Then Color of Viet Bac - a precious gem spreading heritage value

In the treasure trove of Vietnamese folk culture, Then is considered a precious gem, converging elements of belief, art and humanity.

Then singing is now performed in many cultural spaces, cultural and tourist events. Photo: VNA

The resounding sound of Tinh zither, combined with the sacred Then lyrics, has transcended the village space, becoming a symbol closely associated with the souls of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups. Not only a ritual practice, Then is also a link connecting people with the gods, an echo of the desire for peace, good crops, and community cohesion.

Then heritage nurtures national cultural identity

In 2019, the practice of Then ritual was officially recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming the pride of the country, a reminder of the responsibility to preserve, conserve and promote the cultural source that has nurtured many generations. Since then, Then has been constantly renewed and spread, becoming a "cool stream" flowing forever in contemporary life.

People's Artist Nong Thi Lim, Lang Son province (in red) performs an excerpt from the "Luom coc bjoóc - le vun hoa" ritual, a Then ritual of the Tay ethnic group. Photo: VNA

In the life of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups, Then is not simply a song. It is a ritual closely associated with the life cycle of each person such as: Full month ceremony, peace praying ceremony, coming of age ceremony, longevity celebration ceremony... Each Then word is a wish, a belief, both sacred and close.

People's Artist Nong Thi Lim, 85 years old, in Lang Son province, shared that every time she sings Then, she is not only singing for the village, but also singing to connect with ancestors and heaven and earth. Therefore, Then has the power to unite the community, helping people overcome hardships in life.

Then singing artists of Thai Nguyen province at the "Sac Then Viet Bac" heritage performance event. Photo: VNA

Artistically, Then is a subtle blend of music, poetry, dance and traditional costumes. The Tinh zither's ups and downs lead the rhythm, the lyrics both tell stories and offer prayers, and the graceful dance movements simulate nature and the universe. Each performance is a space that synthesizes many forms of folk art.

People's Artisan Hoang Thi Bich Hong in Thai Nguyen province shared: "Then not only has aesthetic value, but also comprehensively reflects the spiritual, historical and social life of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups, is a mirror of identity, a place to preserve community memories".

Then is a cultural activity associated with spiritual rituals, performed to worship gods to pray for peace, ward off bad luck, give blessings, wish for a new year, cure diseases or used in ceremonies to pray for crops, move into new houses, receive titles... Therefore, Then forms a fundamental part of the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people; reflecting the relationship between humans and the natural world and the universe, expressing the national cultural identity from customs to musical instruments, dances and music. Then contributes to moral education, lifestyle guiding people to the values ​​of "truth - goodness - beauty" and protecting customs and cultural traditions in Vietnam. Those songs are not only music, but also a connecting thread between cultures, between the individual and the common in the big family of Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Journey to preserve and spread Then heritage

Then singing artist Ma Dinh Ngoc of Thai Nguyen province performs an excerpt from the "Loan en ngo can" ritual, a Then ritual of the Tay ethnic group of Thai Nguyen province. Photo: VNA

Over the centuries, Then has been taught and preserved in the community. Generations of veteran artisans such as People's Artisans Hoang Thi Bich Hong, Nong Thi Lim, Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Van Tho, People's Artist Trieu Thuy Tien... are the ones who "keep the fire", bringing Then from the stilt house roof to the stage, from the ceremonial space to the art lecture hall.

Young artist Xuan Bach, lecturer at Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts, Thai Nguyen province, shared: "Growing up with Then melodies, I want to bring Then into the classroom, so that students not only learn techniques, but also understand the spirit of the heritage." According to artist Xuan Bach, the root and core value of Then is the problem of solving people's frustrations in their spiritual life. From this perspective, we can see the two basic roles of Then: meeting the need to enjoy cultural and artistic activities and meeting the need for balance in people's religious life. This inevitably leads to the formation of two forms of Then that we often encounter in today's life: Then stage (meeting the need to enjoy cultural and artistic activities) and Then ritual practice (meeting the need to balance religious life).

Along with teaching, many localities have brought Then into contemporary life such as Quang Ninh or Lang Son provinces, community tours associated with Then performances have contributed to creating livelihoods for the people. Coming to these tourist destinations, visitors can both experience indigenous culture and contribute to preserving heritage.

In particular, in 2017, Then was introduced to the world for the first time through a performance program in Paris (France), organized by the Institute of World Culture (a non-governmental organization in France), with the participation of many domestic artists. Through the introduction of the Viet Bac Folk Music and Dance Theater, the program connected and invited artist Xuan Bach and many domestic Then artists to participate.

“The French audience welcomed us and the “cultural gift” we brought with great enthusiasm. Perhaps the language of art and the language of heritage have overcome all barriers of language, culture, belief… to bring the souls of the audience and us artisans and artists to the same common destination of truth, goodness, and beauty,” artist Xuan Bach confided.

Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, who works at the French Cultural Heritage Center and is known as the “midwife” of Then in France, recounted her memories of bringing Then to perform abroad: When the Tinh lute sounded in Paris, the European audience fell silent, then applauded endlessly. They saw in Then a different, authentic and attractive beauty. That is proof that Then has the power to spread beyond borders.

It can be seen that the Then heritage has gone beyond the boundaries of a folk ritual to become a symbol of identity and cultural pride of the Vietnamese people. The journey of preserving and spreading Then today is not only thanks to the dedication of artisans and artists, but also requires the companionship of the younger generation, the community and cultural managers. In the modern pace of life, Then still resonates like a "cool stream", nurturing the soul, connecting the community and opening cultural bridges with international friends. Preserving Then is not only a responsibility, but also a way for us to affirm Vietnamese identity in the journey of global integration./.

Source: https://dantocmiennui.baotintuc.vn/sac-then-viet-bac-vien-ngoc-quy-lan-toa-gia-tri-di-san-post361501.html