4. english cultural project ecu231. n03-ee k34

4. english cultural project ecu231. n03-ee k34

1. 1. NorthWestern Cultural Beauty
2. 2. 1. The traditional Costume of the Red Dao………………………………………………………………… 2. The distinctions in costume of The White Thai and The Black Thai …………………. 3.The traditional custom of the Thai ethnic “Xoe” Dance……………………………… 4. Love Market in Moc Chau…………….. 5. The marriage custom of black Thai in Dien Bien………………………………………… 6. “Then” sing – a fairy tune of people in the Northwest region…………………… 7. Ban flower festival………………………….. 8.“Trầu Sun” festival of te Red Dao…….. 9. Thang Co – a special dish in Lao Cai…. 10. The flavor in highland…………………… 04 07 09 11 13 15 18 20 21 22 Content
3. 3. Overview Northwest is the mountainous area in the northwest of Viet Nam. The region has borders with Laos and China. Northwest Vietnam consists of six provinces: Hoa Binh, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai & Yen Bai. Despite being one of disadvantageous regions in Vietnam in term of geography. Northwestern Vietnam attracts people from everywhere to come and discover. People living in Vietnam belong to many ethnic minority groups such as H ‘Mong, Dao, Thai, Muong, Tay etc. They are very friendly and extroverted. The cultural features are reflected through customs (The Marriage Custom, Worship, etc), costumes (“Pieu” scarf ... cuisines (Thang Co, “Can” wine), family relationship and community. Coming to mountainous northwestern area in Vietnam. you will not forget images of Thai girls in colorful and brilliant dresses. Besides, many festivals are organized annually here. Typical festivals in Northwest are Ban flower festival and Trau Sun” festival. These festivals in Northwest are often organized in spring attracting a lot of attention of tourists. Here is also famous for “Xoe” dance, “Then” sing, and others special arts. .
4. 4. Each ethnic community of Vietnam has a different costume, shows different cutural values. However, there are still common points in the costume such as materials derived from plant, made of natural colored fabric, the craft of traditional weaving, self diligence, ingenuity and the aesthetic human. The traditional Costume of the Red Dao Sapa - Laocai Northwest is not only the land of breathtaking moutains, of ban flowers, of plum flowers blooming white around the forest but also the residence of plenty of ethnics minorites with unique culture colours. The Dao of Vietnam originate from China, divided into different groups such as Dao Do (Red Dao), Dao Tien, Dao Tuyen, etc. They usually live in the Northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam and mainly on the argriculture. Each of Dao groups has its own unique culture. 4
5. 5. The Dao in Sapa, Lao Cai province is mainly Red Dao group. One of the most original nuances making distinction of them is costume. A complete costume of the Red Dao’s girl includes jacket, trousers, waistband, leggings and turban. The jacket and the trousers are made of indigo fabric producted by themselves, then decorated by different vignettes. To make a complete costume, It takes quite much time and by many stages, from dying cloth to sewing together the pieces of brocade fabric into a set of clothes in which the most difficult step is creating the brocade patterns with the motifs arranged overlapping. The motifs in the costume are generally the hems and embroidered with the familiar images to their life with different colours such as white, pink of the forest flowers, green of the trees or the bright colour of the sun. All of these are performed on the indigo background creating a harmonization of colour. By the various imagination with the patence, the meticulousness and the skillfulness in each needle and thread, they made the costume to become strange and beautiful. The Red Dao really loves red because they think that it is the colour of luck and brings a lot of good things, so the major colour is red, especially the brilliant red of the turban. Somewhere, their clothes also includes red woolen fringes to make them outstanding in the green background of forest. Besides, to make them more attractive, the Red Dao women wear extra other jewels like earrings, necklet and bracelet 5
6. 6. Differing from the women’s costume, the men one is more simply. They also wear turban but the colour is mainly indigo or black. Nowadays, Red Dao people still maintain their traditional culture. That is because embroidering and needling are regarded as necessary skills for a girl to find a good husband so girls are usually taught to embroider when they were young. However, to sew a beautiful costume as well as durable one, the girls have to be very careful and meticulous in each needling. The brocade embroidering to make a costume shows the skillfulness and talent of the women. Also, it becomes the traditional ethnic culture passed by tradition from one generation to other. Other costumes of the Red Dao - Sapa 6
7. 7. The distinctions in costume of White Thai and Black Thai women Đien Bien The Thai migrated from the South of China to Vietnam for a long time and they reside mainly in provinces : Thanh Hoa, Nghe An ,Dien Bien,Lai Chau, Son La, Hoa Binh.The Thai in Dien Bien have the largest number of people in total ethnics living here. They are devided into many different groups in which Black Thai and White Thai are two major groups. To distinguish between these two groups, people might base on their costume. Although they are common in many points, each of costume has the distinction. In old times, Thai’s costume was praised for the simplicity and eligance but very few people know that to have an ”attractive” one like that, Thai women must be skillful in combining each detail to create a very distinct costume.A traditional costume of Thai women includes a short blouse which is called “xửa cóm”, long blouse “xửa chái và xửa luổng” , dress, waistband, “Piêu” scarf, “xà cạp” , “xà tích” and other jewells. 7
8. 8. Normal days, the White Thai women wear short blouse (xửa cóm) with bright colour , regularly white, and the black “V-shaped” collar. Skirts are often long, discreet and tube shape. The skirt of Thai has 2 layers, the white layer inside and the outside is black. It is combined with the waistband(made of silk fabric) making the sharp line of Thai women. In the important holidays, they wear long black blouses (xửa chái và xửa luổng) and wide brim hats. The Black Thai’s costume is quite the same as White Thai one. They also wear black dresses, short blouses. However, the blouses are dark in colour, often black or indigo and their collars are round. Especially, a detail which both of two costumes share is the 2 button rows of silver butterflies, one row is male butterflies and the rest one is the female. It is not only decorated for beauty but also shows a subtle meaning. The married women will have the even row of button and the young girl will have the odd one. Besides, Black Thai wear an extra turban on their heads called “Pieu” scarf. It is embroidered fussily by the skillful hands of Thai girls. On important occasions, they wear the long blouses with more various kinds of styles, colours and decoration than White Thai. The Thai wear extra other jewells to make them more fascinated such as bracelet, necklet, earrings, silver button, hairpin, etc. All of them are often made of silver. Although there are different Thai groups, their costume generally shows the effects together. All of them are very proud of their own identity and keep developing the traditional value of ethnic group. Also, that plays an integral part of building an advanced culture of Vietnam deeply imbued with its national identity. By Hoàng Thi Ve 8
9. 9. The traditional custom “Xoe“ is a popular dance reflecting daily labour and the struggle for life between man and nature. It also expresses a dream of peaceful life, a comfortable and happy lifen of million of Thai ethnic groups . Being an agricultural population, Thai people usually come into the communities living near water sources along rivers, streams, sustainable settlements in the hill. They have rice paddies and forest profession. Therefore the Thai have many traditional customs and diverse cultures such as: costumes, music theory, folk songs, not to mention “Xoe” dance. It is one of the traditional beauty of people here.The sound of drum along with shout for joy of the youth will make a cirle. It draws the interviewee’s attention intens intenselyand no distinguish the youth or aging people. When traditional instruments ring, everyone can participate in spreading round, gather by the fire. And that cirle is expanded constantly. The main instruments are culvert and sewer. Sewer is a kind of drum with 1 meter long and 45 centimeters in diameter made of perforated hollow wooden trunk. Two sides is covered by skin of buffalo or cow. Culvert and 5-7 centimeters in is about 1.5-3 meters long diameter. Culvert can also be used for signal when villages need to have an inportant meeting. Besides the sound of culvert along with gong appeals audiences to join the fun.They ring 2/4 rhythm accompaniment made atmosphere become more jubilant and sweet. In particularly, dancing gait of music players creat an eventul space. 9
10. 10. “Xoe” Thai has red towel put on around neck and embellished the beautiful and unique dress. “Xoe” Thai is to attract hundreds, thousands of participants, called "Dai Xoe". Culture of Thai ethnic group has been preserving six ancient dances: dance “ khắm khen" represents the unity of ethnic groups in the Vietnamese community; dance” khấm khăn mởi lẩu "means that people serve the towel and offer a drink to show the hospitality; dance “ phá xí" represents the four corners of the earth solidarity and people’s motion dance “ đổn hôn " means that in spite of strong storms and troubles, people are always side by side with each other in the life and death struggle Dance “ nhôm khăn” expresses getting a victory of havest, building a new home, giving a birth, getting marriage ổm lọm tốp mư” presents pleasure and loath to part with each other after finishing “Xoe” dance “Xoe” dance shows love of ethic people as well as personal feelings. When dancing if there is only one cirle, they will dance clockwise and more than one will do anticlockwise. One of the factors that attract participants are rustic, natural dance, and understandable fascinating of Ly music. Nowadays flower festival spread is to show solidarity in peaceful life, the hospitality of the people of the Northwest. In the system Vietnam folk dance, “Xoe” dance plays an important role in contributing significantly to treasure traditional folk dance. Thai ethnic group is always proud of their traditional cultural characteristics. After working hard ethnic people gather under moonlight and the fire flickering, drum, gong as if invited partner to cluster round together and holding hands in the sparkling and beautiful dance of spreading flowers festival. 10
11. 11. Love market in Moc Chau Love Market in Moc Chau, Son La provincen is the only one on the night of 1st Septemper and on 2nd Septemper at dawn every year. It is also considered as the Independence Day holiday of The Muong to remind them of the success in the war against the French colonialist. Love Market is the desire and expectation of adolescence. Before a month, girls have been already busy preparing a wide variety of bright colorful dresses, whoever they are Thai, Muong, or Dao and boys have tried to work hard so as to have enough money to go down to the Market and find themselves “a spouse”. On these days, from all walks of Northwest, a thousand of Mong people from all over Northwest, Viet Bac, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and neighbouring ethnicities such as Dao, Thai, Muong and so on, flock to Moc Chau town and celebrate the holiday with Muong. The stream of people pours into Moc Chau like “an endless river of flower”, from children, girls to older people, all are extremely excited and happy. Besides, Love Market is a tourist attraction for visitors inside and outside the country. 11
12. 12. On 1st Septemper, families go to the Market, and then members go her or his own way. Girls stand together into groups; they gossip and help each other make sure that they are perfect with their appearances. Boys bring small radios, “Khen” to market, play their favourite songs in order to attract girls and hopefully find their spouses. Everyone can take part in traditional games such as spining-top game, rice cake making race, enjoy traditional foods and drinks, sing and dance as well. When the night falls, people immerse in sounds of flutes, panpipes, melodies and songs which are performed to make friends by girls and boys. Love Market in Moc Chau is the beginning of an innocent love. Many couples meet each other here and become husband and wife, others cannot end with a marriage, but they still keep friendship, often talk and encourage each other at other next Love Markets every year. At 3 a.m, on 2nd Septemper, family members meet again and return to the village together without asking about what the other people did before. For ethnics, it is time for people to relax after a hard working period. Although 2 short days cannot make them forget the lack and difficulties in the life, it gives ethnics encourage to keep going. For Kinh people and foreign visitors, it is a chance to explore Mong’s Traditional customs, cuisine and costumes of other ethnicities in Vietnam. Especially, it is a way for people to escape from busy and noisy cities. 12
13. 13. The Marriage Custom of Black Like other ethnicities, the marriage custom of Black Thai in Dien Bien province is one of the most important events for each person in the life. Hundreds of years have passed, but Thai people have remained their own characteristic of marriage custom. The ritual includes: matchmaking, engagement and official wedding.Matchmaking ceremony is held after a courtship between a boy and a girl. The purpose of matchmaking is for two families to meet and acquaint with each other and decide a suitable day for engagement. When going to the matchmaking, the boy’s family simply brings some gifts and one compulsory thing that the boy has to get is a list of the girl’s relatives, because he must visit all of them and ask them for their permission to marry her. 13 Thai Engagement ceremony will be carried out just after the matchmaking. The girl’s family asks offering gifts to bride, the custom of staying with the wife’s family, During the time with the family of the spouse, he is behaved as a family member. His work through months and years will be converted into silver or artifacts for the wedding. The time of staying with the wife’s family depends on each family, perhaps about 2 -3 months or 2-3 years. After this custom finishes, his family brings some things to the alliance and carrys out “Tang Cau” (chignon ceremony).
14. 14. 14 After finishing all the ceremony of the family-in law, the groom will take the bride to his house, and the wedding begins. They also worship his ancestors and join their own party with the groom’s relatives. It can be said that the custom of wedding brings the unique traditions of Black Thai as well as reflects positive spirit, love of life, the concept of happiness and human morality of the ethnics. Besides, it is a joyful reunion of all family and relatives. By Doan Thuy Oanh The representitive of the boy’s family will wash the bride’s hair with a pot of scented water, and then comb, pull her hair back and twist it into a smooth knot at the back. During the ceremony, 2 sides will drink and sing in return so as to tell about conditions of the families as well as bless the couple. At last, the wedding will be held at houses of 2 families in different times. It is done in the bride’s family first. The bride and groom will worship her ancestors 3 times and then greet her parents and relatives. When all people are sharing happiness with the couple and family, the ceremony of spreading out mattresses will be carried out by some villagers. They often put clothes of groom and bride under the matresses (bride’s one and groom’s the other). They also tie the sleeves of the couple together and 3 days later they give the couple the clothes to put on, which are believed to make husband and wife happier.
15. 15. “Then” sing - a fairy tune of People in the Northwest “Then” singing is a specific characteristic of Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic groups in the Northwest. Then could be understood like “heaven”. Therefore, “Then” is considered as a fairy tune of people here. Then singing is a form of folk art including both cultural factors and spiritual ones. It also has a strong relationship with cultural and spiritual life of Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic groups. Then is originated in believes of people about mystical world which has characters with marvellous power such as Buddha, God and so on. At first, there is only one person singing: both accomapany on “đàn tính”, sing and “sóc nhạc”. The lyric of song along with the rhythm of “dan tinh” and the sound of “sóc” will take Mr.Then or Mrs.Then to heaven. Thus, singer will be presentative here on the holidays to commuicate with God and pray for good harvest, peaceful and happy life. “Then” singing is not just a regular folk, but it is the effect on combination of arts and other customs: singing, dacing, playing musical instrument. The lyric of song is polised with great care. It is not only lyrical verses and natural rhythmes but also coulsel, encouragement and the experiment of best behaviours. Therefore, when young people listen to songs, they can get a lot of precious lesson of life, how to behave other people. Each area has different “Then” tunes. But one the whole, there are some types of performance with the following main functions: Then Kỳ Yên (for peace), Then cầu mùa, Then chúc tụng, Then chữa bệnh, Then cấp sắc (Lẩu Then). There is a contribution of “đàn tính” which makes the singing reach to the heaven. It plays an important role in “then” art. Gourd of “dan tinh” is made from dry gourd. Two strings are made fom heart of silkworm. The gourd seems to be the earth connected to the neck of this instrument. The head is considered as the heaven . 15
16. 16. FESTIVAL 16
17. 17. Ban flower of Thai people – 2013 Source: 17 from internet
18. 18. Ban festival Annually, on the second lunar month, when Ban white flowers bloom over all mountains, the Thai (Red Thai and Black Thai) go out together to participate in the Ban flower festival. This festival (including: Sen ban and Sen muong festival ) is held so as to pray for good harvests, fine weather and happiness to all the Thai. Legendarily, there was a boy named Khum falling in love with a beautiful Thai girl named Ban. However, their love was not allowed by Ban’s father because of Khum’s poor condition. Ban was obliged to get married with another rich man. She sought Khum for his help but unluckily, he was not at home. She crossed mountains to mountains until being exhausted and died in a peak. In this place, people saw a white flower tree. When coming back home, Khum went to find Ban but became exhausted. After death, he turned into a bird flying freely in the forest. Each year, people often see the bird coming and singing when the flowers bloom. Later, people call the flower Ban. During the time holding the festival, the sounds of drums and gongs clang through ways in this mountainous region. On these days, the Thai get up earlier than other days to make fire in the kitchens and prepare for ritual items such as: sticky rice, boiled chicken, bamboo and wine. But, these work are just done by the mid-aged and old, young boys and girl must be busy choosing the most beatiful dress to go picking Ban flowers. They call each other and drums and gongs, whereas the young girl dances “Tham Le”, which is only used for picking Ban 18
19. 19. flowers. Besides, they also organize some other games such as: “hoa mai” gun shooting, longbow, “con” throwing, and cock fighting. Especially, the circle of people spreads for dancing and singing in the jubilant sounds of drums and gongs. At night, it is always the most special time for the young. In the charming scenery and the sound of gongs and drums, they can show their love each other. Almost all of romantic stories of the Thai come from this festival. Some couples couldn’t get married but they would remember their first love in the Ban flower. Unlike many people’s belief, Ban flower festival is not only an occasion for the young to show their love and happiness, but also an opportunity for the Thai to worship and show their gratitude to their ancestors. By Vu thi Van 19
20. 20. Trau Sun festival of the Red Dao Nowadays, together with groups of ethnic minority, the Red Dao play an important role in developing the economy and society in the Northwest. They have reserved and developed the unique traditional culture. There are many festivals of the Red Dao, but “Trầu Sun” becomes one of the most famous festivals here. Similar to festivals of other ethnic minorities, “Trầu Sun” is organized by the Red Dao in the beginning of the spring. The aims of this festival are not only to pray for rain, sunshine and peaceful life but also to show their respect to the gods of mountain, sky and forest. The Red Dao are also careful to choose the place holding the festival, normally in a large flat place or on the hill. On the official days of the festival, almost families in the village raise a fund to ritual items and spend time to make the altar carefully with several compulsory trays. The first tray holds some seeds such as: rice, maize, cassava, mustard and so on. From the point of view of the Red Dao, they believe heavily that Gods can help these seeds grow quickly and strongly. In addition, two other trays are put on two sides. The first one consists of some things such as: 5 cups, 1 bottle, a bowl of floating cakes, 9 eggs and votive paper. The second one, floating cake “dùa chíu” is put into the bowl with 7 or 9 eggs inside. After preparing all ritual items, the oracle wearing a traditional dress of the Red Dao stands in front of the alter to pray to all people for good weather, crops and happiness. They believe that the Gods always protect them and make their pleas become true. Then, there is an impressive performance of hundred artists and public actors. They dance and sing the traditional songs together with instruments such as gongs and drums. Besides, all people, not only the Red Dao but also visitors participate in some traditional games together, such as: “Pao” or “Còn” throwing, kicking a shuttle cock, tugging a war and so on. Especially, according to the viewpoint of the Red Dao, anyone throwing “Còn” ball through the hole will be the luckiest person in this year. The “Trầu Sun” festival is hold not only to both pray for luck in new year and to contribute to educate solidarity spirit in the Red Dao community. By Vu thi Van 20
21. 21. Cuisines Northwestern special dishes
22. 22. Thang Co _a special dish of Laocai_ Viet Nam is a country of tropical lowlands, hills and densely forested highlands. Going around the “S” shape piece of the land from the North to the South, there are many delicious and unique foods in anywhere. When coming to Lao Cai, we can not forget Thang Co dish. This is a special dish of Mong people in the North of highland. It tastes delicious and becomes familiar to many ethnic groups of this region. Thang Co is translated by Thoang language, which means “water pot”. It is made from horse meat and now added with pork, buffalo meat or beef. Thang Co is cooked very meticulously. Horse meats and organs are cleaned, each kind of meat is put in different bowls. Bones are boiled in a few hours into a cooker until they are well-stewed. People use a spoon to ladle the foam to make the water more sweet and tasty. All kind of meats are put into a big saucepan, then stir-fried together. When the meat is scorched, they put all into the boiling cooker. After that, people put the liver, heart, stomach into this cooker. The most interesting thing of this special dish is the saucepan still put on the coal stove when the customers taste. You should