For many years, Ms. Giàng Thị Nòn (born in 1976) has been the keeper of the “soul” of Then Giáy in Bát Xát commune and has passed on this cultural beauty to many students. In the first days of the sixth lunar month, in her spacious house in Lang Pan village, Bát Xát commune, Ms. Nòn respectfully lights incense to offer to the altar of her ancestors and gods, carefully prepares the necessary items for the ceremony to go to the neighboring village to worship Then to help the people. The bronze bell and the costume of the Then Master have been with her for more than 30 years on her journey to villages, hamlets, and even on long trips to provinces and cities such as: Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Hai Phong, Hanoi ...
As a Giay ethnic person, born and raised in Lang Pan village, since childhood, Ms. Non has lived in a traditional village space, imbued with the cultural identity of the Giay people.
In particular, since the age of 12, Ms. Non was fortunate to be taught by her adoptive mother, Meritorious Artisan Phan Thi Pho, the practice of Then worship rituals and Then prayers - a precious asset she collected over decades of practicing the rituals.
After many trips to worship Then with artisan Phan Thi Pho in many places, with passion and inheriting deep cultural knowledge from her adoptive mother, in 1995, Ms. Non was able to practice Then worship rituals for families in the village.
Ms. Non said that Then worship is a traditional ritual and has a very important meaning for the Giay people. Then worship takes place most often in the first lunar month after Tet, but can also be held from January to July of the lunar calendar every year, depending on the circumstances and conditions of each family. When worshiping Then, the shaman will perform a ceremony to pray for the homeowner to always be healthy, to eliminate diseases, and to have a prosperous and happy life.
After more than 30 years of practicing Then worship rituals, Ms. Non has now mastered the Then worship rituals of the Giay ethnic group such as: Then praying for children, Then "them luong" praying for health for the elderly; Then "bắc cầu" calling the sick person's spirit back to have an optimistic spirit and recover quickly... Each Then song when practiced is accompanied by a performance form such as singing, dancing, combined with a number of ritual musical instruments imbued with national identity.
Ms. Non shared: “As a Then master, I do not propagate superstition or set up expensive worship. I always explain to people that the Then ritual of the Giay people brings people faith in life, prays for health, happiness, and brings peace to people.
However, not everything can be resolved by prayers. Therefore, if anyone is sick, I always advise them to go to the hospital for treatment. Praying to Then only helps people to be more optimistic, confident, and overcome illness mentally.
The love for Then Giay art is like a “fire” that burns forever. Over the past 30 years, Ms. Non has made efforts to preserve, teach, and bring the beauty of Then Giay to many places. From 2015 to now, Ms. Non has taught Then worship rituals to many students such as: Vui Thi Man, Chau Thi Dum, Lieu Thi Phi, Lung Thi La, Vang Thi Dum…
As a Then master herself, a prestigious person in the local community, in addition to promoting the preservation of national cultural identity through worship rituals, Ms. Non also collects and preserves customs and practices in weddings, funerals, festivals and experiences in labor and production to serve as a source of materials to pass on to future generations to continue and promote traditions, contributing to preserving national cultural identity.
With her deep understanding of the customs, practices, and cultural identity of the Giay ethnic group and her contributions to preserving traditional culture and passing on Then Giay art to the next generation, in 2024, Ms. Giang Thi Non was recognized as a Folk Artist by the Vietnam Folk Arts Association.
“My wish is that the young generation of Giay people will always know how to appreciate and preserve the cultural beauty of the nation, not letting it fade away. Later, when I am old and weak, my children and grandchildren must have the responsibility to preserve and continue the traditional culture of their family and their nation” - Folk Artist Giang Thi Non shared.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/gin-giu-net-dep-van-hoa-then-giay-post648020.html
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