The Story of the Child
Old Briu Po told an oral story of the Co Tu that, long ago, in a certain village, there were two sisters who often went with the villagers to catch crabs and snails. One day, at the foot of a high mountain, they encountered a strange animal lying across a stream. It had no head, no tail, only the middle part of its body was long, and its skin was very beautiful, so the two sisters touched it with their hands. It turned out to be a giant snake spirit (Gur ga'yang), flying down from the sky to harm the villagers.
“In a certain village, there was an uncle and nephew who worked as blacksmiths, but their family was very poor. One day, the nephew accidentally came to the place where the snake god lived with two beautiful women. After learning about the snake god’s evil intentions, the young man was determined to fight, rescue the two sisters, and bring peace to the villagers...” - old man Briu Po, a Co Tu ethnic in Arơh village (Lang commune, Tay Giang) sat in his house, engrossed in telling fairy tales to children.
That poor boy was Con Tui, gentle and intelligent but often looked down upon by the villagers. Con Tui used a sword as big as a banana leaf forged by his uncle to fight and rescue the two girls.
Nowadays, whenever it is about to rain heavily, dark clouds often appear in the sky, strong winds blow, and you can hear rumbling and booming sounds in the sky.
The Co Tu people believe that this is the sound of the snake’s tail writhing in pain during the battle between Con Tui and the snake god. After killing the snake and bringing peace to the villagers, Con Tui married the two sisters and lived happily ever after.
Lessons of being human
Co Tu elders say that most of the community's folk tales have been passed down orally through many generations. Therefore, some of them have been lost. In addition to the story of Con Tui, in the Co Tu folk tale treasury there are many stories about snakes, pythons (ch'gruon), and even dragon gods (bha'zua, zéc hoo). Each story has a different origin, mainly explaining natural phenomena, lands, rivers, etc.
Mr. Alang Dan, in Bhlo Ben village (Song Kon commune, Dong Giang) said that for the Co Tu people, snakes not only appear in folk tales but also on the village's gable architecture. This sacred animal represents the community's worship of the god Ka'xanh. Because the god Ka'xanh, whether evil or kind, is always associated with human life, to connect all things together.
The carving of snake images on the mirror architecture also implies the display of strength and power of the Co Tu village community.
“In the past, the Co Tu people knew many folk tales. Every time they harvested the upland rice, when the rice was dried on the kitchen rack, family members would gather around the fire, listen to the elders tell stories, roast corn, cassava, etc., and enjoy a cup of warm tea. The elders often told stories in rhymes, with folk songs interspersed, so they were very engaging. Nowadays, it is rare to hear adults tell stories, so many generations of Co Tu do not know much about their ancestors' folk tales anymore,” Mr. Dan confided.
Elder Briu Po said that, in addition to explaining natural phenomena, through the stories told, the Co Tu people also want to educate their children about filial piety, the spirit of helping the community, and the good qualities of the people of the mountains...
“Even the story of Con Tui, if you think about it more deeply, is not only about a Gur ga'yang that intends to harm humans, but also explains the phenomenon of storms before the rain. At the same time, it also carries humanistic values about the virtue of honesty, wholeheartedly helping the community, and protecting the villagers. In addition, this folk tale also reminds people not to judge or look down on others based on their appearance. Who knows, you yourself might not be as good as them. That is the lesson of being a human being,” emphasized elder Briu Po.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nguoi-co-tu-ke-chuyen-ran-than-3148286.html
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)