The Journey to the Title of Meritorious Artisan of a Former Phu Quoc Prisoner

In the imperial prison

In his house in Hamlet 2, Dien Dong Commune, Dien Chau District (Nghe An), Mr. Tang Dinh Thich (born in 1950) devotes a lot of space to hanging souvenir photos and traditional musical instruments. He said: “I have been passionate about the monochord and the two-stringed fiddle since I was a child. The sound of the two-stringed fiddle and the two-stringed fiddle followed me as I marched across the battlefields of the South. Even when I was captured and exiled by the enemy,Phu Quoc prison, a place known as “hell on earth”, I can still find familiar sounds…”.

Mr. Tang Dinh Thich has been passionate about folk music since his childhood. Photo: Cong Khang

During his youth, young Tang Dinh Thich was taught by his father to play drums, the erhu, the monochord, the flute, and to sing cheo, and to perform everywhere. In 1967, just entering his teenage years, Mr. Thich enlisted in the army and, along with his comrades, served on the Truong Son route, becoming a "cultural artist" of Station 41, Regiment 559.

After more than 2 years of fighting, in 1969, in a fierce battle, soldier Tang Dinh Thich was wounded and unfortunately fell into the enemy's hands. Beaten and tortured, he only revealed his name was Nguyen Trung Hieu, from Nghe An. Unable to extract any information, the enemy transferred him to Phu Quoc prison.

During nearly 4 years in the midst of stormy seas, communist prisoner Tang Dinh Thich and his comrades had to endure beatings and brutal, harsh tactics from the enemy. And also here, Mr. Thich had the opportunity to meet people with talent infolk musicto learn and exchange experiences in making and using musical instruments.

During his years in the army, Mr. Tang Dinh Thich achieved many feats. Photo: Cong Khang

With the aim of soothing the pain of himself and his comrades after each beating, and at the same time helping to maintain the will and integrity of a communist, Mr. Thich sought to create musical instruments for performance. The erhu was made by using firewood from the kitchen as a neck, the erhu tube was made from a water can that the guards threw in the backyard, the leather covering the erhu tube was taken from the skin of a puffer fish in the food ration, and the strings were cut from a piece of electric wire thrown behind the fence...

The two-stringed fiddle was completed, and his comrades were extremely happy to listen to the soulful melody, conveying their thoughts and feelings for their homeland. After that, Mr. Thich continued to successfully craft the flute by cutting a sheet of corrugated iron roofing, rolling it up, and punching holes to let the air out. The sound was not like the bamboo flute in the countryside, but it was still clear and haunting, evoking a sense of excitement and nostalgia.

Since then, the cultural and artistic activities of communist prisoners have become more vibrant. Through this, brothers and comrades have become closer, shared their joys and sorrows, and encouraged each other to overcome challenges, maintaining their belief in the victory of the struggle for national liberation.

Transferring valuable assets…

Mr. Tang Dinh Thich's musical instrument collection. Photo: Cong Khang

In 1973, Mr. Tang Dinh Thich was returned under the Paris Agreement, and after the liberation of the South (1975), he was demobilized and returned to his hometown with a 71% disability. Despite his declining health, the former soldier still actively participated in social work, and for many years was the Chairman of the Association of Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy in Dien Chau district.

In particular, Mr. Thich still nurtures his passion for folk music, spending time traveling throughout the countryside to meet famous artists andfolk artistto learn more skills in playing instruments and singing folk songs. On the other hand, he immersed himself in the local cultural and artistic movement as a musician playing the sona, two-stringed fiddle, monochord, bamboo flute and drum.

At the same time, Mr. Tang Dinh Thich established a music group to serve the holidays, festivals, funerals and family worship for the local community, thereby teaching and improving the skills of using traditional musical instruments (mono bau, nhi and bamboo flute) for his children, members of the music group as well as the people.

His son Tang Dinh Hieu and his two grandchildren Tang Dinh Thuan and Tang Thi Quynh Nhu are Mr. Thich's excellent students. Currently, Tang Dinh Thuan is proficient in playing the monochord, flute, and two-stringed fiddle and has begun to learn how to make these instruments. Thuan is also an active member of the music group founded by his grandfather.

Mr. Tang Dinh Thich and his grandson Tang Dinh Thuan perform traditional musical instruments. Photo: Cong Khang

Recognizing contributions to conservation workcultural identity, preserving and teaching traditional music, the President has just signed a decision to confer the title of Meritorious Artisan to Mr. Tang Dinh Thich.

“This is an honor and pride not only for myself but also for my whole family, and is a source of encouragement and motivation for me to continue to stick with traditional musical instruments,” Mr. Thich confided.