Pham Hai Hau – King of the intangibles

Pham Hai Hau – King of the intangibles

(Vietnam Tourism Evaluate) – It takes one thing particular to make us spellbound. Buildings, monuments, artwork works – irrespective of how awe-inspiring – stir solely our visible sense. To forged a spell, it takes greater than mere sight or sound: it takes one thing intangible.

Viet Nam’s conventional Chau Van ceremony of folks artwork can have such an impact. Listening to the fragile great thing about the music and dance, embracing its mystical appeal and paying silent respect to its spiritual significance could be a hypnotic expertise for observers.

Chau Van is exclusive however its indefinable high quality is one which many such wonders world wide possess. It’s also why UNESCO referred to as their operation that helps to protect them ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (ICH).

Combining trance singing and dancing, Chau Van could be a haunting medley of music and poetry. It has all kinds of rhythms, pauses and pitches whereas each sounds and script could relate to occasions which might be largely legendary however sometimes fashionable. All in all, it makes for probably the most distinct parts of indigenous Vietnamese tradition.

Few have contributed extra to its preservation than Pham Hai Hau who was simply 24 when he fell for its charms in Ha Noi in 1997. Underneath the tutelage of Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuc, Mr. Hau displayed a flair and dedication which have seen him go on to show greater than 800 college students over the following many years and win numerous awards.

Hailing from the Duy Tien district of Ha Nam province, he remembers taking to it instantly: “From the time I used to be launched to Chau Van, I practiced it at Lanh Giang temple in Ha Nam about 50 occasions a 12 months.” The next 12 months he was put in cost and toured the nation practising in temples resembling Dong Cuong, Mau Tien Huong Chua Be and Tran Thuong amongst others.

The Chau Van ceremony itself is carried out on many notable events resembling: “Getting into the Temples” (after New Yr’s Eve), “Thuong Nguyen” (in January), “Welcoming Summer time” (April), “Saying Farewell to Summer time” (July), “Hap An” (twenty fifth of December) and New Yr’s Eve (December).

There are two different necessary feasts. In March is the anniversary of the demise of the Mom Goddesses whereas August marks the demise of the Bat Hai father (Holy Tran). A number of lesser rituals are carried out all year long.

“Within the spiritual system of beliefs in Viet Nam,” Mr. Hau explains, “the worship of mom goddesses has very distinct traits and indigenous parts of Vietnamese tradition. Thus the Chau Van ceremony is what finest distinguishes it from different faiths and religions. It’s a type of people spiritual observe from historical occasions, but in addition a cultural phenomenon that has been studied by many students.”

Training it takes a particular type of dedication; instructing it and preserving it to the lengths that Mr. Hau has achieved are means past the decision of obligation. And that, in addition to his being considered one of its main exponents, is why he has been so broadly adorned.

Matter of factly, he recollects: “In 2009, I participated within the Chau Van pageant that mirrored the third nice mandarin legend. In 2012, I took half within the ceremony of Kieu Nam Quan at Nam Dinh to propagate the worship of mom goddesses, to want for nationwide peace and prosperity. In 2013, I gained the Gold Award on the Chau Van Pageant Singing Contest within the Purple River Delta. In September 2014, I gained the superb prize on the Chau Van Open Pageant Celebration of Ha Nam province…”

He might go on however he makes it clear that he’s something however a trophy hunter. “Within the technique of collaborating within the preservation of this intangible cultural heritage,” he says, “I at all times assist the folks within the space in praying for the peace and prosperity of the nation, happiness and wealth in households, and to information folks to have a very good life whereas supporting households in tough circumstances.”

In 2015, he was awarded the title of Elite Artist of the folk-art type of Ha Nam province by the President for excellent contributions in preserving and selling the cultural heritage of the nation. Upon receiving this accolade he mentioned: “I’m devoted to preserving and selling the artwork of Chau Van, contributing to selling the values of Mom Goddesses worshiping, particularly in tourism improvement.”

Listening to a efficiency – normally within the beneficial acoustics of a temple – could be a mesmerizing expertise the like of which is tough to explain. It’s why UNESCO has to present a prolonged definition to this facet of tradition: “ICH is made up of oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive occasions, information and practices regarding nature and the universe, and conventional craftsmanship information and strategies”.

Chau Van singing has a little bit of all of these and Mr. Hau is honoured to be considered one of its main exponents.

Thu Trang