Remote area teacher launches Jrai folk tale collection "Rit gets the magic fan"

“Rit the Magic Fan” is a collection of Jrai folk tales that was just released by Kim Dong Publishing House in September 2025. What is special is that the person behind this collection rich in cultural values is not a professional researcher, but teacher Ninh Van Dau - Literature teacher at Dinh Tien Hoang High School (Ia Hdreh commune, Gia Lai province) and generations of Jrai students.

Jrai folk tale collection "Rit gets the magic fan". **Photo: Minh Chau**

The book includes 12 folk tales such as: Rit and the Magic Fan, Teng Leng Bird, H'Lui Sisters, Snake Boy, Hunter, Cunning Rabbit, Lazy Tho... The stories are recorded from the stories of village elders and folk artists and are full of humanity: good people meet good things, evil people meet misfortune, praising the love, spirit of mutual support and innocent, simple lifestyle of the Jrai people.

Teacher Ninh Van Dau shared that Krong Pa district (old) is a land in the lower reaches of the Ba River with a unique cultural identity. From festivals, customs, language, and writing of the Jrai people, all create a huge and rich cultural treasure. In that cultural flow, folk literature, especially the folk tales of the Jrai people, specifically and vividly reflect their own material and spiritual life.

But when the artisans and village elders gradually disappear, the treasure trove of folk tales is in danger of being lost. During nearly two decades of working in this land rich in cultural sediments (since 2007), in addition to teaching, Mr. Dau has worked tirelessly with his students to collect, record, and translate to preserve this spiritual treasure.

Teacher Ninh Van Dau (4th from right) and his students on a trip to the village to collect Jrai folk tales. **Photo: Minh Chau**

As the person who translated most of the Jrai-Vietnamese content in the newly published collection of folk tales, teacher Kpa Pual commented: Many of today's young Jrai generation do not know their mother tongue, while the treasure of folk literature is held by the elderly and passed down entirely orally. If it is not collected and recorded, the younger generation will hardly have the opportunity to access this precious cultural capital.

"Mr. Dau not only collects and compiles them, but also makes an effort to print them into books to pass on to future generations. Jrai folk tales are not only rich in educational value, reflecting the community life from ancient times, but also help the younger generation live well, respect nature, people and the community" - Mr. Kpa Pual emphasized.

This collection of Jrai folk tales also reflects the close relationship between teacher-student-community. Over the past decades, many generations of students have traveled with Mr. Dau through many villages, listening to artisans and village elders tell old stories. These are also considered trips back to the roots, helping Jrai students love and appreciate their ethnic cultural identity more. At the same time, it contributes to preserving a unique cultural aspect that is gradually fading away with the passing of the elderly.

Mr. Dau's dedication to folk culture is highly appreciated by his students and colleagues. Mr. Trinh Van Binh, Principal of Dinh Tien Hoang High School, affirmed: "Mr. Dau has been involved in education in disadvantaged areas for 18 years. The school highly appreciates Mr. Dau's efforts and creates all conditions for him in the process of collecting and recording folk literature to better serve the teaching and learning of local literature in the school. This is also a vivid proof of the role of teachers in arousing and inspiring the young generation to learn literature, helping Jrai students understand and appreciate their cultural capital better."

“Rit Boy with the Magic Fan” is a spiritual gift from teacher Ninh Van Dau for generations of students and those who love the culture of the Central Highlands. The stories are tinged with fairy tales, sparkling with realistic and fantastic elements, which will take readers into the exploration of the spiritual life of the Jrai people.

Mr. Dau shared: "The ancient stories in the book are just a small number that I have collected and recorded over the past decades. Although I have encountered many difficulties in finding translators, I will try my best to continue introducing more good stories to readers."

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/thay-giao-vung-sau-ra-mat-tap-truyen-co-jrai-chang-rit-duoc-quat-than-post567216.html