Mo is a term referring to a profession and cultural heritage which integrates folk beliefs with folk culture and arts. Practiced at funerals and religious rituals by the Muong ethnic people, it aims to provide spiritual comfort during significant life events such as illness and death.
Shaman Bui Van Sinh in Yen Phu commune, Lac Son district performs
Mo Muong rituals at Mai da lang vang (the stone roof of Vanh village).
Mo Muong is the Muong people's unique and
significant cultural heritage which leaves deep influences on many aspects of
their lives for generations. It embodies profound humanistic, cultural, and historical values, as well as the linguistic and literary traditions of the
Muong people. Mo Muong can be considered a "folk encyclopedia” on the ethnic
minority group. It consists of three main elements: wording, worship ritual,
and practitioners, with wording playing the most crucial role.
In general, Mo Muong is a collection of oral
verses that are passed down through generations. During rituals, a shaman
chants Mo verses and chapters in specific melodies that align with the content
and purpose of the ceremony.
Mo artisan is the person who performs these
sacred chants. Currently, there are approximately 200 Mo artisans in Hoa Binh
province. In Muong communities, they are highly respected and known as thay mo,
po mo, or ong au, but thay mo (shaman) is the most common title. Throughout
history, Mo practitioners have been spiritual pillars for the Muong people,
guiding them through life's uncertainties.
Mo profession refers to those who earn a living
through this practice. This job requires training, often passed down within
families. A distinctive feature of shamans' attire is their hats. In the Lac Son
district, when conducting funeral ceremonies, shamans wear hats shaped like two
forward-facing wild buffalo horns, symbolizing power and spiritual authority.
These red hats and their decorative bands are embroidered with sacred animals
such as turtles, dragons, phoenixes, birds, and fish each representing their
outlook on life. Shamans also carry khot, a fabric bag containing sacred
objects used for self-protection and warding off evil spirits during rituals.
Mo encapsulates the cultural essence of the
Muong people. Within its poetic verses, Mo preserves ancient folktales,
legends, myths, and epics. These narratives reflect history, explain natural
phenomena, and convey ancestral wisdom. Notably, Mo Muong serves as a vital
repository of the ancient Muong language. Many geographical names, plant
species, rivers, and streams mentioned in Mo Muong correspond to real places
within Muong territories, apart from mythological realms.
Moreover, Mo Muong reflects the Muong people’s
philosophy of life, their worldview and perceptions of the universe which is
believed to have three levels and five worlds, along with their production
experience, calendar, plant classification, and knowledge of interacting with
nature.
Mo Muong also embodies folk religious beliefs,
including ancestor worship, veneration of the progenitor of Mo, rituals for the
living, plant worship, and sacrifice rites, as seen in Mo buffalo, Mo cow, or
Mo chicken
Today, Mo continues to be cherished by the Muong
people. Despite adaptations in funeral practices, Mo rituals remain an
essential part of their traditions. The number of roong mo, similar to chapters
in literature, has been minimised, retaining only the most crucial ones for
ceremonial purposes. The values of Mo continue to accompany the Muong people into
the future as a foundational cultural element.
In 2015, Hoa Binh received the sponsorship of
the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations for its Mo Muong. One year later,
the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision adding it to the national
intangible cultural heritage list. In 2020, the Prime Minister ordered building
a dossier for Mo Muong seeking its inclusion in the UNESCO List of Intangible
Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. These developments further
highlight the enduring significance of Mo Muong as a treasured cultural
heritage.
Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province, is widely regarded as the cultural heartland of the Muong ethnic group. Among its many traditional communities, Luy Ai hamlet (formerly Ai hamlet) stands out as a rare location where the customs and way of life of the Muong Bi people remain largely intact.
The Truong Kha temple festival, a distinctive cultural event held every three years in Vu Ban township, Lac Son district, returned recently with vibrant rituals and folk traditions of the Muong people. Located next to the Buoi River in the Muong Trao fields, the Truong Kha Temple is dedicated to the three Kun Dol deities, revered for teaching farming techniques, irrigation, weaving, and protecting the harvest.
The demand for spaces serving community activities of residents in various areas across Hoa Binh city has been satisfied as local cultural houses now feature modern, spacious facilities thanks to the effective implementation of Resolution No. 49/NQ-HDND issued on December 28, 2021 by the city People's Council, which approved the plan for reorganising, converting, and allocating land for the construction, repair, and expansion of cultural houses in Hoa Binh’s villages and residential areas until 2025.
At the end of May, the Hoa Binh Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe organized a series of performances for residents in Region 2 and Region 3 communes across the province. Bringing art to ethnic communities in remote, isolated, and especially disadvantaged areas has become a meaningful activity. These are not merely artistic performances but also journeys to disseminate cultural values, enrich spiritual life, and contribute to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic minorities.
In recent years, alongside the development of a tourism-oriented economy, the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Mong people in Pa Co Commune, Mai Chau district has been gradually preserved and promoted. It has become a unique indigenous cultural feature, contributing to improving the livelihoods of the ethnic minority community.
Hop Tien commune, Kim Boi district, Hoa Binh province is home to nearly 1,260 households with a population of over 5,700 people, 98% of whom are of the Muong ethnic group. Besides economic development, the commune places special emphasis on preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Muong people.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
