(HBO) – Preparations are being made to submit documents relating to "Mo Muong" to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation to be added to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The late
sorcerer Bui Van Cu, residing in Bung village of Lac Son district’s Huong
Nhuong commune, performs a Mo ritual.
"Mo Muong" is a sacred ritual that has been used in funerals and some
rituals to pray for the good health of the Muong ethnic minority people.
"Mo Muong" is a job and also a performance practiced at funerals,
religious festivals, and life cycle rituals by the ethnic Muongsorcerers.
It consists of three main components namely Mo words, performing environment
and people who practice mo singing.
Mo words are divided into ‘cat Mo’ and ‘roong Mo’, similar to chapters in
literature. Each Mo chapter has its own theme and purposein a funeral
ritual.
Through the generations, "Mo Muong" has been passed down verbally in
the community.
Each person's life in different ethnic groups has rituals associated with the
human life cycle: birth, adulthood and marriage. For the Muong people,
thefuneral is the final ritual of each person's life which he/she only
enjoys when they die.
Funeral and "Mo Muong" will help deal with problems relating to
"procedures" for the dead before they are buried.
The Muong people also provide knowledge for the dead through storytelling which
includes stories about the birth of the universe, the birth of people, the
struggle for survival in the wild and knowledge of folk geography.
There are many collections of Mo,of which three main ones have been
published. The existence of various versions of Mo has helped expand the
heritage and spiritual life of the Muong people.
According to folk cultural specialists, "Mo Muong" is classified into
three categories:Mo Nghi Le(Ceremonial Mo), Mo Ke Chuyen (Story
Telling Mo) andMo Nhom(Observe Mo), in which ashaman plays an
important role.
The shaman knowstens of thousands of lines of Moby heart, as well
as many traditional rituals and customs.
In Muong society, the shaman is an intellectual and reputable person. The role
of the shaman is associated with the human life cycle: birth, old age, sickness
and death. Prayers are given for people’s health, good luck, peace,
happinessand prosperity./.
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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