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The People's Committee of Luong Son district has held a ceremony to receive a certificate recognising Sau Thuong communal house in Thanh Cao commune as a provincial-level historical relic site.
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Leader of the provincial Department
of Culture, Sports and Tourism hands over certificate recognising Sau Thuong
communal house as a provincial-level historical relic site to leaders of Luong
Son district and Thanh Cao commune.
Sau Thuong communal house is located on
Giua Dong mound, Sau Thuong village, Thanh Cao commune. In the past, the
communal house had four conferment by kings of the feudal Nguyen dynasty. It
worships the God of Mountain who protected the country and have been honoured
and worshiped by the people for many generations. For a long time, Sau Thuong
communal house has been famous for its sacredness, so local people often come
to offer incense and pray for fortune, good weather, and prosperous business.
The communal house festival is held on the sixth day of the first lunar month
every year.
Through ups and downs of the history, the
ancient communal house was heavily damaged and seriously degraded. In
particular, in 1950, it was bombarded by the French colonialists and had its
columns removed to make posts. In 1980, the communal house was rebuilt on the
old ground with a total area of more than 4,500 sq.m. Surrounding the communal
house are large rice fields, creating harmony and closeness between the human
being and the nature.
Recognising its outstanding and typical
historical and cultural values, on January 9, 2024, the Chairman of the
provincial People's Committee issued a decision on rating the communal house as
a provincial-level cultural and historical relic site, thus creating favourable
conditions for local people to preserve, restore and promote its values.
Currently, Luong Son district counts 19
rated relic sites, including eight national-level and 11 provincial-level ones.
Thanh Cao commune houses one national-level and five provincial-level relic
sites.
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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