Preserving the unique folk art of the coastal region

Hat ba trao is a typical folk performance form in the coastal provinces of Central Vietnam, including Quang Ngai . However, this art form is facing the risk of extinction and needs successors to continue and preserve it.

"Regeneration" of the paddle

Reading through each page of the documentary "Echoes of a Sea", many memories of Mr. Vu Huy Binh's (76 years old, Binh Thanh commune, Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province) fishing village come flooding back.

Mr. Vu Huy Binh with the documentary "Echoes of a sea".

Hai Ninh fishing village is located at the end of Tra Bong river, where it flows into Sa Can estuary. For generations, the residents here have lived by fishing. Regardless of the waves, dangers or any difficulties at sea, the fishermen still have a steady hand at the helm. The daily labor activities have long been accompanied by singing, creating a unique art form of singing.

Born in a fishing village, as a child, Mr. Binh often went to Lang Van to watch the whale worshiping ceremony (whale welcoming ceremony) and listened to people singing the boat song. Growing up, although he had to travel far and wide to make a living, the songs and the rowing rhythms of the boat song in his hometown always echoed in his mind.

The biggest concern in this man's heart is that over time, life changes, the boat gradually fades away, the old generation passes away, and the young do not know.

Hai Ninh fishing village is located at the end of Tra Bong river, where it flows into Sa Can estuary.

The biggest opportunity that made Mr. Binh more attached to the boat was the meeting with the film crew of Da Nang Television Station - VTV Da Nang when they came to make a film at the Sa Can estuary.

“Knowing that they wanted to find a fishing village with a shrine to the God of the South Sea and rowing boats, I immediately thought of my hometown fishing village and promised to bring it there. That occasion was the 12th day of the first lunar month in 1995, the death anniversary of the God of the South Sea for fishermen. The film crew arrived 5 days in advance to coordinate with me to organize and film,” Mr. Binh clearly recounted.

Hat ba trao (also known as rowing boat, rowing boat, singing boat) is a folk performing art form with strong ritual characteristics of the residents of the Central coastal region , praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and calm seas. This art form also shows the unique cultural identity of the coastal region, the solidarity and mutual love of fishermen. In addition, it shows the respect and gratitude of the coastal fishing community towards the Whale who has helped fishermen overcome storms and disasters at sea.

That year, the film crew made the documentary “The Sea Sings”, which was shown many times on VTV 3 - Vietnam Television. That was also the first time that traditional culture and coastal village culture were more closely approached by the audience and the people of the homeland, quickly spreading and reaching far and wide in the community.

When he retired in 2013, Mr. Binh had more time, so he often met with village elders to collect and record cheo songs to restore the ba trao singing melodies.

“ The song was mostly passed down orally, so there aren’t many original copies left. The elders only remembered a few lines, and sang whatever lines they remembered for me to copy down. After copying, I had to ask a teacher who understood Han Nom to translate it into Vietnamese and then start compiling it over a long period of time,” Mr. Binh recalled.

“Echoes of a Sea” was born like that. Although it is a personal collection, it can summarize many traditional cultural features of a coastal countryside.

Hat Ba Trao carries the traditional culture of coastal residents.

The documentary recreates the fishing festival - Nam Hai god's death anniversary, singing "Ba Trao", sword dancing, traditional boat racing on Tra Bong river, Bai Choi festival, along with folk games such as net weaving competition, pouring fish sauce into bottles, lead biting competition, tug of war... which often take place in village festivals, especially in January every year.

“Hat ba trao is divided into 4 acts. Act 1 is about thanking the Nam Hai god, act 2 is about raising the anchor and taking the boat out to sea to catch fish, act 3 is about the boat encountering big waves and strong winds and having to call for help from the Nam Hai god and act 4 is about the Nam Hai god bringing the boat to shore. Each verse has a spiritual color that depicts the image of fishermen in their work and production”- Mr. Binh said.

In 2016, Mr. Binh and his fellow enthusiasts founded the Binh Thanh Commune Folk Arts Club. In 2019, Mr. Binh was awarded the title of Meritorious Artisan by the President for his outstanding contributions to preserving and promoting the nation's intangible cultural heritage.

The successor of the paddle

56 years old and with approximately 30 years of singing ba trao, Mr. Nguyen Tan Sam (Hai Ninh village, Binh Thanh commune) has a special passion for this art form. People in Binh Thanh and neighboring coastal communes of Binh Son district have become "familiar" with Mr. Sam through the annual fishing ceremonies.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Sam plays the role of leader in the Ba Trao singing team.

In the rowing team, there are 12 or 16 rowers, 3 captains (head captain, cabin captain and helmsman). Mr. Sam takes on the role of bow captain with the task of controlling the boat and rowing according to the movements of getting into the boat, rowing the boat and controlling the rowing to rest.

“ Due to the impact of the market mechanism and the strong development of new art forms, the number of people who truly care about the profession and want to learn how to make the boat is decreasing. Therefore, how to continue the tradition of our ancestors is a problem without a clear solution" - Meritorious Artisan Vu Huy Binh expressed.

“Ba Trao singing requires the practitioner to be dedicated, practice hard, and master the lyrics, dance moves, and melody of the entire song. Because this is a folk performing art form, it is ritualistic and sacred. The ba Trao singer must bring the joy and enthusiasm of a coastal person to fully express it,” Mr. Sam shared.

In addition to knowing many Cheo Ba Trao melodies, Mr. Sam also knows how to skillfully use the octagonal instruments. In singing Ba Trao, music is an indispensable part. The rhythmic sounds of the erhu, drums, trumpets, and cymbals combined with the singing create a very unique attraction, making him passionate about this art form.

“I try to preserve and spread the love for the art of rowing so that the younger generation in the fishing village of Hai Ninh can grow up and understand the cultural roots. That is my belief, my goal, and my ultimate happiness,” said Mr. Sam.

Meritorious Artisan Vu Huy Binh (right) and Mr. Nguyen Tan Sam both have a passion for bamboo boats.

According to Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ngai province Nguyen Tien Dung, the contributions of Meritorious Artist Vu Huy Binh and Mr. Nguyen Tan Sam as well as the Binh Thanh Folk Arts Club in preserving and conserving the art of rowing are very noteworthy.

“In the coming time, the Department will create more playgrounds, competitions, and performances for clubs to exchange and meet. This will foster people's passion for art, and at the same time help artists be more determined in pursuing and preserving traditional art from the risk of fading away,” said Mr. Dung.

Ha Phuong

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