Preserving the Jrai soul through the pages of ancient stories

Preserving treasures in the wilderness

Originally from Ninh Binh, in 2005, after graduating from university, Mr. Ninh Van Dau (Literature teacher, Dinh Tien Hoang High School, Ia HDreh commune, Gia Lai province) chose the Central Highlands as his place to start a career. From 2007 to now, he has been attached to Ia HDreh commune (former Krong Pa district, Gia Lai), a land full of sunshine and wind, where Jrai culture is still preserved through the stories and songs of village elders.

During his years in the classroom, Mr. Dau was deeply impressed by the stories he happened to hear from local people. However, today's youth are less interested in traditional cultural treasures.

“I am afraid that these simple things will be forgotten over time. Therefore, I want to record and translate them so that when the old people are no longer around, we can still listen to and read Jrai folk tales,” Mr. Dau shared.

Starting from conversations with village elders, Mr. Dau gradually realized “a priceless treasure” hidden in the old people’s stories and memories. The collection work seemed simple, but for those who were not familiar with the local language, it was a challenging journey.

With the help of Mr. Kpa Pual - former Head of the Department of Ethnic Education , Department of Education and Training of Gia Lai and many Jrai people who are knowledgeable about culture and language, each story was carefully selected, translated and recorded by Mr. Dau and his students. Each recording and filming trip took time and effort, but in return was the joy of seeing the values of folk culture revived on paper.

From the story to the page

Students record folk tales told by village elders, people knowledgeable about traditional culture.

After many years of research, in September 2025, Kim Dong Publishing House officially released the Jrai folk tale collection "Rit the God Fan" with 1,500 copies. The work includes 12 unique folk tales such as Rit the God Fan, Teng Leng Bird, Snake Boy, H'Lui Sisters... all recorded from the stories of village elders and artisans in the old Krong Pa district.

For Mr. Dau, it is not only his own "brainchild" but also a gift to his students and Jrai people.

“When the book was released, many Jrai students were very happy. They said they had heard it when they were young, but now they could read it completely and clearly. They were proud to see their ethnic culture being respected,” Mr. Dau emotionally recounted.

The stories in the book have simple plots, revolving around village life and the mountains and forests, reflecting people's aspirations for justice, goodness and love.

"I hope these stories not only help students understand more about their origins, but also teach them lessons about personality and human ethics," he said.

Mr. Kpa Pual, who accompanied Mr. Dau in the language translation process, commented: “Mr. Dau is very dedicated and persistent. Each story in the book has profound educational value, arousing the awareness of preserving national culture in the young generation.”

Teacher Ninh Van Dau introduces the story collection "Rit gets the magic fan" to students.

Not stopping at collecting, Mr. Dau also wants to incorporate them into his lectures, helping students love local culture more. According to him, the treasure trove of folk tales contains rich knowledge about the life, customs, beliefs and aesthetics of the Jrai people, and is the foundation for educating compassion and a spirit of goodness.

“Not only Jrai students but all students need those values. Reading fairy tales, they will learn to love and respect people, stay away from bad things and live more kindly,” Mr. Dau shared.

Ksor Si Mo, a student at Dinh Tien Hoang High School, emotionally said: “When reading the book, I feel proud of my nation. The stories in it are simple but profound, helping me understand that good always wins.”

Mr. Dau said that in the coming time, he will continue his collection work, because there are still many good stories that have not been recorded due to lack of means and conditions. For him, each trip, each recorded story is a time to touch the soul of the Central Highlands.

The stories of the Jrai people now not only exist in the village's oral tradition but have entered the pages of books, reaching readers everywhere.

In the eyes of his students, Mr. Ninh Van Dau is not only a literature teacher, but also a storyteller, a keeper of Jrai cultural soul. From his silent efforts, ancient values are awakened, continuing in the souls of today's young generation.

And then, in the midst of modern life, “The Rit fanned by the magic fan” is like a magical fan, gently echoing the sound of the Central Highlands mountains and forests where people are still diligently keeping the fire burning, so that traditional culture is not forgotten.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/giu-hon-jrai-qua-nhung-trang-truyen-co-post752179.html