BTO-Cultural heritage must “live” in the true sense in the local community, which is the most practical and meaningful factor for sustainable development. With the love and responsibility of artisans, the heritage practicing community, authorities at all levels, as well as each craft village in Binh Thuan are making efforts to protect intangible cultural heritage in the province.
Lesson 1: Connecting heritage and community
Originating from the idea of “art for humanity” in the 1943 Cultural Outline, our Party has formed the viewpoint: human development must be placed in the central position and be the goal of the cultural development process. The culture we are building is the culture of the people, the people are both the creative and transmitting subjects, and at the same time the subjects enjoying the values of that culture…
The "heritage" hands
Sifting fine sand, kneading clay, sand and water in the right proportions with the experience of the hands. Then the same muddy hands hold each handful of clay and carefully shape it into a block. After this step, they turn to using a hoop to scrape and smooth out the bumps and dents of other products from the inside and outside… Everything is done quickly and neatly by Mr. Lam Hung Soi - the only male artisan in Binh Duc village.
“Not only the Cham community but also in families and restaurants, Binh Duc Cham pottery products are quite commonly used for cooking. From the pot used to cook rice, boil water; the tray used to stew fish, cook soup; the kettle used to boil medicine and boil water to drink; the ginger to burn charcoal for women when giving birth... In particular, Binh Duc Cham pottery products used for cooking are considered by many to be more delicious than copper, aluminum, cast iron or stainless steel utensils. Therefore, although it is hard work, thanks to the profession, children can be raised. Thanks to the profession, up to now, the family still has income. Loving the profession, the profession does not fail, so we must preserve and promote it”. The 60-year-old man with gray hair said with pride.
Binh Duc pottery village, Phan Hiep commune, Bac Binh district is a famous craft village that has existed for a long time, closely associated with the life and customs of the local Cham people. In their childhood, Cham girls were taught how to make pottery by their grandmothers and mothers. Most of the steps that Cham women undertake require perseverance and skillful hands, and this has been passed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. Cham men only undertake heavy work such as collecting soil, transporting soil home, collecting firewood, straw, transporting pottery from home to the kiln, firing pottery, etc. Therefore, the image of a small-bodied man sitting meticulously kneading soil and molding pottery is quite interesting in the eyes of tourists when visiting the craft village.
It may have been initially due to sharing the work with his wife, when her health was weakened after a serious illness, but more than anything, it was his passion for the traditional craft that made him not hesitate to learn the craft. From struggling with the way of shaping, mixing soil and sand unevenly, causing many products to explode when fired, to now becoming a skilled craftsman, performing and displaying products at many exhibitions in and outside the province.
The event of UNESCO officially inscribing "Cham pottery art on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding" at the end of November 2022 is not only a joy but also a motivation for artisan Lam Hung Soi as well as 43 households in Binh Duc village who are still attached to the traditional pottery craft to try harder in preserving and passing on the craft.
Creating sustainable vitality in the community
Binh Thuan has 35 ethnic groups, of which the Kinh people are the majority, followed by the Cham, Raglai, Coho, Hoa, Tay, Choro, Nung ethnic groups in order of population from high to low. Therefore, traditional festivals and cultural festivals are very rich and diverse, taking place in many spaces and locations associated with different ethnic communities. In particular, Then singing - Tinh lute is a beautiful traditional culture of the Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic groups in particular and the Vietnamese people in general, imbued with national cultural identity and human quintessence. At the end of 2019, this heritage was officially recognized by UNESCO.
Coming from the northern provinces to settle, the Tay and Nung ethnic groups brought Then singing and Tinh lute to the new land, becoming one of the unique cultural features in the ethnic community in Song Binh commune, Bac Binh district. Ms. Dinh Thi Yen - President of the Women's Union of Song Binh commune said: When I was young and every time I returned to Cao Bang, my grandparents still told me that Then is indispensable in the spiritual life of the Tay and Nung people, becoming one of the unique beliefs of the community on major holidays such as rain-praying festivals, weddings, longevity celebrations... Then is vividly expressed through songs, music, and folk dances that are extremely rich and attractive.
But then, life made the elderly people when they moved to a new land sing less, feel shy when singing, some have passed away. As for the young people like us, we are so busy studying that we no longer hear Then music. To preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, in September 2022, the People's Committee of Song Binh commune decided to establish the Tinh - Then singing club, singing folk songs of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. The club consists of 16 members, divided into 3 groups. In which, the Phong Slu singing group is from 40 to 55 years old and the Heo Pun singing group is for the elderly - this is a genre of love-response singing between men and women, requiring a long voice, very difficult to sing. The Tinh - Then singing group alone consists of members from 29 to under 40 years old. Although no one knew how to sing or play the piano, and even had to learn how to practice the piano through YouTubers, everyone persevered, practiced regularly, and taught in the evenings at the homes of some members in Tan Son village.
Ms. Nong Thi Phu - an elderly member of the club shared: Music is the element throughout Then singing, but lyrics are an extremely important element. Because people love Then, understand Then also from the language, which are ancient stories, life lessons... that our ancestors have summarized and passed down to their descendants. Amidst the hardships, Then music and Tinh lute become the bond that binds the community, strengthens solidarity between generations, and preserves the peacefulness of the family and village.
In addition to performing during the Tet and ethnic rituals, the club regularly performs in the community and locality. The attention and facilitation of the government is a way to attract the Tay and Nung ethnic groups to participate in preserving and promoting their unique cultural values. At the same time, it is an important measure to improve spiritual life, diversify and enrich cultural life in residential areas.
At the national cultural conference to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress on the cultural field, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: Culture is the identity of the nation, if culture exists, the nation exists, if culture is lost, the nation is lost. Human happiness is not only in having a lot of money, a lot of property, delicious food, beautiful clothes but also in the richness of the soul...
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