninh-chan-chinh-ngay-hoat-dong-hau-dong-khong-dung-quy-dinh-109589.html
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