Clan culture in building new rural areas.
(Baonghean) - Each village in Vietnam is a residential unit, where families and clans reside, organize community life, and create the unique characteristics of each hamlet. Quynh Doi commune (Quynh Luu district) is a prime example of the traditional culture of a rural village.
Currently, Quynh Doi has 37 clans (with nearly 5,000 people) living together, notably the Ho, Nguyen, Hoang, Duong, Phan, and Pham clans. These clans have upheld the tradition of patriotism, unity, and cooperation to build a more prosperous homeland. Many families and clans have rich and distinctive activities, such as compiling and updating family genealogies, establishing and implementing clan agreements, and constructing and renovating ancestral temples and tombs. Clan meetings and ancestral commemoration ceremonies include various activities: reading family genealogies, offering sacrifices to ancestors, discussing family affairs, and discussing members' contributions to the clan and village in the construction of public works and the organization of village festivals.
The history and traditions of the clans and lineages have become precious cultural heritages of Quynh village. Many sources of documents (family genealogies, inscriptions, etc.), especially the architectural works of the clans and lineages, have been recognized and granted historical and cultural relics by the State, receiving investment for preservation and restoration. Currently, Quynh Doi commune has 8 relics classified by the State, of which 7 are places of worship for clans, including the Ho clan ancestral temple, the Nguyen clan ancestral temple, the Hoang Khanh temple, the Ho Tung Mau ancestral temple and tomb, the Ho Sy Duong temple, the Duong clan ancestral temple, the Ho Phi Tich ancestral temple...
In the current process of reform, under the leadership of the Party, the fine traditions of the clans and lineages in Quynh Doi continue to be preserved and promoted. At the grassroots level, these clans and lineages have played and continue to play an important role in helping each other in production, poverty alleviation, and economic development. They also effectively perform the function of reconciliation, strengthening the bonds between clans and lineages and the village community, promoting civilized customs in weddings and funerals, eradicating social evils, and preserving and promoting the shrines dedicated to prominent figures of their clans and lineages. Many clans and lineages have registered and strived to become clans and lineages free from social evils.
In particular, the movement to promote education among clans and lineages in Quynh Doi has developed widely and achieved many encouraging results. To date, many clans have registered to strive to be studious clans and studious families with many rich and practical activities, such as: many clans have established large scholarship funds to encourage and reward their descendants who are enthusiastic about studying, compiled a golden book to record the names of those who have achieved doctoral and professorial degrees, organized study sessions, and honored exemplary individuals within their clans for their dedication to learning. Notable examples include the Ho clan, which has established a scholarship fund of 775 million VND and currently boasts 5 professors, 30 doctoral degree holders, and 25 master's degree holders; the Nguyen clan, with a scholarship fund of 325 million VND, has 7 professors and associate professors, 12 doctoral degree holders, and 35 master's degree holders; and the Hoang clan, with a scholarship fund of 108 million VND, currently has 2 professors, 10 doctoral degree holders, and 7 master's degree holders. The Duong family has a scholarship fund of 178 million VND, and the entire family has 4 PhDs and 8 Master's degree holders... Every year, on the ancestral day, the family organizes ceremonies to commend and reward the academic achievements of their descendants at the family's ancestral hall in the presence of relatives; the children with outstanding achievements offer incense and promise before their ancestors to continue striving for progress in their studies and work...
These activities have enriched the culture of Quynh village, making it more distinctive and unique. Simultaneously, the bonds between families and clans have strengthened the village community, ensuring its stability. Regular community service activities, acts of gratitude, and mutual assistance to alleviate poverty have contributed to socio-economic development, the construction of new rural areas, and the building of a more prosperous and beautiful Quynh Doi homeland.
Sy Thanh(Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department)
