The space for the formation of folk culture of Vi and Giam in Nghe - Tinh

Formation space

Through many historical periods of the nation, the land of Nghe - Tinh has changed its name many times, until the Nguyen Dynasty, when it returned to the name of Nghe An town. During the reign of King Minh Mang, in 1831, Nghe An town was divided into two provinces, Nghe An and Ha Tinh. From 1976 to 1991, the two provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh were merged into one province, Nghe Tinh. In 1991, Nghe Tinh province was divided into two provinces, Nghe An and Ha Tinh, as it is today.

In his research, Professor Ngo Duc Thinh pointed out the factors that make up the regional culture including: natural circumstances, population origin, historical conditions, level of socio-economic development, cultural exchange. Thus, the specific space of the Nghe sub-cultural region must probably take into account the historical circumstances that have affected this land to create a cultural cradle from which the people and culture of Nghe were formed and developed. The remote nature and the rather complex relationships between the periphery and the center, between the Vietnamese and the former ethnic minorities and the Cham people are the factors that strongly influence the formation of the characteristics of the personality of the people and the cultural characteristics of this land.

It can be said that the character of the people of Nghe An is formed by the behavior of people in the political, historical and social environment of this land. There have been many conflicting comments and opinions about the character of the people here, because there are many factors that combine and interact with each other in the origin of the residents. The character of the people of Nghe An has many diverse and polar features, so it is difficult to make one-sided comments. The outstanding feature in the character of the people here is the high sense of community. They use a very special dialect, a dialect that has turned them into a community with a unique identity, it goes into the folk songs Vi and Giam, creating an artistic world full of humanity.

The formation and development of vi and giam culture

Like many other types of folk culture, Vi and Giam of Nghe An were formed and developed in the cultural environment of wet rice farming. The cultural space of Vi and Giam stretches widely across the two provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, from the mountains to the coastal plains and both sides of the Lam River. Leaving the land of Nghe An, separating from the people of Nghe An, Vi and Giam find it difficult to survive and develop. This is a very unique feature, showing that besides the natural landscape, the soul, lifestyle, and cultural activities of the residents of Nghe An have a great influence on the formation and development of this type. In other words, the biosphere of Vi and Giam is created from the soul, the rhythm of life of the land and people of Nghe An. Without those elements, it has no basis to exist and develop.

Ví and Giặm have become a popular form of cultural activity in Nghệ An since the 18th century. Up to now, it has had a history of existence and development of more than two centuries. That is not a long period of time, but it is enough to shape and penetrate deeply into people’s spiritual life. The performance method of Ví and Giặm includes both solo singing and continuous singing. Whether singing on the river, in the fields, on the wharf, under the boat or beside the loom behind the bamboo fence of the village... the performance space is still the village space, associated with three basic elements: countryside, agriculture, and farmers. The lyrics of Ví and Giặm are simple, rustic, close to the language of life, “Nghe-ized”, “folk-ized” from the available language, creating a rich and unique system of lyrics that is among the best in the treasure trove of Vietnamese folk songs.

It can be seen that Vi and Giam have really played an important role in the formation and preservation of the cultural values ​​of Nghe An villages. If folk culture and literature are the expression of democratic aspirations and consciousness, then Vi and Giam of Nghe An are typical of that democracy. There are no strict rules, no distinction between superior and inferior, noble and humble, and no taboos. The freedom in thinking is expressed in language, equality, and closeness in the form of address. It can be said that it is a unique and distinctive method of communication in traditional Nghe An villages. Thanks to that, many spiritual values ​​are preserved and developed.

Vi and Giam folk songs are products of community activities of Nghe An people.

Vi and Giam is a folk song genre that bears the identity of Nghe An in terms of melody, lyrics, content, space and time of performance. It is a spiritual product, honestly reflecting the unique aspects of human life here. Nghe An people have a talent for composing, improvising, combined with a strange but rich, melancholy voice, which is the subject of creation and transmission of Vi and Giam. This type of folk song mainly takes place in community activities with diverse scale and space, associated with community activities, which has created the basic features, the main dimensions in its origin, the owner of its composition, creation and the environment of its existence and development.

References

1. Nguyen Chi Ben, Bui Quang Thanh,Nghe - Tinh folk songs, PublisherCulture Information, Hanoi, 2013.

2. Hoang Trong Canh,Local words with parallel structure in Nghe Tinh folk poetry - Preserving and promoting the values ​​of Nghe An folk songs, PublisherNghe An, 2012.

3. Ninh Viet Giao,The scholarly nature in the lyrics of Nghe An folk songs - Preserving and promoting the values ​​of Nghe An folk songs, PublisherNghe An, 2012.

4. Vu Ngoc Khanh,Some comments on Nghe Tinh folk songs, MagazineNghe Tinh Literature and Arts, No. 21, 1996, p.117.