Prof. Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh (left) and Dr. Tran Huu Son (right) confer the folk craftsperson title on the seance dancers and singers
Attributed to their great merits in conservation and enhancement of the values of the Holy mother worship creeds and seance rites, 6 seance dancers and 2 singers from the provinces (cities): Ha Noi, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Thai Binh and Thanh Hoa were honoured to receive the title of Viet Nam folk craftsperson. This event was organized by the Centre for Study and conservation of Cultural beliefs of Viet Nam in co-ordination with the Folk Art Association of Viet Nam within the frame work of the seance programme named “Spiritual and temporal” in conjunction with the conferring ceremony of the folk craftsperson.
At the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh, Director of the Centre for Study and conservation of Cultural beliefs of Viet Nam and Mr. Tran Huu Son, Vice Chairman of the Folk Art Association of Viet Nam presented certificates in recognition of the title as folk sraftsperson for 6 seance dancers, including: Dang Ngoc Anh – Linh Quang shrine keeper (born in 1972 – 32 year seance); Ngo thi Ngoc Bong – Trung Thien Thuy temple keeper (born in 1960 – 25 year seance); Tran Van Ap – Tan La temple keeper (born in 1965 – 37 year seance); Nguyen Thi Mui – Phuc Long shrine keeper and và seance attender at Ba Chua Lang temple (born in 1956- 18 year seance ); Tran Thi Thanh Hai – Cuu Thien Tien Linh temple keeper (born in 1972 – 10 year seance), Le Duc Hung – Bo Bong Vong Tu temple keeper (born in 1972 – 26 year seance) together with 2 seance singers as Bui Huu Quy – head seance singer at Holy Mother Ninh Giang temple – Hai Duong, Holy Mother Tien La temple – Thai Binh (born in 1969 – 25 year seance singer) and Bui Van Hao of Muong ethnic minority – head seance singer of Rong temple, and Nouc temple – Thanh Hoa (born in 1991 – 14 year seance singer).
Folk craftsperson is a prestigious title awarded by the Folk Art Association of Viet Nam in recognition of those who have made considerable contributions to conservation and enhancement of the intangible cultural values; and have played important roles in creating, possessing, preserving and teaching the folk values in various areas such as Ceremonial song (Ca trù), love duet song (Quan họ), folk song of Phu Tho province (Hát Xoan), folk opera (Chầu văn)…
Viettheatre staged seance rituals as a popular show 6 months ago at Workers Theatre – Ha Noi
On 28 March 2015, with the Prime Minister’s approval, Viet Nam submitted the dossiers of “ Holy Mother Worship Creeds of Vietnamese people” to the UNESCO for accreditation as representative intangible cultural heritage of the mankind. UNESCO specialists would be expected to revert their remarks in June 2016. This application would be screened and judged by UNESCO in December 2016 at its 11st session of the Inter-governmental Convention Committee on Conservation of the Intangible Cultural Heritages (Convention 2003 in Ethiopia.
Ha Tung