Why is there always a bamboo stake in a Hmong house?

(Baonghean.vn) - For the Mong people in the highlands of Nghe An province, no matter where they are or what they do, they must always remember the bamboo stake planted in their house.

During numerous trips to the Hmong villages in the high mountainous regions of Nghe An province, we observed that each family had a bamboo stake erected in the center of their main house. Through our research, we learned that this is the most important place in the family and the birthplace of the sons.

In every Hmong house in Nghe An, there is a bamboo pole in the middle of the main room.Photo: Xuan Hoa

To understand this better, we sought out village elder Ly Cha Gio (born in 1936, residing in Huoi Dun village, Huoi Tu commune, Ky Son district). Elder Cha Gio is a respected figure in the village, trusted by many. He has served as a retired official and teacher for many years. He is also someone who always strives to preserve the ancient customs of the Mong ethnic group.

Speaking about the bamboo stake solemnly placed in the center of the house, village elder Chà Giờ said: “That is the most important place in our Hmong people's house. It is where the umbilical cords of the men in the family are buried. No matter where they are born, the placenta of a son must be brought back here to be buried, and that of a daughter is buried at the foot of the bed in the bedroom. No matter how important or insignificant they become, or how far they travel, they must always remember that bamboo stake and return to their family and ancestors because it is where they were born and raised.”

Because of its important location, the bamboo stake is often the place where the Hmong people perform rituals during festivals and holidays. Guests visiting the house are not allowed to lean on or touch the bamboo stake, and it is especially forbidden to kick it.

Village elder Chà Giờ introduces the bamboo stake in his family's home. Photo: Xuân Hòa

“The bamboo stake inside the house represents the men of the household, the pillars of the family. Therefore, strangers should not touch or lean on this stake, and especially should not kick it. That shows disrespect to the head of the household. Previously, those who violated this rule would be punished, but now I have encouraged people to abandon it. Many guests are from far away and are not from the Hmong ethnic group, so they are unaware of this rule and may accidentally break it. In such cases, it is best for the host to remain silent and gently offer a reasonable excuse to invite the guest to another part of the house. Otherwise, the host should remind the guests who have broken the rule, or remind them from the moment they enter the house,” said village elder Chà Giờ.

For the Hmong people, whenever they build a new house or renovate an old one, their first concern is finding a place to put a bamboo stake inside the house, preserving the old bamboo stakes, and carefully performing a ritual to ask for a new bamboo stake to replace the damaged one.

Xuan Hoa