A ceremony was held in the mountainous northern province of
Tuyen Quang, on
August 27 to receive certificates recognising the “Cap sac” (coming-of-age)
ritual and the “Pao dung” singing of the Dao ethnic group as national
intangible cultural heritage.
The Cap sac ritual is essential for all Dao men. They must endure the ritual
in order to be recognised by the community as a mature and competent adult
capable of holding communal positions.
The ritual is rooted in a thousand-year-old Dao legend. It is usually
conducted at the end or the beginning of the lunar year for one male or
more, always an odd number. Three shamans chair the rituals, assisted by
three more, over the course of three days.
On the first day, the ritual is conducted outside. On the next day, the men
enter the house to listen to the shamans’ prayers and learn traditional
dances. The third day is dedicated to rituals honouring the ancestors.
Pao dung singing, a unique Dao art form, speaks of creativity in labour, the
beauty of local landscapes, culture, and love. The songs teach their
listeners about their homeland and family relationships.
This type of song is often performed during traditional community rituals
and in day-to-day life in the form of lullabies or love songs.
Tuyen Quang province is home to two other national intangible cultural
heritages, including Then singing and the Long Tong festival.
Read More:
