The Tay Da Bac people preserve the "soul of the nation"

Da Bac district is a land rich in cultural identity with a diverse population. Among the ethnic groups living together, the Tay ethnic group accounts for the largest proportion, with 41.21% of the district's population. In the midst of the modern flow, when many traditional values ​​are at risk of being lost, in Da Bac there are still people who quietly and steadfastly preserve the "soul of the nation" - that is the ancient Tay script, a cultural symbol bearing the traditional mark of the Tay people here.

Mr. Sa Van Cam guides people how to read ancient Tay script.

In a stilt house imbued with the national cultural identity, Mr. Sa Van Cam enthusiastically instructs the elders in Chieng Cang hamlet, Muong Chieng commune (Da Bac) how to read ancient Tay script. Over 70% of the population in his hometown of Muong Chieng commune is Tay ethnic, but very few people know how to read and write ancient Tay script. Even the ability to listen and speak Tay has gradually faded over the years. Devoting all his heart to learning, restoring and teaching the soul of his ethnic culture, the "sweet fruit" that Mr. Cam has achieved so far is the model of "Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ancient Tay script", classes teaching Tay script regardless of age, invisible medals given to him by the people here, and a joint effort to strongly spread the message: Tay people must know Tay script.

"The Tay script has been preserved and passed down by our ancestors, but over time, the number of people who can read and write the Tay script is decreasing, especially among the younger generation. If we don't do it, who will?" - Mr. Cam wondered.

With his dedication and perseverance, from 2010 to now, he has organized 7 ancient Tay script classes, attracting over 200 students in Muong Chieng commune and neighboring communes. The model of "Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ancient Tay script" that he built is not only a place to learn, but also a space for community cultural activities - where people share the language, customs and characteristics of the Tay ethnic group.

In recognition of Mr. Sa Van Cam's contributions, in 2024, the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province recognized his model of "Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ancient Tay script" as a typical example at the provincial level in the cultural field. This is both a worthy reward and a valuable affirmation of the efforts to preserve cultural identity in modern life.

Not only Mr. Cam, the journey to preserve the writing and identity of the Tay people in Da Bac also marked the footsteps of Meritorious Artisan Luong Duc Chom, affectionately called "teacher Chom" by the people of Trung Thanh commune. After nearly 30 years of perseverance on the journey to restore the ancient Tay script, teacher Chom has become a living symbol of love for national culture.

Regardless of the sun, rain, or age, he traveled through many villages, met with elders, and recorded every word, song, and folk song of the Tay people. The result was a valuable archive: nearly 300 ancient books were collected and transcribed; 1,500 proverbs, folk songs, and folk songs were recorded and translated; dozens of folk songs and traditional musical instruments were restored such as panpipes, mouth harp, bamboo flutes, etc. In particular, Mr. Chom mobilized people to preserve good customs and practices, and further enrich the unique traditional cultural features of the Tay people.

Not only has he been successful in translating and transcribing many ancient books into the Tay language, over the years, Meritorious Artisan Luong Duc Chom has also devoted much of his heart to teaching the Tay language in the community. His efforts to "sow" the language began in the 90s and have continued steadily until now. To him, the ancient Tay language is not only a language, but also a sacred bridge connecting the young generation with national traditions. His Tay language classes have spread national pride, arousing the awareness of preserving culture in each person.

He shared: I teach my children and the villagers to read and write Tay so that they can understand and appreciate the cultural values ​​of our people. From the written language, they will know how to sing Tay songs, dance Tay dances, apply customary laws and practices to educate their children and grandchildren in the family and clan, and maintain good traditional practices in weddings, funerals and other spiritual ceremonies... This has contributed to preserving and promoting the good values ​​of Tay ethnic culture.

Thanks to dedicated individuals like Mr. Chom and Mr. Cam, the ancient Tay script - "the soul of the nation" - is no longer a distant memory in the books passed down by our ancestors, but is "reviving" every day through community classes in Da Bac. From the initial seeds of writing, the movement to learn and preserve the Tay script has now become a community cultural movement in many communes in Da Bac district. Night classes in stilt houses, cultural activities between generations... are contributing to lighting up the belief in a future where cultural identity is not forgotten but is honored and developed.

With their simple yet resilient actions, the Tay Da Bac people are continuing to write the story of perseverance, solidarity and national pride. These are beautiful stories - not only for today, but also to be passed on to future generations.

Khanh An

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/16/202428/Nguoi-Tay-Da-Bac-giu-gin-hon-cot-cua-dan-toc.htm