Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – “Then”singing practice of Vietnam’s ethnic groups of Tay, Nung, Thai has been namedin the list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity, the Ministry ofCulture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Cultural Heritage said on December13.
Therecognition was made during the 14th session of the UNESCO’s IntergovernmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Bogota,Colombia, on December 12 (local time).
Addressing the session, Directorof the Department of Cultural Heritage Le Thi Thu Hien pledged to takenecessary measures to protect the values of Then singing practice.
According to the committee,the practice has met five criteria for being named in the list.
Then practice is an essential part in the spirituallife of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups, and practised in many northernprovinces, including Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Ha Giang, QuangNinh, Son La, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Bac Giang and Yen Bai, and the CentralHighlands province of Dak Lak.
Then performance reflects the cultural characteristicsof those ethnic groups, from music to dancing and musical instruments.
The ethnic groups believe Then singing was handed downfrom the God belonging to a mysterious world to which only “Ong Then” and “BaThen” can contact.
During rituals, “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” sing and playa musical instrument at the same time while presenting offerings to the god, thuscontacting the God on behalf of the community and asking him for things such as good health, bumpercrops, happiness and a long life.
As a unique combination of music and song, Then practice is traditionally accompanied by a handmade gourd lute, called Dan Tinhor Tinh Tau.
The art form, which combines a wide range of arts suchas literature, music, painting and performance, has had an impact on local andnational identities through its influence on literature, language, poetry,music, dance, rituals and spiritual practices.
Closely linked with the spiritual life of ethnicminority groups who often use ceremonial offerings to treat illnesses, Then practice is also seen as a therapy, together with medicine, helping to ease theworries of patients and their families.
Then practice was included in Vietnam’s list ofintangible heritages in 2012./.
Therecognition was made during the 14th session of the UNESCO’s IntergovernmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Bogota,Colombia, on December 12 (local time).
Addressing the session, Directorof the Department of Cultural Heritage Le Thi Thu Hien pledged to takenecessary measures to protect the values of Then singing practice.
According to the committee,the practice has met five criteria for being named in the list.
Then practice is an essential part in the spirituallife of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups, and practised in many northernprovinces, including Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Ha Giang, QuangNinh, Son La, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Bac Giang and Yen Bai, and the CentralHighlands province of Dak Lak.
Then performance reflects the cultural characteristicsof those ethnic groups, from music to dancing and musical instruments.
The ethnic groups believe Then singing was handed downfrom the God belonging to a mysterious world to which only “Ong Then” and “BaThen” can contact.
During rituals, “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” sing and playa musical instrument at the same time while presenting offerings to the god, thuscontacting the God on behalf of the community and asking him for things such as good health, bumpercrops, happiness and a long life.
As a unique combination of music and song, Then practice is traditionally accompanied by a handmade gourd lute, called Dan Tinhor Tinh Tau.
The art form, which combines a wide range of arts suchas literature, music, painting and performance, has had an impact on local andnational identities through its influence on literature, language, poetry,music, dance, rituals and spiritual practices.
Closely linked with the spiritual life of ethnicminority groups who often use ceremonial offerings to treat illnesses, Then practice is also seen as a therapy, together with medicine, helping to ease theworries of patients and their families.
Then practice was included in Vietnam’s list ofintangible heritages in 2012./.
VNA
