At the ceremony (Photo: VNA)Quang Binh (VNA) – Aceremony was held in Dong Hoi city, the north central province of Quang Binh,on April 24 to receive a certificate from UNESCO recognising Bai Choi singing,a folklore style of singing in central Vietnam, as an Intangible CulturalHeritage of Humanity.
To celebrate, the province held the2019 Bai Choi singing festival, the first of its kind. The festival, bringingtogether groups and clubs in the province, aims to introduce the culturalvalues of the art form to local people, especially young generations.
Earlier, the recognition of Bai Choisinging was made during the 12th session of the UNESCO Inter-governmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Jeju, theRepublic of Korea (RoK), on December 7, 2017.
The folk singing genre is popular inthe central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam,Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa, and Da Nang city.
Speaking at the event, Vice Chairmanof the provincial People’s Committee Tran Tien Dung said the ceremony aims tohonour the values of Bai Choi singing and enhance patriotism, as well aspeople’s responsibility in the conservation of cultural heritage.
He added that a series of programmeswill be held to develop Bai Choi singing, including refresher courses,restoration of parts of the heritage on the edge of oblivion and introductionof the heritage in tourism activities.
Bai Choi is often seen at springfestivals and resembles a game, using playing cards and village huts.
The stage for Bai Choi performancesencompasses nine cottages, each containing five or six “players”. One of thecottages, the central house, contains a troupe of musicians and instruments. Adeck of playing cards is split in half, with one stack distributed amongst theplayers and the other placed in the central house. The cards are stuck ontobamboo poles and erected outside the cottages.
The game singer delivers a flag toeach cottage, all while singing Bai choi, and then draws a card from thecentral house. Whoever holds the card closest in value to the singer’s cardwins.
Bai Choi songs are about festivals,daily life and work, and are accompanied by musical instruments.
The game and songs were developed byMandarin Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634) to help locals protect their crops.
According to the Inter-governmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Bai Choi isan important cultural activity in Vietnamese villages and communes, briningentertainment and art to the community.
Bai Choi songs are moral lessons,demonstrating patriotism, connectivity in the community and living experience.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism recognised Bai Choi as national intangible cultural heritage during2014-2016.
Apart from Bai Choi, the UNESCORepresentative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity includesother 11 Vietnamese heritage – the traditional practice of “Tho Mau Tam Phu”(Worship of Mother Goddesses), tug-of-war game, which is also played inCambodia, the RoK and the Philippines, Nghe Tinh province’s Vi-Giam folksinging, Don ca tai tu (amateur singing in southern Vietnam), Hung King worshipritual, Xoan singing of Phu Tho province, Giong festival and Soc temples inHanoi, Ca Tru (ceremonial singing), Bac Ninh province’s Quan ho (love duetsinging), the space of Gong culture in the Central Highlands, and Hue's royalcourt music.-VNA
To celebrate, the province held the2019 Bai Choi singing festival, the first of its kind. The festival, bringingtogether groups and clubs in the province, aims to introduce the culturalvalues of the art form to local people, especially young generations.
Earlier, the recognition of Bai Choisinging was made during the 12th session of the UNESCO Inter-governmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Jeju, theRepublic of Korea (RoK), on December 7, 2017.
The folk singing genre is popular inthe central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam,Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa, and Da Nang city.
Speaking at the event, Vice Chairmanof the provincial People’s Committee Tran Tien Dung said the ceremony aims tohonour the values of Bai Choi singing and enhance patriotism, as well aspeople’s responsibility in the conservation of cultural heritage.
He added that a series of programmeswill be held to develop Bai Choi singing, including refresher courses,restoration of parts of the heritage on the edge of oblivion and introductionof the heritage in tourism activities.
Bai Choi is often seen at springfestivals and resembles a game, using playing cards and village huts.
The stage for Bai Choi performancesencompasses nine cottages, each containing five or six “players”. One of thecottages, the central house, contains a troupe of musicians and instruments. Adeck of playing cards is split in half, with one stack distributed amongst theplayers and the other placed in the central house. The cards are stuck ontobamboo poles and erected outside the cottages.
The game singer delivers a flag toeach cottage, all while singing Bai choi, and then draws a card from thecentral house. Whoever holds the card closest in value to the singer’s cardwins.
Bai Choi songs are about festivals,daily life and work, and are accompanied by musical instruments.
The game and songs were developed byMandarin Dao Duy Tu (1572-1634) to help locals protect their crops.
According to the Inter-governmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Bai Choi isan important cultural activity in Vietnamese villages and communes, briningentertainment and art to the community.
Bai Choi songs are moral lessons,demonstrating patriotism, connectivity in the community and living experience.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism recognised Bai Choi as national intangible cultural heritage during2014-2016.
Apart from Bai Choi, the UNESCORepresentative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity includesother 11 Vietnamese heritage – the traditional practice of “Tho Mau Tam Phu”(Worship of Mother Goddesses), tug-of-war game, which is also played inCambodia, the RoK and the Philippines, Nghe Tinh province’s Vi-Giam folksinging, Don ca tai tu (amateur singing in southern Vietnam), Hung King worshipritual, Xoan singing of Phu Tho province, Giong festival and Soc temples inHanoi, Ca Tru (ceremonial singing), Bac Ninh province’s Quan ho (love duetsinging), the space of Gong culture in the Central Highlands, and Hue's royalcourt music.-VNA
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