The image of the snake in Katu culture

"A living art museum"

Sitting in his small house, sipping tea, village elder Bh'riu Pố in Lăng commune (Tây Giang district, Quảng Nam province) said that the Cơ Tu people's communal house is like a "living art museum," a place that preserves sacred spiritual values ​​and where they entrust their faith in gods, ancestors, and spirits. On every wall or horizontal and vertical beam inside and outside the communal house, the Cơ Tu people recreate their community life through exquisitely carved statues and paintings. The image of a snake lies in the center of the communal house.

The Co Tu people's festival is held in front of the village's communal house (gươl).

For a long time, Bh'riu Pố has been known as a master of wood carving. His works are all exquisitely crafted. Most of the communal houses in Tây Giang district bear the imprint and ideas of his style. In 2007, artisan Bh'riu Pố participated in a sculpture workshop in Buôn Đôn district ( Đắk Lắk province), creating two unique statues: "the divine snake" and "the village elder." These two works were later preserved and displayed at the Buôn Đôn Sculpture Garden alongside sculptures by famous artisans in the Central Highlands.

Elder Bh'riu Pố recounted that according to the legend of the sacred snake (bhi'dưa), it is responsible for guarding the water god's jar. Therefore, the sacred snake only lives in swamps, ponds, lakes, and streams... In the village, if anyone has evil thoughts, words, or deeds, they will be punished by the sacred snake in areas with water. "The Cơ Tu people strongly believe in the manifestation of the sacred snake. In the Cơ Tu consciousness, the snake has the meaning of deterrence and education, teaching those living in the village and community to live in harmony, think purely, not speak nonsense, and not do evil things so that life can be better. In addition, the snake also represents gentleness and hospitality in Cơ Tu culture," Elder Pố said.

According to Elder Po, on the Co Tu people's communal house (gươl), the image of the snake, although not commonly seen, occupies a rather important position in the community's beliefs. Therefore, the carving and placement of snake imagery on the gươl are carefully considered and require the approval of the council of village elders. The Co Tu people usually carve two species of snakes (pythons and cobras). The snake imagery is created in many different forms, but mainly in a moving posture. Snake images are often carved into the horizontal and vertical planks on the front of the gươl as a bas-relief, expressing absolute respect.

EXPRESSIONS OF VENERATION

To decorate the gươl (communal house), the Cơ Tu artisans have created diverse and vibrant statues and paintings on wood. In the Trường Sơn mountain range, the gươl is the first structure that the Cơ Tu people choose land to build whenever they establish a village, with the collective effort of the village community. Cơ Tu villages, whether rich or poor, all have gươl. The gươl is not only a house with unique architecture, but also a distinctive cultural product, showcasing the essence of sculpture, painting, and indigenous knowledge.

Elder Alăng Bê, from BhLô Bền village (Sông Kôn commune, Đông Giang district, Quảng Nam province), recalls that in the past, the more images of wild animals were incorporated into the traditional communal house (gươl), the more it indicated that the village was very wealthy and powerful. Each architectural image and each sacred animal included in the communal house carried a shared meaning, reflecting the spiritual story of the entire community.

The snake statues sit solemnly in the middle of the communal house.

For example, the image of the tiger represents strength, resilience, and an unyielding spirit; the phoenix (tring bird) embodies powerful beauty and represents a free and independent life; the buffalo symbolizes diligence, hard work, and perseverance... These are wild animals with immense strength, representing authority in the natural world. "The image of the snake, specifically depicted on the gươl, signifies reverence and creates unique value on the communal structure of the Cơ Tu people. Through this image, the Cơ Tu people pray for good fortune, enhancing the architectural value of the gươl while expressing their belief in the deities who govern the land where they established their village," said elder Alăng Bê.

For the Co Tu people in Quang Nam, snakes have a deterrent and educational meaning, teaching the community to live in harmony and think purely...

Mr. Arat Blui, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tay Giang District, said that the sculptures on the horizontal and vertical beams in the communal houses or ceremonial poles of the Co Tu people all possess unique and rich values. Through experience, the continuation of tradition, and practical observation, Co Tu artisans have created simple yet profound sculptures. From the ideas, lines, composition, to the colors, everything expresses the Co Tu people's worldview and philosophy of life. "The image of the snake appearing in some communal houses carries a very high spiritual significance, representing good omens. In the cultural consciousness of the Co Tu people, the snake represents hospitality. Hospitality is a traditional value, reflecting the Co Tu people's way of life in the Truong Son mountain range," Mr. Arat Blui explained.

The Co Tu people depict animal figures on their village communal houses not simply for decoration, but also to express the strength of their community. Mr. Arat Blui asserts that each architectural element and image carries a different meaning and value, but all share commonalities in the art of living and the spirit of community cohesion.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hinh-tuong-ran-trong-van-hoa-co-tu-185241231214052753.htm