Meanwhile, Tay ethnic group is living in Tuyen Quang province, especially, a group of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang district, forms of culture, inwhich Ritual in human life circle changes slower
Trang 1VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
NGUYEN THI HOA MAI
RITUAL IN LIFE CIRCLE OF ETHNIC TAY IN NA HANG DISTRICT TUYEN QUANG PROVINCE
Major: Anthropology Code :9 31 03 02
ABSTRACT OF ANTHROPOLIGICAL
DOCTORIAL THESIS
Hà Nội - 2019
Trang 2The thesis is completed at:
GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Supervisor: Assoc Prof Dr Phạm Quang Hoan
Referee 1: Assoc Prof Dr Khong Dien
Referee 2: Assoc Prof Dr Lam Ba Nam
Referee 3: Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Duy Thieu
The thesis is protected infront of Board of Doctorial
Exmanination at Graduate Academy of Social Sciences
At hour minute date month year
The thesis can be found at :
National Library
Library of Graduate Academy of Social Sciences
Trang 3INTRODUCTION 1.The neccessity of the thesis
Tay ethnic group is one of the most crowded minority ethnic group in our country currently, with plentifully and specifically cultural identity They live collectively in some provinces as Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, etc Until now, there are many works about Ethnic Tay, research works of previous scientists mainly focused on doing research about Ethnic Tay in border moutaneous provinces where Ethnic Tay have condition to exchange, communicate with many different cultures, ecnomies, politics, education Meanwhile, Tay ethnic group is living in Tuyen Quang province, especially, a group of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang district, forms of culture, inwhich Ritual in human life circle changes slower than Ethnic Tay in some other provinces Ethnic Tay in Na Hang currently is considered to
be old Ethnic Tay, and preserved traditional culture elements, especially in their life circle Researching Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang shall help us know preservation, as well as changes of Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, thoroughout promoting good, suitable culture value and limit negative and unsuitable expression of Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, in order to have solutions
to help Ethnic Tay in Na Hang develop economy, maintain and promote their cultural features
Achievement of the thesis also contributes to supply scientific basis for carrying out effectively ethnic policies, ethnic culture development policies of the Party and Government,
to be suitble with the spirit of Central Resolution V (course VIII) and Central Resolution IX (course VI), simultaneously contributing to carry out direct program of building new rural area in current minority ethnic group regions
2 Researching purpose and duty of the thesis
2.1 Purpose
The thesis deeply discovers culture of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, Tuyen Quang province via Rituals in life circle including Rituals of birth, marriage, funeral On the basis of research result, the thesis proposes some suggestions and solutions serving preservation, maintainence and promotion of cultural value of ethnic people to buld and develop socio – economy of this ethnic group in the circumstance of industrialization, modernization of our country and international integration currently
3 Research object and scope of the thesis
3.1 Research object
Research object of the thesis is Rituals of life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang,
Tuyen Quang province
3.2 Research scope
Trang 4The thesis focuses on researching deeply Rituals in life circle of Ethnic Tay in
Na Hang including: Rituals of birth, marriage and funeral of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang Province from tradition to change Traditional scope limited is period before 1986; Changed period is from innovation in 1986 until now and especially is from 1999 when available of Na Hang
4 Methodology and research method
4.2 Research method
The thesis uses specific research methods as below:
- Collecting, comprehensing and inheriting available documents;
- Field research method of ethnology/anthropology
-Practical investigation method: In this method, Researcher researches field times from 2015 – 2018 at Na Hang town; communes: Sinh Long; Thượng Giáp; Côn Lôn;Hồng Thái; Khau Tình
At this place, researcher focuses on interviewing deeply and discussing team specifically as below: Leaders of town/commune; leaders of village and cluster; People are Tay ethnic people in town and commune; Shaman
- Specialist method;
- Comparative method
5 New contribution on science of the thesis
The thesis is a comprehensive, overal, systematic and deep research work under view of anthropology about Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang district, Tuyen Quan province On the basis of data, the thesis contributes to understand more about cultural features of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang via Rituals of life circle The thesis has shown the changes of Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang under the impact of Innovation process and cultural interchange Simultaneously via system of Rituals in life circle, the thesis supplies data for Ethnic Tay and locals to see cultural value need to be preserved and promoted, limit the advantages, unsuitable features of Rituals in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, Tuyen Quang province currently
6 Practical and theoretical meaning of the thesis
6.1 Theoretical meaning of the thesis
Research result of the thesis contributes to complete theoretical matters and Rituals in life circle of Ethnic Tay in Vietnam, point out expression, elements affected
to these Rituals
6.2 Practical meaning of the thesis
Research result of the thesis can be referent document in researching and teaching Rituals in life circle of Ethnic Tay in training facilities currently
Research result of the thesis also can be referent docuemnt for local leaders where Ethnic Tay is living, first of all, being managers of cultural industry to promote
Trang 5good culture values of Rituals in life circle of Ethnic Tay, limit negative expression which is not suitable in life circle Rituals of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, Tuyen Quang
province particularly and in the Northern generally
7 The structure of the thesis
Out of introduction, conclusion, referent document and annex including 5 chapters: Chapter 1: Overall research situation, theoretical basis and overview of research region; Chapter 2: Rituals of birth and nursing children; Chapter 3: Marriage Ritual of Ethnic Tay; Chapter 4: Funeral Ritual of Ethnic Tay; Chapter 5 Changes of life circle Ritual and some comments
Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH SITUATION, THEORETICAL BASIS AND
OVERALL OF RESEARCH REGION 1.1 Overview of research situation
1.1.1 Researches of foreign scholars about Ethnic Tay
From the past, Chinese history mentioned to ethnic groups belonging to Tay – Thai linguistic group, in which of Ethnic Tay in Vietnam Modern nearby age, Chinese scholars mainly focus on researching history of establishment and development of ethnic group, meanwhile less concern to aspects of culture of ethnic group as well as communication, acculturation between ethnic groups From the beginning of XX century, some Western scholars started researching about aspects as history, language, culture… of ethnic group belonging to Choang – Dong language in China and Tay – Thai ethnic group in Vietnam It was remarkable that in the 60s – 70s of XX century, ethnologists of Xo Viet as IU Bromlei, N Cheboksarov, M Kriucov…had made some
research and published some presses, in which mentioned to Tay ethnic group people
1.1.2 Researches of domestic authors about Ethnic Tay
From the 60s of XX century, many Vietnamese ethnologists have researched deeply about Tay ethnic people from view of different majors This research could be divided to research upon main directions as below:
- Comprehensive research direction about Ethnic Tay: These research works mention quite overall about natural geography condition, history of this ethnic group, economic, cultural and social features of Ethnic Tay of author Be Viet Dang, La Van
Lo, Ha Van Thu, Nguyen Chi Huyen
- Research about language of Tay ethnic people: It can give out some typical works
about Tay – Nung language and Vietnamese of Nguyen Ham Duong and Nguyen Thien Giap, Nong Quoc Chan, Ma The Dan, Hoang Van Ma, Luc Van Pao, Hoang Chi, Trieu An, Hoang Quyet, Phuong Bang…
- Researching, collecting, introducing about Tay and Nung folk culture of Hoang Quyet and his copartners; Trieu An, Phuong Bang, Luc Van Pao, Hoang Van
Pao, Nguyen Huy Hong, Nguyen Thi Yen Vi Hong… ,
1.1.3 Researches about Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay
When doing research about Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay, some authors have taken concern to funeral Ritual of this ethnic group Those are researches of authors La Van Lo, Dang Nghiem Van, Be Viet Dang, Khong Dien, Pham Quang Hoan, Nguyen Quang Huy, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Ha Van Thu, Hoang Quyet, Do Thuy Binh, Ha Van Vien, Luong Van Bao, Lam Xuan Dinh, Trieu Kim Van, Ban Tuan Nang, Dam Thi Uyen, Hoang Thi Lan, Hoang Tuan Nam, Nguyen Thi Ngan, Hoang Luong, Nguyen
Trang 6Thi Yen, Vuong Hung, Nong Vinh Tuan, La Cong Y, Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, Ngo Thi Trang, Pham Thi Hang, Nguyen Linh Huong, Luc Manh Hung, Hoang Thi Hoi, Ho Sy Lap, Tran Duc Tung, Nguyen Manh Tien… From analyzing above some research works can take some comments as below:
There are many research works mentioned to culture, in which there are life circle Rituals of minority ethnic groups in the Northern, in which available of Ethnic Tay These researches mainly from Vietnamese authors with a few foreign research works Many researches discovering about economic, cultural life and living condition of Tay ethnic Some researches discover one aspect of cultural life of tay ethnic, a Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay Just few researches fully understand Rituals in life circle of Tay ethnic group
Researches about Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang are just few, especially there are not any researches discovering sharply from the view of anthropological science about life Rituals of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province This is space to do research in this thesis
1.2 Theoretical basis of the thesis
1.2.1 Some basic concepts
In the frame of the thesis, Researcher has interpreted, made clear some concepts as: Ritual; Life circle Ritual; Ritual in life circle; Giving birt; Ritual of birth; Marriage habbit; Funeral, Funeral Ritual
1.2.2 Research theories
Researcher has used three theories such as: Theory about Ritual of change, Theory about cultural identity of Ethnic Tay These theories have bên applied reasonably in chapters of the thesis
1.3 Overall about Tuyen Quang, Na Hang and Tay peole in Na Hang, Tuyen Quang
1.3.1 Overall about Tuyen Quang, Tay ethnic group in Tuyen Quang
Tuyen Quang lies in the mountaneous area the North, located from 22°42’ North latitude, from 104°50' to 105°36' East Longtitude Topography of Tuyen Quang
is divided by system of dense rivers, row and row mountains, deep valley
About Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang: Tay is an ethnic group with longest residence in Tuyen Quang Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang has the second crowded population after Kinh people According to Population and House Investigation in
2009, total Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang is 185,464 peole, accounting for 25,5% population
of province and 22,5% total Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang province, in which, Na Hang and
Son Duong with quantity of Ethnic Tay is fairly crowded
1.3.2 Overall about Na Hang and Tay ethnic group in Na Hang
Na Hang is a highland district in the North of Tuyen Quang province with natural area of 146.368 ha, in which, there are 7.257,42 ha agricultural land; 85.665,38
ha forestry land, the rest is rock mountain, river and other specialized land Na Hang is resident area of many ethnic groups Until 2010, population of district was 60,151 people, living in 17 communes, towns in which Tay ethnic group accounts for 55.18%, Dao 25.72%, Kinh 10.11%, Hmông 7.52%
Conclusion of Chapter I
Until now, there are many research works mentioned to culture, in which, there are life circle Rituals of minority ethnic group in the North of country, in which of Tay
Trang 7ethnic group These researches are major from Vietnamese authors, with few research works of foreign authors
Many researches study about economic, cultural life adn living condition, one Ritual in life circle of Ethnic Tay in general However, There are not many research works, full study about Ritual in life circle of Tay ethnic group Researches about Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang, but few researches about Na Hang, especially deep researches from view of anthropology about life circle Rituals of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang This is space for the thesis to do research deeply The thesis has determined and made clear connotation of some instrument concepts in relation,
as well as choosen and applied some research theories: Theory about change Ritual; Theory of change and acculculture; Theory about cultural identity of ethnic group;
In various picture about components of ethnic group in Tuyen Quang, Ethnic Tay in Na Hang is formed from different parts, residence at valley areas, along rivers, streams They mainly base on planting water rice, combining with feeding poultry, cattle, doing handicraft, exploiting natural resources in the forest, under river, stream Additionally, they plant some industrial trees, aquaculture in Na Hang hydroelectricity reservoir
Until now, Ethnic Tay in Na Hang is always aware of preserving cultural elements of ethnic group in arranging village, building house, processing food and drink, practising traditional Rituals, festivals, belief All those cultural features have been creating own identity of Ethnic Tay to distinguish with other ethnic groups in Tuyen Quang as well as other ethnic groups in community of Vietnamese ethnic groups unified in diversity
Chapter 2 RITUAL OF GIVING BIRTH AND RAISING CHILDREN
2.1 Notion of Ethnic Tay on children
2.1.1 Notion of Ethnic Tay on children in general
Likely other ethnic groups in Vietnam, Ethnic Tay in general, Ethnic Tay in
Na Hang in particular highly appreciate meaning of children in family’s life Result of deep interview shows that Ethnic Tay in Na Hang say that one of the most important function of family is giving birht Giving birth is to maintain lineage
So, Ethnic Tay not only notion that marriage must have children but also have many children In their traditional notion of Ethnic Tay, the ideology “a large family with many children and grandchildren” is glory and great happiness
2.1.2.Notion of Ethnic Tay about son
With Tay families in Na Hang, notion about son in family has special meaning Deep interview result of Tay families in Na hang show that son not only help maintain the lineage but also determine equal position of families in the society
2.2 Belief basis of Ritual of birth
2.2.1 Habit of taking care of women in pregnant period
2.2.1.1 Guessing about giving birth and taking care of pregancy
During pregnant period, Tay families in Na Hang often take a concern whether baby was born to be son or girl The reason for this existence due to many families still are affected by ideology of giving son birth, ideology of male chauvinism
in life of Ethnic Tay
Toghether with considering mother of son or girl, Tay families in Na Hang also take a concern to baby’s health right from time baby just is formed in her abdomen
Trang 8Ethnic Tay think thant baby needs to be taken care right time baby in mother’s abdomen This notion is suitble with requirement of taking care of baby and mother
according to modern science
2.2.1.2.Habit of taking care of pregnant women
Taking care of fetus as well as pregnant woman of Ethnic Tay starts from woman herself Tay woman must abstain from unsuitable foods or daily works During pregant time, women often look for some families with many children and grandchildren and families which are easy to give birth and easy to raise children, they shall come to steal drawstring from dress to tie into her belly and wish an advantageous confinement, and simple raising Before giving birth a short time, they often beg for a shirt, diaper, hat from women who are easy to give birth to hope their baby good eating and growth
2.2.1.3 Habit of astaining with pregnant woman
When Tay women are pregnant, they only mention to eating to ensure for good baby, but also must be careful when doing jobs in production and daily activities When bringing pregnancy, Ethnic Tay avoid do heavy works as carriage If apprearing funeral, pregnant women should not come there to avoid cold air affecting to the health of fetus
2.2.2 Habit and Ritual of giving birth of Ethnic Tay
2.2.2.1.Ritual of praying for peace
Thoroughout factual survey, out of material preparation, family and pregnant woman herself must prepare carefully about spirit to avoid risk Normally before giving birth, family shall prepare celebration of month to pray for mother and baby being carried out at her own house Possesty includes sticky rice, wine, chicken, two bowls of yellow and blue water (yellow water presents for daughter, blue water presents for son), two flowers of one white and one red (white flower presents for son and red one presents for daughter) In different regions with difference about possesty
Shaman shall carry out Ritual of pray for mother and baby Shaman shall worship and submit ancestor, Midwife prays for giving baby safely and granting son or daughter
2.2.2.2 Habit, Ritual for woman before and after giving baby
Ethnic Tay in Na Hang previously had custom of thanking to experienced one to help Midwife sits by pregnant woman until the baby was born
When woman starts having travail, mother in law or sister in law shall boil water and let’s it warm (without adding unboiling water), prepare a 20cm length bamboo stick with sharpening to cut navel for baby, one silk thread as long as one span Ethnic Tay
do not cut navel by knife because they are afraid that child becomes stubborn and difficult to teach
Ritual after giving birth:
-Ritual of cutting navel for child
After being born, the child is cutted navel by bamboo stick According to folk notion of Ethnic Tay, navel is resident place of baby’s soul, so cutting navel and preserving umbilical cord is very important, affected directly to baby’s life after that Navel is long – cut to help baby avoid enuresis After cutting navel, the baby is cleaned by warm water and wrapped by paper
In culture of Ethnic Tay, placenta is very important so Ethnic Tay abstain from throwing away placenta Tay families are used to be careful in keeping placenta
Trang 9-Ritual of notifying the born of baby: After being born, Tay families shall carry out Ritual of notifying the born of baby with meaning of notifying other people that family is having woman in childbirth and not allow outsiders to come in to avoid outsiders bring poisonous spirit and make baby cry and get sick
- Ritual of taking care of mother and baby after being born: Right after giving, mother must drink a bowl of medicine by root of persicaria odorata and eat a hot bowl of rice with chicken cooking with ginger, turmetric, a bowl of sauropus androgynus soup to improve her health and avoid postpatum The first meal after giving birth, mother is allowed to eat one bowl of rice for body to be light, and mother uses sticky rice meals after to have much milk for baby Mother just only eat young hens and eat lean, avoid old hens, capons to avoid backache Rice and soup of pregnant woman are cooked separately and eat when heat
2.2.2.3.Ritual of out of confinement and Midwife wornship and giving name for child: Out of 40 days confinement, at the final day of out of confinement it is considered to be best day of baby On this day, family shall carry out Ritual of out of confinement for baby Family must pick up Mrs Then come home to do Ritual and visit altar with the purpose of dispelling impurity out of home, pulling up Tet pole to throw away and submit ancestor for adding one more granchild so that ancestor can protect and help for baby to be healthier and more growth In order to do Ritual of out of confinement, family must prepare one saucepan of pomelo, plum, peach leaves water for Mrs then to do necessary Rituals
Family also has to use brocade fabric and black dyed fabric to cut, sew, suture and make sling If relatives can not knit, they can get the support from brothers, sisters
or any other relatives Out of 40days, baby’s mother or relatives can use this sling to carry baby to visit other families in the village
- Ritual of worshiping Mrs Midlife and giving name for baby: For Ethnic Tay,
Ritual of worshiping Midlife is an important one, any family after confinement must do worship This is thanksgiving Mrs Hoa who has dispensed children for their family and support mother and baby to be safe birth and simultaneously is Ritual of giving name for child So, worshipping Mrs Midlife is organized lavishly with the participation of many people in the family and friends, neighbors, etc Shaman shall do the worship of Mrs Midlife, Shaman shall come to own house to do worship of Mrs Midlife very
carefully and fussily
2.2.2.4.Ritual for woman who is difficult in giving birth: In the event of
difficulty in giving birth, placenta is difficult to take out, Ethnic Tay shall solve as below: Previously without clinics, hostipals, Ethnic Tay almost deliver by themselve without midwife When giving the first baby or in the event of difficulty in giving baby, they invite experienced midwife to help or invite highly qualified shaman to make amulets
2.3 Taking care and raising a child
For Ethnic Tay, Preparing clothes for child in advance is unlucky, so after giving baby safely for three days, family just make diaper, clothes Child is raised totally by mother’s milk in first months/years of the life Ethnic Tay shall not quit mother’s milk but raise by mother’s milk when baby gets three years old
Ritual of full month is carried out for either son or daughterm, but Ritual of full year is just organized for son Period from 3 to 12 years old is period of learning and
Trang 10discovering the world Children from 6 – 7 years old have been taught to take care of their younger brothers and sisters, carrying water, picking vegetable Girls from 9- 10 years old follow mothers to replant or help father herd buffalo According to notion of Ethnic Tay, 12 year – old children is out of old age, 14 years old is considered to be adult Before 1980s, many families worried about marrying childrend off since they ware 13 – 14 years old So, teaching way of human behavior, way of working for children is highly respected
Conclusion of chapter 2
Ethnic Tay in Na Hang have notions about children upon both tradition of Vietnamese and own features of our nation Ethnic Tay think that getting marriage, starting a family must give baby Woman getting marriage without giving baby shall be considered to be abnormal, unfortunate The remarkable point is that Tay families wish
to have many children and they think that this is the happiness of family and origin According to th notion of Ethnic Tay about children with important meaning to woman It is considered to be prerequisite for woman to become an official member of family, determine the position of family, origin and community Ethnic Tay think that families must have son Son is person to perpetuate family lineage So in the life of Ethnic Tay, especially, tradition has created high pressure on many women who are not given a son birth
Ethnic Tay especially concern to habits, Rituals during pregnant time and giving birth Right as pregnant time, woman receive many special concern of family to take care of fetus as well as health of mother
Tay families during process of giving birth, taking care and raising children carry out many customs and habits, those Rituals contain cultural values of ethnic community with the purpose for mother to be safe when giving birth, babies shall be healthy Besides of normal Rituals that children must experience like Ritual of worshipping midlife, Ritual of putting name, etc… especial Rituals to pregnant women who seem not healthy, babies are not healthy and need to get support of a supernatural world, that is mother Hoa – a person that Ethnic Tay think to be mother of reproduction, has an important role in deciding having child and how are children So, the role of shamanm, Mr and Mrs then are considered to be important
Rituals of giving birth and teaching children currently have certain changes Unsuitable customs and Rituals have been changed to adapt to current life
Chapter 3 RITUAL OF MARRIAGE OF ETHNIC TAY 3.1 Notion of Ethnic Tay about marriage
According to notion of Ethnic Tay, marriage not only is element to maintain and develop the lineage, to express the loving between man and woman but also reflect moral values of ethnic group Getting marriage is considered to be important landmark
to prove that boy and girl have been adult, have right to participate in meetings of village, origin, right to express their ideas According to Ethnic Tay, a beautiful marriage, a happy couple must be suitable alliance about family, origin, both are healthy, equal qualification, they must be united and must discuss any matters in daily life
3.1.1.Standard of choosing husband and wife of Ethnic Tay
Trang 11- Standard of choosing wife:
Standards of choosing wife of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang is to choose strong, work hard, gentle speaking and resourceful girl This standards origin from resident environment in moutainous areas and production activities of families Besides standards about health, hard – work, girls need some other characters as: Polite speaking, good behavior to parent in law and relatives and other people in the village
An other necessary character of future wife is know how to make embroidery, sew
- Standard of choosing husband: Standard of choosing son – in – law, choosing husband is concerned, paid attention by Tay families in Na Hang Choosing son – in – law starts from role of man in family In traditional society of Ethnic Tay, ideal husband is a strong, hardworking man, he loves his wife and children, know how to behave well with relatives, parents, sisters and brothers of wife’s family Tay family follows patrilineality, so role of man in family is very important Man is breadwinner of family So girl’s family must choose son – in – law very carefully with good nature, hardworking and gentle For girls, those boys must be the ones that they love and
respect, they just can live happily
- Criteria of marriage age: Previously, Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, as well as Ethnic Tay
in general think that each person at certain age must get married Those not comply
that rule often is “abnormal”
Ethnic Tay carry out rule of one husband - one wife and faithful marriage It can be said that this is a humanistic notion of Ethnic Tay Altruistic, sociable, equal characters help couple love, sympathize and share life with eachother more Most of Tay man are not patriarcal, responsible, woman are hardworking, capable, handled all works in the family
Form of key marriage of Ethnic Tay is arranged marriage Nowaday, this form has changed but it still complies the above form of marriage despite of being freely learnt if considering carefully
3.2 Marriage principle of Ethnic Tay
3.2.1.Exogamous principle of origin
People called consanguinity, relative are not allowed to get marriage with eachother Marriage is allowed when girl and boy are far from 5 lives In order to avoid violating exogamous principle of the origin, when children get adult, parent and relative must be responsible for telling them who they can get married or not Ethnic Tay in Na Hang connect inbreeding marriage with spirit So, if marriage between members in the origin happen, punishment is very heavy for this
3.2.2.Resident principle after getting marriage
Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, there are two resident forms of marriage as: Form of own residence (at husband’s house): After getting marriage, young couple shall not stay nor at husband’s house or wife’s house but live at their own house; Form of living with wife’s house This case just happens when wife’s family does not have any brothers or wife’s family wants to get son – in – law to help their works…In this case, son – in – law and wife shall give birth and live toghether with wife’s house, it means to become
member of wife’s family, regardless of living with parent in law or separately
3.3 Customs and Rituals of Tay’s marriage
All Rituals in marriage of Ethnic Tay as: Ritual in girl’s house before marriage: Proposal, engagement, getting number; Wedding Ritual: Submitting wedding
Trang 12present at wife’s house; Asking for the bride, picking up the bride, worship the ancestor and Ritual of welcoming the bride; Ritual after wedding as: Ritual of Newly-weds’ first visit to the briede’s family, Marriage Ritual of Ethnic Tay is still carried out upon the tradition, it means that marriage Rituals of Ethnic Tay fully comply traditional Rituals Procedures in marriage Ritual of Ethnic Tay are carried out upon certain frames with specific regulations that everyone must comply These Rituals are carried out at houseowner in many hours by Shaman So, worshipping ancestor in marriage Ritual is own identity in culture of Ethnic Tay
3.3.1.Marriage Rituals of Ethnic Tay
For Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, marriage is an important work in life So, Ethnic Tay extremely pay attention to Rituals of marriage
3.3.2.1 Ritual at bride’ family before wedding
- Ritual of proposal, seeing face and asking for number
According to tradition, Ethnic Tay have custom of proposal, seeing face, and asking for number This custom is common custom of Ethnic Tay in Tuyen Quang Proposal, seeing face, asking for number are normal jobs of two families with previous relation Espousing children is job of two families themselve agree with eachother Asking wife for son is an active job of family with son
In the culture of Ethnic Tay, proposal, seeing face and asking for number often
is carried out at night Because, people think that they have not known the idea of girl and her family, so the Ritual of proposal normally is organized at night so that neighbors can not know, avoid bad reputation for both boy and girl after because the fate has decisive role This Ritual is not fixed but can be carried out all year at anytime when family want and only need to avoid bad days in year
3.4.2.Ritual of engagement, asking for wedding presents of Ethnic Tay: According to custom of Ethnic Tay, after collating date, month, year of born whether they are matched and build husband and wife relation of two children Boy’s family actively comes to girl’s family to do engagement and officially establish intermarriage Ritual of engagement of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang often has one representative, but there are many Rituals of engagement which are organized with many people including: the same position with parent, sisters and brothers, grandchildren, friends Possesty minimum to
do engagement including 2 capons, two liters of wine, 2kgs of rice,betel and areca, tea and cigarette, makhokar, candy After engagement, boy’s family and girl’s family do asking for wedding presents Girl’ family asks for presents as pig, chicken, trung cake, day cake, wine, rice to make the wedding
3.4.3.Organizing wedding: Ethnic Tay often organize wedding from August to December (Lunar callendar) because they think that this time is cool, not hot and not busy because crops have just been havested but less organized from March to July Before wedding, boy’s family must prepare full presents during time from 2 – 3 years, they will be prepared during year with wealthier families When presents are full, boy’s family shall notify girl’s family in advance from 15 days to one month to prepare for wedding During this time, boy’s family must submit fully wedding presents as agreed before for girl’s family
Rituals before wedding shall be organized after Ritual of engagement of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang including: Ritual of receiving intermarriage, bridegroom presents relative, presents and quantity must have in wedding day (called declaration)
Trang 13Preparation for wedding or Ethnic Tay in Na Hang must be prepared very carefully with the support of many people in family, relative
3.4.4.Eating and drinking in wedding: Wedding of Ethnic Tay in tradition as well as nowadays still remains many special food, reflecting material and spiritual life of local residents This is traditional food of Ethnic Tay as: constarch soup, forestry banana flower salad, ginger soup, bamboo roll, stuffed bamboo, roask pork, khau nhuc Food is symbol for five basic elements yin – yang and wine is unable to be missed in wedding party of Tay ethnic group Wine is special food culture and attached with life of ethnic group for a longtime So, Ethnic Tay go to wedding means they go to drink wine
Conclusion chapter 3
Wedding or Ethnic Tay shows deeply cultural identity of ethnic group, it clearly displays via traditional Rituals There are many Rituals with especially important meaning containing living idea, cultural history of ethnic group Besides credence elements, Rituals in marriage express sharp education meaning
Marriage of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, many Rituals are carried out by two families of boy and girl, each Ritual expresses cultural value of Ethnic Tay Thoroughout Rituals of marriage, relations of each member in family, community are expressed and displayed, it proves for community relation, closed society and responsibility, mutual support
Currently, Ritual in marriage of Ethnic Tay has suitable changes with the development of modern life However, many couples can not get married with eachother So, Rituals are cut down many, asking for presents in many families is just for procedure However, Rituals in marriage of Ethnic Tay are still maintained and preserved with deeply cultural identity Those are beautiful features in culture of ethnic group which need to be preserved and promoted in modern life
Chapter 4 FUNERAL RITUAL OF ETHNIC TAY 4.1 Notion about life, death and soul
Tay ethnic group in Na Hang think that every people has their own soul, body and soul in combination, these exist and adhere when alive, and they shall separate from body, the body immerses into ashes but soul is existing and transfering to other world (invisible world) or called ghost world, the hell Ethnic Tay believe that the world has soul, the soul existes when death That soul shall fly to three places (or called three worlds): The first place, soul flies to heaven; the second place, soul comes back with ancestor and the third, soul stays at home with grandchildren According to notion of Ethnic Tay, soul stays at height, when soul comes to the heaven, on cloud layers “white cloud speading”, and if go there must pass over many sky layers And one other destination of soul is ancestor Herely, the road that soul coming back is similar to the road of coming back home when mother is back home from field, searching for dry wood That road goes through field, rice field, climes mountain and gorge The road also has place to use trees for tight, use trees as yoke
When talking about space of universe, in the thought of Ethnic Tay in Na Hang, the worlds that death come: Human is living there with birds, trees and other activities and each world has different relations
Sky world (called Muong Troi), where is the residence of soul according to the immagine of Ethnic Tay including many different layers, the highest layer of universe is