The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will summit a national dossier to submit to UNESCO to nominate “Then” singing of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the end of March.
The Prime Minister has approved a plan to seek UNESCO's recognition of “Then” singing - an oral folk art form of three ethnic groups from northern Viet Nam as intangible cultural heritage. The compilation of the dossier will be summit to UNESCO before March 31st, 2017 and the consideration process will be in 2018.
The submission aims to honour and promote the heritage value of the traditional music genre among international friends, as well as help local communities, especially the youth, become aware of and responsible for preserving heritage values.
It also seeks to promote cultural exchanges between the Tay, Nung and Thai people and other ethnic groups in Viet Nam and other countries where musical styles similar to "Then" singing are practised.
"Then" singing is a unique combination of music and songs, and is traditionally accompanied by a handmade gourd lute called "dan tinh" or "tinh tau".
It is believed to have been handed down from their god, belonging to a mysterious world with which only "ong Then" and "ba Then" can contact.
During rituals, "ong Then" and "ba Then" sing and play a musical instrument at the same time, while presenting offerings to their deity, representing the ethnic community's contact with their god and asking him for things such as good health, bumper crops, happiness and a long life.
Closely linked with the spiritual life of ethnic minority groups who often use ceremonial offerings to treat illnesses, "Then" singing is seen as therapy which, together with medicine, helps to ease the worries of patients and their families./.
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