Preserving traditional folk culture

At the age of over 80, folklore researcher Ngo Van Ban still sets himself the goal of trying to publish a book of collected and researched folklore each year. After more than 20 years of being involved in folklore activities, he has introduced to readers nearly 20 of his own books, along with 25 works co-written with other authors. Most recently, his research work "Vietnamese people eat through the perspective of folklore" received an award from the Vietnam Folklore Association, and also won the C prize of the Provincial Literature and Arts Award in 2024. During our conversations, we felt his passion, love and responsibility for the work he is doing. “The culture, people, and land of Khanh Hoa are rich and diverse, but also very unique and distinctive. The more I learn, the more interesting and new things I find. There are things that still happen every day, but many things have gradually faded, even forgotten. Therefore, I want to systematically record the folk knowledge of the ancient Khanh Hoa people so that today's and future generations can know about it,” said researcher Ngo Van Ban.

Folklore researcher Ngo Van Ban participates in a book reading exchange with children at the Provincial Library.

For folk art collector Vo Trieu Duong, during nearly 25 years of collecting folk culture, he has introduced to the public a series of valuable research, collection, and compilation works on culture and folk literature, which have been highly appreciated by experts. Some of the works include: "Rituals and village rules used for funerals in the ancient Khanh Hoa people" ; "Ninh Hoa people tell old stories" (2 volumes); " Thatched houses and earthen walls in the ancient Khanh Hoa people"; "Old traces... old foundation... Ninh Hoa land "; "Ancestor worship in the ancient and present Khanh Hoa people "; " Rhymes and learning Chinese characters in the ancient Central countryside "; "The buffalo in the folk culture of Khanh Hoa" ... Besides, there are 15 works he co-wrote with other authors. At the end of 2024, his research work "Culture of address and behavior in Khanh Hoa folklore" was awarded the C prize of the Provincial Literature and Arts Award. "I follow this profession only because of my passion. The happiest thing is each time I hold in my hands my published works, to contribute a little effort to preserving the traditional cultural capital of my homeland", folk art collector Vo Trieu Duong shared.

The book "Vietnamese food through folk perspective" by folk culture researcher Ngo Van Ban.

Folklore researcher Ngo Van Ban and folk art collector Vo Trieu Duong are two of the people who have made many contributions to preserving the traditional folk culture in Khanh Hoa. Looking back on the 50-year journey since the country's reunification, the field of folk art in Khanh Hoa has had a team of dedicated and talented collectors, editors, and researchers. We can mention the authors in the early period with Nguyen The Sang, Le Quang Nghiem... In the later period, there are authors such as: Tran Viet Kinh, Nguyen Viet Trung, Nguyen Cong Ly, Chu Xuan Binh, Nguyen Cong Bang, Nguyen Thanh Thi, Tran Vu, Chamaliaq Riya Tienq (Mau Quoc Tien), Tran Kiem Hoang, Le Dinh Chi... The Folk Art Association (under the Provincial Literature and Arts Association) currently has 20 members, most of whom are quite old, but the enthusiasm and passion of each person is always warm. In different ways, each person is silently contributing to the preservation of the cultural and artistic beauty of the people and land of Khanh Hoa, past and present. Through the activities of researchers and collectors of folk culture, works on folk literature, folk lyricism, folk art, folk knowledge, knowledge about people, knowledge of social behavior, customs and festivals have been brought to the public... These works contribute to creating a foundation for the cultural sector to promote the preservation, restoration and promotion of folk cultural values...

According to artist Tran Ha - Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, in recent times, the research and collection of folk culture by the Provincial Literature and Arts Association has achieved many valuable achievements. Thereby, preserving the traditional values ​​of folk art, contributing significantly to the national folk art treasure. Not only contributing to the preservation of the folk culture of Khanh Hoa, those research works also become a source for new works to continue to be born.

FAMILY

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202504/luu-giu-von-van-hoa-dan-gian-truyen-thong-b8823da/