Protecting and promoting the value of the intangible cultural heritage "Then practice"

"The Then practice of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people in Vietnam" has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Over the years, the authorities and people of Lang Son province have joined hands to preserve, conserve, and promote the value of Then culture so that it becomes a common asset of humanity.

A unique art form

In 2019, "The Then Practice of the Tay, Nung, and Thai People in Vietnam" was officially inscribed by UNESCO on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. According to Dr. Hoang Van Pao, Chairman of the Cultural Heritage Association of Lang Son province, Then of the Tay and Nung people in Lang Son is an ancient cultural activity with a system of rituals, an occasion for descendants to report their achievements to their ancestors and deities who have blessed them with a smooth and prosperous harvest. Therefore, Then means Heaven, and Then singing is "songs of Heaven". Like many other localities nationwide, in Lang Son province today, "Then Practice" exists in two main forms: ritual Then – ancient Then (serving religious practices) and new Then (adapted and re-composed based on the melodies of ancient Then that have been staged). Among these, ritual Then in Lang Son includes several types such as Then recitation; Then rituals include prayers, blessings, and harvest prayers. Then is distributed throughout most districts and cities in the province, gradually forming and establishing representative Then regions such as Bac Son – Binh Gia; Van Quan – Chi Lang; Trang Dinh – Van Lang; Cao Loc – Lang Son city… Each region has its own unique musical melodies and reflects the distinct identity and uniqueness of that region in its Then performances. Lang Son Then still preserves relatively complete melodies such as To May, Kham Hai (sea crossing), Sluoi Lua (rowing), Pay Tang (traveling), and Chau dance… This is what makes Lang Son Then diverse, rich, and attractive compared to Then in other localities in the region. By the end of 2023, Lang Son province had 510 "Then practitioners," including 62 male and 448 female Then practitioners. Notably, the province has three artisans who hold the "Then singing tradition" and have been awarded the title of People's Artisan by the President of Vietnam. In addition, Lang Son has established more than 60 Then singing and Tinh lute playing clubs with approximately 1,500 members.

Over the years, Lang Son province has taken positive steps to preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of "Then ritual practices".

Promoting the value of the "Then Practice" heritage.

To preserve the Then heritage, over the years, various levels and sectors of Lang Son province have implemented numerous solutions to contribute to its preservation, promotion, and dissemination within the community. According to Mr. Phan Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province, immediately after the Then practice was recognized by UNESCO, the Department developed a plan to preserve and promote the value of this representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, ensuring consistency with the regulations of the UNESCO Convention. Specifically, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province has intensified its efforts in disseminating information and promoting the heritage's value to the community. Simultaneously, the Department organized activities to honor and reward artisans, established clubs, and opened classes to teach folk singing, including Then singing. The Department advised the Lang Son Provincial People's Committee to approve the Project "Preserving and promoting the value of folk songs, folk dances, and folk music of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development in the period 2021-2030". Accordingly, from 2019 to the present, on average, the Department organizes 1 to 3 classes annually to teach Then singing and Tinh playing to people of various ages at the grassroots level. It also provides musical instruments and some performance costumes to the people. In addition, the Lang Son Provincial Department of Culture, in coordination with the Provincial Folk Song Preservation Association, has encouraged and promoted the establishment of Then singing and Tinh playing clubs in areas with large Tay and Nung ethnic minority populations, focusing on teaching the younger generation. In districts and cities, the Department of Culture also pays close attention to training young people in Then singing. Every year, the Department of Culture collaborates with schools to invite artisans, including young artisans, to introduce the value of the Then heritage at extracurricular activities. Recently, the People's Committee of Lang Son province developed a plan to implement the National Action Program for the protection and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage "Then Practice" in Lang Son province from now until 2030 and beyond. The purpose of the plan is to mobilize all resources of the entire society to participate in protecting, preserving, and promoting the value of Then according to the commitments made to UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, international conventions on intangible cultural heritage in UNESCO lists, and the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Furthermore, the program aims to preserve and pass on to future generations the unique, deeply humane values ​​of Then culture, gradually expanding, spreading, and developing the cultural space of Then in community life and cultural activities, popularizing Then culture in schools; raising awareness, pride, and self-consciousness of the community and individuals, especially the younger generation, about the meaning and responsibility in preserving and promoting the value of Then in Lang Son province in the present and future. The plan also aims to propose tasks and solutions to preserve and promote the value of "Then practice" on a broader, more complete, and sustainable scale, becoming an internal force contributing to the economic , social, tourism, and service development of the province. The program plan will consist of six main content groups, with a particular focus on strengthening research, collection, inventory, and dissemination, education, promotion, and introduction of Then. Training, fostering, and developing human resources; promoting the transmission of Then rituals in communities and schools; and building models and spaces for experiencing, displaying, exhibiting, promoting, introducing, and performing Then rituals in conjunction with tourism development. To implement the plan, on average, Lang Son province will invest in and support 3-5 clubs or traditional Then activity models throughout the province each year with necessary equipment such as zithers, costumes, props, and other related facilities. Districts and cities should invest in and provide new necessary equipment such as zithers, costumes, props, and other related facilities for 1-2 clubs or models of traditional Then activities within their jurisdiction… Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/bao-ve-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-thuc-hanh-then-20241221111325131.htm