Gia Lai: Proposal to upgrade Plei Oi National Historical - Cultural Relic into a special national relic

On March 28, Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee coordinated with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences to organize a scientific workshop on "Fire King - Legend and reality", solutions to preserve and promote the value of Plei Oi relic, Ayun Ha commune (Phu Thien district).

Attending the workshop were more than 40 researchers and scientists from research institutes, universities, museums, etc. and Mr. Siu Pho, Ro Lan Hieo - assistant of the 14th Fire King (the last Fire King of the Jrai people in the Central Highlands).

Scientific workshop “Fire King - Legend and reality”, solutions to preserve and promote the value of Plei Oi relic

Accordingly, the workshop aimed to clarify the Fire King phenomenon from the perspective of history, culture, and beliefs and to propose solutions to preserve Plei Oi relics. At the workshop, there were 39 presentations by researchers and scientists focusing on the origin, meaning and role of the Fire King in community life, as well as the rain-praying ritual of Yang Pơtao Apui.

If Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Khac Su approaches the Fire King phenomenon from an archaeological perspective on "The geological and archaeological foundations of the cultural and religious phenomenon of Potao Apui in Gia Lai ", Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Chung, Institute of Religious Studies, analyzes the position of the fire god in Asian religions and the Fire King legend in the Central Highlands.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Khac Su approaches the Fire King phenomenon from an archaeological perspective

As for Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Nhue, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Vietnam Institute of History, he clarified the relationship between the Fire King and the feudal dynasties of Vietnam.

Regarding conservation solutions, experts such as Dr. Bui Minh Dao and Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Van proposed a plan to restore and embellish the Plei Oi relic, while Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai, Tran Ngoc Nhung, presented a plan to manage and promote the value of the relic.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Vice Chairman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee said: "Researchers and scientists across the country have paid much attention and have written articles and research works participating in the conference, clarifying more about the phenomenon of the Fire King - myth and reality. I hope that scientists will introduce research results, give new comments and assessments on the role and position of the Fire King and the practice of the rain-praying ritual of Yang Potao Apui. From there, highlight the values ​​of the relic, of the ritual in the past and present; propose solutions to restore, embellish and promote the value of the Plei Oi national historical relic in the coming time, contributing to the development of local tourism".

Mr. Siu Pho and Ro Lan Hieo - assistants of the 14th Fire King (the last Fire King of the Jrai people in the Central Highlands)

At the workshop, delegates also highly agreed on the proposal to upgrade the Plei Oi National Historical and Cultural Relic to a special national relic. Within the framework of the workshop, there was also an exhibition of images of rain-praying rituals, portraits of the Fire Kings and the landscape of the Plei Oi relic.

The Plei Oi National Historical-Cultural Relic Site was recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 1993. Over five centuries, the Fire Kings were succeeded by 14 kings. The last king, Siu Luynh, passed away in 1999. Although the Fire King no longer exists, the legends of the kings such as the Divine Sword, the Oi Tu gong set, Chu Tao Yang mountain; and the Pơtao APuih tomb area are still preserved in their original value. In 2015, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognized the Rain-praying Ceremony of the Jrai people as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Tran Hien

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/gia-lai-de-nghi-nang-cap-di-tich-lich-su--van-hoa-cap-quoc-gia-plei-oi-thanh-di-tich-quoc-gia-dac-biet-post340517.html