Hai Duong has a long tradition of folk culture. Folk culture research helps today’s generation see the roots and sources that nurture the values of modern cultural life. However, few young people are interested in the field of folk culture and art research.
Aging
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Van is in his 80s but still tries to travel and write. He is worried that the traces of folk culture on the land of Dong will be lost and few people will know about it. Therefore, taking advantage of his health, he spends time doing fieldwork. To complete the book "Land and people of Thuong Coc village, Dong" he spent nearly ten years researching and compiling. This work also won the A prize, the 8th Con Son - Hai Duong Literature and Arts Award in 2022.
“The number of people researching Hai Duong’s folk culture and arts is decreasing and most of them are old. While researching folk culture, one must spend many days in the field, need good health and real passion. The older the person, the more difficult it will be to research,” said Mr. Nguyen Quoc Van.
Due to the small number of members, the Folklore Committee had to merge with the Committee for Research on Theory and Criticism to form the Committee for Research on Theory and Criticism and Folklore. Despite the merger, the number of people doing research on folklore is still only 9 people. The youngest member is nearly 40. In recent times, the Committee for Research on Theory and Criticism and Folklore has sought many solutions to encourage young people to participate in research activities. The seniors are willing to pass on their professional “fire” and work experience, but not many young people are willing.
Mr. Pham Chuc, who has many years of research on Hai Duong's culture and folk arts, is now over 60 years old and said that if when he was young, he could climb mountains or walk all day to research and explore new lands, cultural sediments, folk arts in the lives of all localities in and outside the province, now it is really difficult. "Old age is one of the factors that significantly affects the process of fieldwork, exploring and researching folk culture and arts," Mr. Chuc said.
Young people are not interested
Research on folk culture and arts is closely linked to the history, culture and arts of each locality. In recent years, researchers in this field in Hai Duong have produced many valuable works.
Many elaborate studies have been published in books such as: "Chu Dau Pottery" by researcher Tang Ba Hoanh, "The art of singing drums in Thuc Khang (Binh Giang)" by author Le Thi Du, "Folklore of Hoang Xa village" by author Nguyen Long Nhiem, "Thanh Hoang and the village communal house in Binh Giang" by journalist Nguyen Huu Phach, "Records of the discovery of the sacred Chi Linh" by journalist Pham Chuc...
Through these works, the unique cultural features of Hai Duong localities are preserved in the form of text and images. This is a valuable source of materials for research, preservation and development of Hai Duong culture both now and in the future. However, these valuable studies are mostly by older authors. Recent research works still lack young people.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van is from Tu Ky town, studied at the Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi National University). She also defended her graduation project on folk culture. However, after graduating, Ms. Van did not choose to return to Hai Duong to work in the field of folk art research, and did not even choose the right field to work in even when she decided to stay in Hanoi. "I am very passionate about researching folk culture and art, but when I went to do an internship, I witnessed the hardships of the ladies and gentlemen, and the low income, so I decided to apply for a job in communications for a business in Hanoi," Ms. Van said.
Ms. Van's sharing pointed out part of the reason why the folk art research force of Hai Duong in particular and the whole country in general is increasingly lacking and unable to attract young people.
Ms. Le Thi Du, Department of Research on Criticism and Folk Literature and Arts, said: “It took me many years to research, go to the local areas, and even work without days off to complete two books of more than 100 pages, "Folklore of Hoach Trach village" or "Customs, practices and typical festivals of Ninh Giang district". When publishing the books, I received support from the Folk Literature Research Association and the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, but that support only partially compensated for the costs.”
The team of researchers in Hai Duong’s folk culture and arts is getting older. They are always worried about the lack of people to continue their passion and enthusiasm so that Hai Duong’s folk culture and arts can always be preserved.
BAO ANHSource
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