The conference was held to put into action the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s document No. 3056/BVHTTDL-DSVH dated August 19, 2020 on coordination in developing the National Profile of Mo Muong Cultural Heritage to submit to UNESCO for registration in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for urgent protection
The conference had the participation of staff from the Culture – Information Department, representatives from districts and towns in Hanoi, as well as commune cultural officers. There were also artisans practicing the Mo Muong heritage who are magicians and community representatives from the Muong ethnic group.
Overview of the Conference.
Mo’ is the Muong ethnic community’s one-of-a-kind intangible cultural heritage. It is a type of ritual related with religious ceremonies performed by Mo shaman, the most common of which is the Muong people’s funeral ceremony. The content of Mo Muong is a vast epic that reflects the ancient Muong’s cosmology, philosophy, human attitude, and social existence. Mo Muong culture can be found in seven provinces and towns in Vietnam, including Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and Hanoi.
Muong ethnic people live in all 30 districts of Hanoi, but most of the popularity resides in Thach That and Ba Vi districts. According to the results of the Project “Total inventory and protection of Hanoi’s intangible cultural heritage” announced in 2016, the Mo Muong heritage was inventoried with different names in localities such as Worshiping ghosts – to worship the death anniversary of the Muong ethnic group in Ba Trai commune, Van Hoa commune, Yen Bai commune, Ba Vi district; the Funeral practice of the Muong in Dong Xuan commune, Quoc Oai district; a Funeral rite of Muong people in Luong village, Yen Trung commune, Thach That district. Currently, there are only 7 Mo shamans in the area who are still practicing regularly.
Dr. Pham Minh Huong – Deputy Director of the Institute of Music spoke at the conference
Experts from the Institute of Music directed and distributed the inventory work at the Conference in accordance with UNESCO’s point of view and requirements for intangible cultural heritages. Theory is being applied to and guiding the inventory of Mo Muong heritage in Hanoi; Interview the shamans to practice inventory.
Artist Bui Phat Tuong (Van Hoa commune, Ba Vi district) spoke at the conference
Artisan Dinh Cong Hoa (Ba Trai commune, Ba Vi district) spoke at the conference.
The discovery of the intangible cultural heritage of Mo Muong and its inclusion on the Inventory List would increase public awareness of the capital of intangible cultural heritage in general and Mo Muong in particular. Through the inventory process, members of the community will be more concerned and proud of the Mo Muong heritage; actively participate in the protection and succession of heritage. The identification and inventory process can help establish good relationships between the community and cultural authorities at all levels who are directly involved in the management or protection of the Mo Muong heritage.
Hoà An