HBO – Mo is used by Muong ethnic people to practice a variety of rituals in daily life. There are 23 Mo-related rituals in four main groups, namely the rituals praying for happiness and prosperity, the rituals to summon souls, the rituals to eliminate devils and pray for peace and health, and funeral rituals. Therefore, Mo rituals go closely with one person from birth, marriage, peace, health, to death.
Officials
from the Hoa Binh Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST) are
reviewing Tui Khot (ritual bags) of thay mo, or sorcerers in Kim Boi district.
In the
Hoa Binh Culture in local Muong Hoa Binh ethnic area, Mo has been formed,
thrived and is on path to becoming a national intangible cultural heritage.
Mo
Muong holds unique human value. Mo reproduces the mankind’s history in the
legends of earth, water, fire, Cun Can’s marriage (Cun Can was the head of a
Muong ethnic area), reflecting the development of mankind’s society, and their
creativity in their lives. Mo Muong also tells lessons about community life and
society, such as the recitations about using Chu Dong tree to build house,
setting fire on the house of the Muong ethnic people’s God King Dit Dang,
taking care of animals, flower garden in Coi Mountain. They are lessons about
solidarity, ingratitude, sufferings in wrong love affairs. Mo Muong has a
long-lasting life because it comprises all folk cultural values of the ethnic
Muong people, including fork literature, folk singing, folk rituals telling
about people’s knowledge and behavior.
Mo
Muong is the essence of experience in labour, production, cultural behavior and
philosophy of life, reflecting the love of life, people and hometown. It shows
the courage and personality of the Muong ethnic people and
land of
Muong Hoa Binh.
Mo Muong reflects the characteristics, the soul and moral principles of the
Muong ethnic minority people. Over the past time, generations of Muong people
have preserved, passed down and promoted Mo Muong values in a sustainable
manner, giving vitality and inspiring capability of the intangible cultural
heritage.
According
to statistics of the DoCST, the province is home to 241 eligible sorcerers. They are the "living archive”
holding especially important values in exploring and summarizing the unique
cultural values of Mo Muong.
Bui Van
Keng, a sorcerer in Cuoi Ha commune,
Kim Boi district said the number of sorcerersreduced sharply, Mo rituals did, too. Most of the sorcerers are old. They have difficulties in passing down the
rituals because young people cannot learn or don’t have passion to learn. He
expressed his hope that authorities will collect documents on
Muong
Mo,
keep them in record to pass down to the next generations.
In
order to protect and promote the Muong ethnic culture in general and Mo Muong
in particular, in early 2017, Muong ethnic letters were announced. The DoCST
developed projects to select contents of Mo Muong cultural heritage to include
in teaching programmes at schools, and to preserve Mo Muong values.
Compilation
of books on Mo Muong is also underway, using the new letters. Relevant bodies
prepare resumes, propose legal framework to preserve the values of the Mo Muong
cultural heritage./.
Through ups and downs, many unique cultural features of the Muong ethnic minority group are facing risks of falling into oblivion. However, with a strong determination, Lac Son district of Hoa Binh province has deployed synchronous solutions to preserve and promote the locality's cultural heritage values.
If Tan Lac is considered the core of the cradle of Muong culture in Hoa Binh, Phong Phu commune is the cultural centre of Muong culture in Tan Lac district. Luy Ai hamlet in Phong Phu commune is where customs and traditions of Muong Bi are preserved. Luy Ai hamlet was chosen to build a space to preserve Muong ethnic culture. The district is seeking support from the province and coordinating with relevant agencies to devise a plan on preservation of Muong cultural spaces associated with developing tourism products and improving the lives of local residents.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, a Muong ethnic man in Ba Hang Doi town, Lac Thuy district, is known as a young, dedicated, and outstanding artisan who has made significant contributions in collecting, restoring, and preserving national cultural values.
The Government Office with Document No. 2082/VPCP-KGVX, dated March 29, 2024, sent out the opinion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the submission of the "Mo Muong" and "Cheo art" dossiers to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In the evening of March 28th, in Hoa Binh, the Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) coordinated with the provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the city to organize a mobile propaganda contest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7th, 1954 - May 7th, 2024) with the theme "Returning to Dien Bien”. There ứa the attendance of Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; the representatives of the leaders from a number of departments, branches and numerous veterans and Hoa Binh people.