Wonderful village culture in Vietnam - Tày ethnic group | Recording Earth

Summary

This video explores the traditional blessing ceremony of the Day people in northern Vietnam, focusing on the importance of music, spiritual rituals, and community practices. The ceremony involves the playing of the 'danping,' a unique instrument, to accompany sacred songs that protect and guide the newborn. Central to the ritual is the role of the medium, who offers blessings and advice to the parents. The ceremony also includes offerings, a protective sword, and a feast, highlighting the deep connection between spirituality, culture, and tradition in the Day community.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Day people in Vietnam maintain a traditional way of life, with rural villages built on stilts in the forest.
• 😀 Water from a sacred well is used in daily rituals to cleanse the body and is considered spiritually significant.
• 😀 The Day people are the second largest ethnic group in Vietnam, primarily engaged in agriculture like rice and fruit farming.
• 😀 The Day people follow the *den* religion, with rituals led by a medium who communicates with the gods.
• 😀 The *danping* is a traditional string instrument used to accompany spiritual singing known as *hot den* or *Jen singing*.
• 😀 Music played during rituals, including the *danping*, is integral to conveying the history and stories of the Day people.
• 😀 Traditional songs sung during ceremonies reflect the village's heritage, often incorporating local names and stories.
• 😀 The Day people believe in spiritual protection, and a powerful sword used in ceremonies is said to hold protective magic.
• 😀 A central part of the ceremony is the blessing of a one-month-old baby, with guidance from the village medium.
• 😀 The ceremony concludes with a large feast, symbolizing community unity and celebration.
• 😀 This video is part of a series showcasing traditional music in Vietnam, with narration included for the first time.

Q & A

What is the significance of music in the traditional ceremony described in the video?

Music plays a crucial role in the traditional ceremony as it accompanies the ritual of blessings. The music, performed using a unique instrument called the danping, is essential in expressing the religious and cultural traditions of the Day people.

What is the instrument used in the ceremony and how is it made?

The instrument used in the ceremony is called the danping. It has a round body made from the shell of a coconut and uses fishing wire for the strings. It serves as the second voice to accompany the singing during the ceremony.

Where do the Day people typically live, and what is notable about their way of life?

The Day people live in villages that are often nestled in the forest, made up of bamboo houses on stilts. They maintain an agricultural way of life, producing rice, fruit, and other crops, and their villages are typically located near bodies of water and mountains.

What role does water play in the Day people's traditional practices?

Water is of great significance to the Day people. It is collected from a sacred well before the start of each day for cleansing the body and for use in cooking and drinking. It is also seen as a spiritual element that purifies the body before entering the village.

How does the Day people’s indigenous religion, called 'Den', relate to the ceremony?

The Day people's indigenous religion, Den, is central to the ceremony. The medium, who is a key figure in the Den religion, guides the ritual by performing songs that invoke blessings from the gods and protect the people from evil spirits.

What is the role of the medium in the ceremony?

The medium, who is considered the spiritual leader of the village, plays a key role in the ceremony by speaking and offering guidance. In this specific ceremony, a young medium is performing a Den song and sending off a spiritual army to protect the baby from evil spirits.

What is the significance of the sword used during the ceremony?

The sword used in the ceremony is believed to have magical powers, containing the energy of the young medium’s teacher. It is used to offer protection to the newborn baby and help defeat evil forces during the ritual.

What does the song performed during the ceremony represent?

The song performed during the ceremony represents a call to a spiritual army. The song invokes blessings from the gods and is part of a tradition where the medium conveys stories and history of the Day people, since they do not have a written language.

Why is the blessing of a newborn important in the Day people’s tradition?

The blessing of a newborn is significant because it marks the child's entry into the community and ensures spiritual protection. The ceremony involves invoking blessings for the baby’s health and well-being, and the advice from the medium is meant to guide the parents in raising the child.

How does the video portray the Day people’s connection to their ancestral traditions?

The video highlights how the Day people maintain strong connections to their ancestral traditions, such as the use of music, the sacred ceremonies, and the teachings passed down through generations, despite living in a modern world. The Day people continue to uphold their cultural practices, especially in rural villages, where these traditions are an integral part of their daily life.