Nghe An Folk Arts Association: Contributing to awakening the potential of Nghe An's folk culture

(Baonghean) - Nghe An Folk Arts Association (VNDG) was established on October 16, 1991, according to Decision No. 564/UB.QD of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, and has been around for 24 years; it is a professional mass organization, a member of the literature and arts sector, and at the same time a grassroots organization of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association. The Association operates according to the Charter of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association. Currently, the Association has 62 members: 30 Central members and 32 local members.

The Nghe An VNDG Association operates in three areas: Collecting and researching Nghe An folk culture. Coordinating with relevant sectors and agencies to conduct activities and compile works on Nghe An folk culture and arts. Disseminating, teaching, and introducing folk culture, especially Nghe An folk culture, to revive genuine values ​​in the minds and lives of the people.

The association's activities have made great contributions to awakening the potential of Nghe An folk culture in particular and Nghe An in general. Many large and important scientific projects and topics have been successfully implemented, such as: Nghe Tinh folk songs (2 volumes); Nghe Tinh folk tales treasury (3 volumes); Nghe Tinh folk verse treasury (9 volumes); Nghe Tinh folk cultural geography; cultural geography books of the districts: Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Tuong Duong, Quy Hop, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc and currently the massive book series Nghe An toan chi in 22 volumes, with printed volumes: Folk songs, stories and education by Ninh Viet Giao, Nghe An customs and habits by Le Tai Hoe, Medieval literature by Nguyen Thanh Tung - Hoang Minh Dao, and Tran Minh Sieu's history.

After the third congress in 2006, the association entered a period of vigorous development, with members actively working in the fields of the association's functions and tasks. Many scientific research projects in the fields of culture and folk arts were actively participated by members. Although most of the members have retired and work voluntarily according to their interests, the published, popularized and taught works are outstanding achievements that are not easy to obtain.

Regarding collection and scientific research activities, the association has had topics and projects invested by the Central Government such as: Fertility culture by Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao; Phu Da village culture by member Nguyen Xuan Duc; Anh Son region culture by Nguyen Thanh Tung; Making Thai ethnic panpipes by Le Tai Hoe (ordered by the Ministry of Culture and Information); Folk culture of Xuan Uc, Quynh Lien, Quynh Luu villages by Tran Huu Duc.

Projects and topics invested by local associations in 2007 included: Hat Giao Duyen Thai by Lo Khanh Xuyen; Ca Tru of Yen Ly ward by Hoang Nghia Nguyen. In 2008 included: Khen Mong Nghe An by Duong Hong Tu; Chang Hun and Nang Ny by Vi Van Thua; Dong Chau - Cau Khoe by Lo Khanh Xuyen; Da Cai folk culture by Nguyen Thanh Tung; Nghe An folklorists by Phan Ba ​​Ham. In 2010: Van Loc village, a land of culture by Hoang Anh Tai; Some issues of teaching folk literature in schools by Hoang Minh Dao; Lien Tri village folk culture by Phan Ba ​​Ham - Nguyen Tam Can; Tam Son and Anh Son commune folk culture by Nguyen Thanh Tung; Yen Thanh communal house by Phan Xuan Thanh; Dong Giao Thai by La Quan Mien; Khun Tinh Muong story by Sam Van Binh; History of Chin Gian temple by Lo Khanh Xuyen. In 2011: Folk songs and music of Tho ethnic group by Duong Hong Tu; The legend of Le Loi and Lam Son uprising by Hoang Minh Dao; Tri Le commune folk culture by Nguyen Thanh Tung; Thai Nghe An idioms by Quan Vi Mien; Thai people's Phi Huong worship by Sam Van Binh; Trang Son, a folk culture village by Phan Ba ​​Ham - Nguyen Tam Can. 2012: Communal houses in midland and mountainous districts by Phan Xuan Thanh; Phu Ninh village soul by Phan Ba ​​Ham - Nguyen Tam Can; The legendary starting place by Sam Van Binh. 2013: Ancestor worship literature of Thai people by Sam Van Binh; Lowland culture by Phan Ba ​​Ham - Nguyen Tam Can; The story of Co Bo in Nghe Tinh folk culture by Nguyen Thanh Tram; Nghe language in Nghe folk songs by Bui Thi Dao; Legendary stories about communal houses by member Phan Xuan Thanh; Tho ethnic folk culture by member Quan Vi Mien; Funeral handbook by member Thai Huy Bich; Ups and downs of Buddhism in Nghe An and folk consciousness by Dao Tam Tinh - Ho Manh Ha. 2014: Funeral of the Tho Mon people by Duong Hong Tu; Application of motifs in mythological dictionary by Nguyen Thanh Tram; Studying the genre of Vietnamese legends by Hoang Minh Dao; Thai wedding in Quy Hop by La Quan Mien; Studying the folk culture of the Thai ethnic group in the area of ​​Route 7 by Bui Thi Dao; River gods by Dao Tam Tinh - Tran Manh Cuong; Wedding process and rituals of the Vietnamese people by Le Tai Hoe... These are research topics to study the folk culture of ethnic groups, each ethnic group, each region, land to villages, communes, localities in Nghe An.

In addition to topics on folk culture, members also devoted their efforts to writing many books on geography, culture, local history, and topics on the country, people, relics, and scenic spots of Nghe An and Nghe An, such as: Nam Dan - a sacred land of talented people by Tran Minh Sieu; Hoang Ta Thon, a talented general by Hoang Anh Tai; Anh Son ancient village by Nguyen Thanh Tung; Famous doctors in Nghe land by Hoang Anh Tai; Dong Khe Nguyen Thuc Tu in the hearts of Nghe people by Hoang Anh Tai;

Published works and books of members: Some issues on teaching VHDG in schools by Hoang Minh Dao; Searching in the cultural heritage of Nghe An, The Le Dynasty's historical and legendary channel and the relics of Khach Due temple and Ninh Ve general's tomb by Dao Tam Tinh; Poetics of folk tales by Nguyen Xuan Duc; Nghe An royal decree by Dao Tam Tinh (editor-in-chief); The Phu style in medieval Vietnamese literature and medieval Vietnamese political literature by Pham Tuan Vu; Cua Lo - the spirit of a river region by Hoang Anh Tai and Dao Tam Tinh; Funeral handbook by Thai Huy Bich; Proverbs of our village by Le Tai Hoe - Nguyen Van Tung

The Association has also made many contributions to the collection, research and dissemination of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs. Especially during the time when Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces prepared a dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of Vi and Giam folk songs as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, the Association's members actively participated and made important contributions to the success, such as the elders in the profession Le Ham, Thanh Luu, Dinh Bao, Song Thao, Phan Thanh... In 2014, there were 6 members participating in the International Conference on Vi and Giam folk songs including: Nguyen Xuan Duc with a presentation on the issue of preserving Nghe Tinh folk songs, Hoang Minh Dao with the cultural value and influence of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs; Le Tai Hoe with the unique characteristics of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs from a historical and social perspective; Dang Thanh Luu with the preservation and promotion of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs; Dao Tam Tinh with Vi and Giam folk songs through books and documents in the library and the Directory of books and documents on Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe An; Le Ham presented On the inheritance of Nghe An folk music in lyrical and revolutionary songs.

Thus, just counting the function of collecting, researching, and popularizing folk culture and arts, preliminary statistics show that there are 63 scientific research works, 18 works printed into books with tens of thousands of printed pages, and hundreds of articles published in newspapers and magazines at the central and provincial levels.

Regarding the function of coordinating and linking with sectors and social organizations to propagate folk culture. During the last term, despite the limited budget, the association has done a number of important things such as compiling the Complete History book series on Nghe An, organizing a number of scientific seminars on famous people and cultural relics in Nghe An with national influence, specifically as follows: Scientific seminar on patriotic scholar Phan Boi Chau; Scientific seminar on Con temple and the four holy ladies; Scientific seminar on Nguyen Tham Hoa Phan Thuc Truc communal house; Scientific seminar on the snake god temple Hac Linh Son Tu in Dien Chau; Scientific seminar on Cao Xuan Duc, the first Minister of Education of Vietnam; Scientific seminar on folk songs of Ho, Vi, Giam of Nghe An; Scientific seminar on the reforming celebrity Nguyen Truong To; Scientific seminar on Buddhism of Nghe An, past, present and future; Scientific seminar on patriot Nguyen Bieu...

Regarding the teaching function: In addition to Vinh University, Nghe An College of Culture and Arts, members participate in teaching about culture and folk arts. For a long time, Nghe An Radio and Television Station has also been a place for members in the field of music to spread and teach the heritage of Vi and Giam to people near and far. Contributing to this field are typical core members such as: Pham Tuan Vu, Hoang Minh Dao, Le Tai Hoe, Truong Van Tieu, Le Ham, Thanh Luu, Tien Dung, Dinh Bao, Phan Thanh, Van The, Le Thanh...

The achievements of the association have been well appreciated by leaders at all levels and are demonstrated through excellent emulation flags, medals, certificates of merit, and awards from the Central and the province. Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao was awarded the Labor Medal and the State Prize, the first time (2001), and was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the person with the most VHDG works about Nghe An. Many members of the association have been honored to receive awards from 1 to 4 - 5 times. These are the annual work award of the Vietnam VHDG Association, the Ho Xuan Huong Literature and Arts Award of Nghe An province and a number of Gold and Silver awards in national and provincial art performances...

Towards the new term Congress (2015 - 2020), the association will continue to promote the above achievements, overcome difficulties, and encourage members to actively contribute to the development of Nghe An VHDG.

Dao Tam Tinh