Dao ethnic group in Tuyen Quang perform a cap sac (maturity ritual) ceremony (Photo: tuyenquang.gov.vn)Hanoi (VNA) - The “cap sac” (maturity ritual) of the Dao ethnic group may berecognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
AssociateProfessor Bui Hoai Son, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture andArt Studies, said that authorities in the northern province of Tuyen Quang,where a big number of Dao people live, would ask the Government and theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop a national dossier on theceremony for submission to the UN group.
Son was speaking at a recent conference in the province on preserving thecultural identity of the Dao ethnic group.
Statistics in 2010 showed Vietnam has more than 800,000 people of Daoethnicity. Most of them live in Tuyen Quang and the northern mountainous province of HaGiang.
The “cap sac” ritual, a rite of passage declaring the coming-of-age of Dao men,was declared a national intangible cultural heritage at a ceremony held in thenorthern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen in March last year.
“This is the most important ritual ceremony in the life of a Dao man,” saidNguyen Thi Song Ha, from the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.
“It is important to preserve the tradition as more and more young Dao peopleapproach modern technology to help them in the world outside. But this meansthey can also forget their traditions,” she said.
The ritual is indispensable for Dao men to be recognised as adults.
Legend has it that Dao ancestors were living in mountainous areaswhen devils appeared, killing people, eating livestock and destroying crops.
The Jade Emperor sent heavenly fighters to earth to kill them, but they couldnot wipe out the devils because there were too many. As earthly people withoutmagic could not defend themselves against the devils, the Jade Emperor askeddeities to pass magic to male villagers and grant them the title “sorcerer”.
These sorcerers together with heavenly fighters finally killed all the evilspirits.
After that, the Jade Emperor gave the order to grant the title of sorcerer tomarried men to protect people from evil spirits. The “cap sac” ritual wasformed since then and still continues.
Only after passing the “cap sac” is a Dao man is consideredto be mature. An old man who doesn’t pass this ritual has to sit with childrenon all important occasions.
In Dao society, only people passing the “cap sac” ritual canbecome family owners, village heads and worship ancestors.
A person who doesn’t pass this ritual is believed not to be able to control hisspirit, which consequently will hurt the destiny of his offspring. Peoplepassing this ritual are believed not to be harmed by devils when they die.
Dao people believe that a Dao man, who passes the ritual is considered as“grown up” even though he is still young. He can join important events of thecommunity in the village. He can become a teacher, sorcerer, medicalpractioner. These are the three jobs considered important for Dao people.
For these reasons, no matter how rich or poor he is, a Dao man mustbe initiated.
A Dao man usually passes the “cap sac” ritual when he isbetween 10 and 16 years old. The ritual must be held in the order of a man’sposition in the family: the father must have this ritual before his son and anolder brother must do it before his younger brother.
In the days of the ritual, traditional dances are performed by villagers forhours to the sounds of cymbals, drums, depicting historical events, farm work,house building and other daily-life activities.
The coming-of-age ceremony often takes place in the first, eleventh or twelfthlunar month of the year when locals enjoy free time after the harvest.
The ritual ceremony is prepared by the family of the men and all the villageone year before the day the ritual is held. This work requires the help offamily, friends, and neighbours.
The cultural practice features many stages including a welcoming-ceremony and athanksgiving ritual to the ancestors, the presentation of offerings, musicalperformances and rounding off the ceremonial ritual.-VNA
AssociateProfessor Bui Hoai Son, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture andArt Studies, said that authorities in the northern province of Tuyen Quang,where a big number of Dao people live, would ask the Government and theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop a national dossier on theceremony for submission to the UN group.
Son was speaking at a recent conference in the province on preserving thecultural identity of the Dao ethnic group.
Statistics in 2010 showed Vietnam has more than 800,000 people of Daoethnicity. Most of them live in Tuyen Quang and the northern mountainous province of HaGiang.
The “cap sac” ritual, a rite of passage declaring the coming-of-age of Dao men,was declared a national intangible cultural heritage at a ceremony held in thenorthern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen in March last year.
“This is the most important ritual ceremony in the life of a Dao man,” saidNguyen Thi Song Ha, from the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.
“It is important to preserve the tradition as more and more young Dao peopleapproach modern technology to help them in the world outside. But this meansthey can also forget their traditions,” she said.
The ritual is indispensable for Dao men to be recognised as adults.
Legend has it that Dao ancestors were living in mountainous areaswhen devils appeared, killing people, eating livestock and destroying crops.
The Jade Emperor sent heavenly fighters to earth to kill them, but they couldnot wipe out the devils because there were too many. As earthly people withoutmagic could not defend themselves against the devils, the Jade Emperor askeddeities to pass magic to male villagers and grant them the title “sorcerer”.
These sorcerers together with heavenly fighters finally killed all the evilspirits.
After that, the Jade Emperor gave the order to grant the title of sorcerer tomarried men to protect people from evil spirits. The “cap sac” ritual wasformed since then and still continues.
Only after passing the “cap sac” is a Dao man is consideredto be mature. An old man who doesn’t pass this ritual has to sit with childrenon all important occasions.
In Dao society, only people passing the “cap sac” ritual canbecome family owners, village heads and worship ancestors.
A person who doesn’t pass this ritual is believed not to be able to control hisspirit, which consequently will hurt the destiny of his offspring. Peoplepassing this ritual are believed not to be harmed by devils when they die.
Dao people believe that a Dao man, who passes the ritual is considered as“grown up” even though he is still young. He can join important events of thecommunity in the village. He can become a teacher, sorcerer, medicalpractioner. These are the three jobs considered important for Dao people.
For these reasons, no matter how rich or poor he is, a Dao man mustbe initiated.
A Dao man usually passes the “cap sac” ritual when he isbetween 10 and 16 years old. The ritual must be held in the order of a man’sposition in the family: the father must have this ritual before his son and anolder brother must do it before his younger brother.
In the days of the ritual, traditional dances are performed by villagers forhours to the sounds of cymbals, drums, depicting historical events, farm work,house building and other daily-life activities.
The coming-of-age ceremony often takes place in the first, eleventh or twelfthlunar month of the year when locals enjoy free time after the harvest.
The ritual ceremony is prepared by the family of the men and all the villageone year before the day the ritual is held. This work requires the help offamily, friends, and neighbours.
The cultural practice features many stages including a welcoming-ceremony and athanksgiving ritual to the ancestors, the presentation of offerings, musicalperformances and rounding off the ceremonial ritual.-VNA
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