Mo Muong and similar religious rituals around the world

The workshop is an opportunity for scientists, researchers, artisans and representatives of Hanoi city and the provinces of Phu Tho, Son La, Ninh Binh, Dak Lak, Thanh Hoa to exchange, give opinions and contribute scientific arguments to further clarify the role and value of Mo Muong. At the same time, it recommends orientations and solutions to contribute to the preservation of Mo heritage in the life of Muong people in the context of global integration.

According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, Mo Muong is an Intangible Cultural Heritage that encompasses many cultural, historical, religious and artistic values, expressing the worldview and outlook on life of the Muong people. The epic poems in Mo Muong reflect the cosmology, worldview, outlook on life and social life of the ancient Muong people. Mo Muong activities are related to the entire life cycle of a person.

Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong emphasized that the International Conference is an important requirement of the task of preparing a dossier to submit to UNESCO for inclusion in the World Cultural Heritage List. In addition, it is necessary to promote key tasks such as promoting the unique values ​​of Mo Muong heritage to the world through scholars and international music researchers, expanding information on forms of religious rituals similar to Mo Muong heritage currently existing in the world; clarifying the basic contents of Mo Muong cultural heritage.

Specifically: Mo Muong in comparison with similar forms of religious ritual practice in the world, paying special attention to forms of religious ritual with storytelling elements; historical, social, literary and artistic values ​​in the stories in the Mo storytelling part (Mo Tleu or Mo De dat de nuoc), which can be compared with the storytelling part in some similar types of religious ritual in Vietnam and in the world; humanity and concepts of cosmology and philosophy of life expressed through Mo Muong texts; the current status of Mo Muong heritage and some similar types of religious ritual practice in the world; proposing measures to preserve Mo Muong, which can be based on practical experience in preserving similar types of heritage in the country and in the world...

Ms. Bui Thi Niem, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hoa Binh province, said that the workshop aimed to continue affirming the position, role and great significance of Mo Muong in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong people in particular and for the richness of the cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people in general, as well as similar rituals in the world. In the coming time, relevant units will continue to widely propagate the importance and significance of Mo Muong, raise awareness of all levels, sectors and the social community about the cultural values ​​of Mo Muong; hopefully, Mo Muong cultural heritage will soon become a world cultural heritage.

Mo Muong in Hoa Binh is a national intangible cultural heritage, belonging to the category of social and religious heritage with many unique values. Implementing the Deputy Prime Minister's opinion on the plan to compile a dossier of Mo Muong intangible cultural heritage in Hoa Binh province to submit to UNESCO. The People's Committee of Hoa Binh province has coordinated with 6 provinces/cities (including Hanoi, Son La, Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, Dak Lak) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinate in building a national dossier of Mo Muong cultural heritage to submit to UNESCO for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

To date, Mo Muong has been identified as a “living” intangible cultural heritage and a living expression passed down from ancestors to descendants. Preserving and promoting the unique values ​​of Mo Muong is very important, because it gives us a sense of identity and familiarity, connecting the past with the present and the future. A correct understanding of the value of Mo Muong is considered an understanding of an ancient culture of the Muong people.

The issue of heritage protection and promotion of the unique values ​​of Mo Muong is an important task that needs to be carried out in the next phase. The provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Dak Lak and Hanoi are localities where Muong people live and where Mo Muong cultural heritage is present, bringing many important spiritual values ​​to people's lives.

At the workshop, domestic and international scientists, researchers, and managers discussed and exchanged contents such as: Outlining the basic characteristics of Mo Muong; values ​​and lessons from Mo Muong; Mo Muong is a unique intangible cultural heritage of the Muong people in the past and present; beliefs similar to Mo Muong in the world in comparison with Mo Muong heritage... These are considered important comparative data for the process of preparing Mo Muong heritage dossiers to submit to UNESCO for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection.

According to VNA