Doi Son cultural space, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province

Doi Son cultural space, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCES TRAN KIM CUC DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE, DUY TIEN DISTRICT, HA NAM PROVINCE Major: Vietnamese studies Code: 60 31 60 Master’s thesis Abstract Hanoi-2012 1 PREAMBLE 1. Reason for selecting the topic The thesis contributes a work for studying Vietnam culture. It would like to help people to understand more about a small part of Vietnamese culture. The writer was born and grown up in Ha Nam province. With the love of country and the passion of cultural learning, we decided to implement and explore this subject. We look forward this thesis can provide an overall and multi- dimensional view about “Doi Son cultural space”. 2. Sciencetisic signification and graptical signification *Sciencetisic signification: Doi Son cultural space research will help us to know cultural zoning exactly and orient the process of cultural research. *Graptical signification: Research of Doi Son cultural space will affirm the traditional values that Doi Son people have created and preserved for many generations. Moreover, it also contributes to promote Doi Son cultural space. 3. History of research * History of cultural space study In the world: until late 19 th century and early 20 th century, the scientific theories of cultural space appeared in the world. Including: the evolutional school; the theory of cultural diffusion in Western Europe; theory of American cultural area; the theory of cultural- historical region; the theory of socio-cultural (Russian). These theories and schools reflect the evolution of human awareness of cultural space, that means the cultural similarities and differences. 2 In Vietnam: The first people who researched cultural space in basic is Prof. Ngo Duc Thinh. The books “Văn hóa vùng và phân vùng văn hóa ở Việt Nam” published in 1993 and republished in 2003 is the outstanding research on regional culture in both cultural space theory and specific characteristics of each regions in Vietnam. *The history of Doi Son cultural space research In modern time, Doi Son began to be mentioned in the studyings. Two books represents the “Việt Nam, cái nhìn địa văn hóa” written by Tran Quoc Vuong, published in 1998 and “Hà Nam- di tích và danh thắng” by Department of Culture and Information of Ha Nam, published in 2003. In the book “Việt Nam, cái nhìn địa văn hóa”, Chau River and Doi mountain are mentioned as a prominent cultural entity. However, the author has not studied in depth various aspects of this cultural space. The book “Hà Nam- di tích và danh thắng” is the most complete record of Doi Son ever, which had introduced about the burial area in Doi Son commune, Sung Thien Dien Linh stele, the Kinari statue, the Diamond statue, Di Lac Buddha statue. However, the book includes the list only, not analyses of of Doi Son’s cultural factor, nature, social, history, cultural objects, etc. inadequately and deeply. Reviewing the articles concerning Doi Son, Doi Son culture has not been studied deeply and evaluated its adequate value. 3 4. Object and scope of study *Object of study: Doi Son cultural space *Scope of study: The whole process of formation and development of Doi Son cultural space, then and now. 5. Purpose and study methodology *Purpose of study: Subject aims to identify the forming factors of Doi Son cultural space, outstanding and decisive factors and the main characteristics of Doi Son cultural space. *Study methodology: the method of materials collection; practical methods; qualitative and quantitative analysis of practical data 6. Structure of the thesis Chapter 1: The forming factors of Doi Son cultural space Chapter 2: The specific characteristics of Doi Son cultural space Chapter 3: Doi Son cultural space in Son Nam cultural sub-area 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF OF TABLES Error! Bookmark not defined. LIST OF FIGURES Error! Bookmark not defined. PREAMBLE Error! Bookmark not defined. 1. Reason for selecting the topic Error! Bookmark not defined. 2. Sciencetisic signification and graptical signification 1 3. History of research Error! Bookmark not defined. 4. Object and Scope of Study Error! Bookmark not defined. 5. Purpose and study methodology 3 6. Structure of the thesis Error! Bookmark not defined. Chapter 1: THE FORMING FACTORS OF DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.1 The theory of cultural space Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2 Approaching Doi Son cultural space Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.1 The natural elements Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.2 Conditions of history and residents Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.3 The socio-economics conditions Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.4 Political-Economic-Social Center Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.2.5 The combination of material and spiritual culture Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.3 Sub-summary Error! Bookmark not defined. Chapter 2: THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1 The specific characteristic of material culture Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1.1 Overview of material life Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1.2 Housing Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1.3 Cuisine Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1.4 Water source Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1.5 Monuments Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.1.6 Cultural House Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2 The specific characteristics of spiritual culture Error! Bookmark not defined. 5 2.2.1 Overview of spiritual cullture Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.2 Customarys Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.3 Community Festivals Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.2.4 Religions and beliefs Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3 Sub-summary Error! Bookmark not defined. CHAPTER 3: DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE IN SON NAM CULTURAL SUB-AREA Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1 The name“Son Nam” and “Son Nam cultural sub-area” Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.1 Place name “Son Nam” Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.2 The delmitation of Son Nam cultural sub- areas Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2 Son Nam culture in Doi Son culture Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.1 Natural and socio-economic conditions Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.2 Culture Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3 Differences of Doi Son cultural space in Son Nam cultural sub-area Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.4 The position and role of Doi Son cultural space in Son Nam cultural sub-area Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.5 Sub-summary Error! Bookmark not defined. CONCLUSION Error! Bookmark not defined. 1. The general conclusions Error! Bookmark not defined. 2. Some problems Error! Bookmark not defined. 3. Some recommendations Error! Bookmark not defined. REFERENCES Error! Bookmark not defined. 6 Chapter 1: THE FORMING FACTORS OF DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE 1.1 The theory of cultural space 1.1.1 The concept of cultural space According to Tran Quoc Vuong, a cultural region is a whole - the system, a cultural space with a structure - the system including the sub-system in the way of system - analysis. For example, Hue is a cultural region, as a structure- system including the sub-systems with “unique” characters such as “Hue language”, “Hue chanty”, “Hue music”, “phap lam Hue”, “Hue Citadel”, ‘Hue tombs”, “Hue city”, “Hue pagoda and temple”, etc [48, pg. 59-60]. Ngo Duc Thinh has released the concept of cultural space with concrete meaning and abstract meaning. In concrete meaning, “cultural space is defined as a specific geographical space, where a phenomenon or a combination of cultural phenomena arise, exist, change and link together as a system” [36, pg. 12]. Meanwhile, Ngo Duc Thinh also stated that “in the concept of “cultural space” also means the geographic location of a cultural phenomenon or a combination of cultural phenomena captured in the relationship with other phenomena or combination of cultural phenomena” [36, pg. 13]. In abstract meaning, cultural space is defined as a “magnetic field” (borrowing the concept of physics), referring to a phenomenon or a combination of phenomena (a culture of ethnic, nation or area) has capable of receiving and spreading (the effects), creating for this culture a wide or narrow cultural space (magnetic field). [36, pg. 14]. 7 Two perceptions of the cultural space of Tran Quoc Vuong and Ngo Duc Thinh same approach seeing culture as a system of many sub-systems linked closely in time and space. 1.1.2 The concept of cultural region, regional culture Ngo Duc Thinh introduced the concept of territorial culture (regional culture): “Territorial culture or regional culture is a cultural form, in which, in a defined geographical space, the communities by living in a similar natural environment, social development conditions, and especially the relationship of lively cultural exchange, have established the special common cultural characteristics in the long history” [36, pg. 18]. The concept of cultural region of Ngo Duc Thinh: “The cultural region is a region where has similarities in natural environment, the residents have long original and historical relationships with the same level of economic-social development, the cultural exchange and affection between them has formed the common characteristics in physical and spiritual cultural habits, which helps to distinguish the other cultural regions” [36, pg. 84]. The concepts of “regional culture”, “cultural region” also complement to the concept of “cultural space”. The regional culture and the cultural region has always been considered a important research direction of cultural space. 1.1.3 The factors create cultural space Based on the cultural region of Ngo Duc Thinh’s concept [36, pg. 84], the factors which established cultural region including: The natural environment and production, 8 Tradition and historical origin, Population-ethnic components and language, Political- Economic- Social Centers, The development of Society and Economy, Cultural exchange and interaction. In which, each certain cultural space plays a major role, quite exceptional different. 1.2 Approaching Doi Son cultural space 1.2.1 The natural elements 1.2.1.1 Geographical location Doi Son commune is located in the southern- eastern pole of Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province. Doi Son commune is bordered by Yen Nam commune (Duy Tien district) in the north; Van Ly commune (Ly Nhan district) in the east; Tien Ngoai and Tien Hiep communes (Duy Tien district) in the west; Chau Son and Tien Phong communes (Duy Tien district) in the south. Doi Son’s geographical space is a isolated area, like a private valley which located deeply in the mountains. This land seems to be wild and mysterious, which makes Doi Son like a isolated area with ancient culture. These traditional characteristics of culture have been remained until now. 1.2.1.2 Topography There has the long Doi mountain, stretching on the length of the commune. From a distance, Doi Son commune looks like touching in the mountain. People lived next to the mountain. Doi Son has Chau river which flows through the east of commune. Doi mountain and Chau river are considered as symbol of Ha Nam province. 9 Locating in the hollow area of Ha-Nam-Ninh, Doi Son commune is also the wetlands. The plain of Doi Son commune is rather hollow. This is one of factors which formed the cultural characteristics in the habits of living, building homes of local people. 1.2.1.3 Climate Doi Son commune is belonged to North-east regional climate with tropical monsoon, hot and rainy. The annual average temperature about 23 ° C. Humidity is 84%. Average annual rainfall is 1900mm, more hardly. Doi Son climate is generally quite mild, cool. Climate makes its become a prosperous farm. This also makes the polloi pleasant, peaceful. Rainfall is also enriched the ponds, lakes naturally for Doi Son commune. 1.2.2 Conditions of history and residents 1.2.2.1 Conditions of history Doi Son commune has a long history. Doi Son commune was found 11 ancient graves of the Dong Son period and two graves of the later Le dynasty. In 1987, King Le Dai Hanh ploughed the fields in Doi Son land. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La through Chau river. Thus, Doi Son commune was formed and developed with the process of national construction and defense of the nation. In the Dong Son period, this land was attracted human to live. They created the ancient cultural values which was basis for the residents continued to living here [...]... province 21 Chapter 3: DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE IN SON NAM CULTURAL SUB-AREA 3.1 The names Son Nam and Son Nam cultural sub-area” 3.1.1 Place name Son Nam Son Nam was one of four defence areas of ancient Thang Long capital Nowadays, Son Nam inculding provinces: Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh and a part of Hung Yen and Ha Noi provinces 3.1.2 The delmitation of Son Nam cultural sub-area In “Văn... position and role of Doi Son cultural space in Son Nam cultural sub-area Firstly, Doi Son culture is a small picture of Son Nam cultural sub-area Secondly, Doi Son culture is make the localities culture, so it is enriched Son Nam culture Thirdly, Doi Son in the near future will be an important area of Son Nam cultural sub-area Fourthly, Doi Son culture is contributed to promoting Son Nam culture 3.5 Sub-summary... worship and Thanh Hoang worship 3.3 Differences of Doi Son cultural space in Son Nam cultural sub-area Doi Son cultural space is located in Son Nam cultural sub-area There are common characteristics in itself but there are separate ones, called “the local nuances” (letter of Prof Ngo Duc Thinh) Doi Son commune has unique drum village in Vietnam Doi Son commune has a long history At Doi Son commune,... who has an answered “often going to the pagoda”, 80% of people who very believe in Buddha 2.3 Sub-summary Doi Son cultural space have many values on both material and spritual culture It has reserved a lot of traditional values In Ha Nam province, there is hardly a place where was kept an ancient cultural treasure as Doi Son space Doi Son area can be seen as a centrel cultural of Ha Nam province 21 Chapter... diversity Doi Son cultural space is located in Son Nam cultural sub-area Thus, there are many similar features However, Doi Son cultural space still has the different features Today, Doi Son culture has many conditions to develop Moreover, it also is invested by many departments Doi Son cultural space will be advanced its role with Son Nam culture 25 CONCLUSION *The general conclusions The thesis has presented... Việt Nam (republished in 2003), Ngo Duc Thinh located Son Nam sub-area in to the North Vietnamese Plain cultural area 3.2 Son Nam culture in Doi Son culture 3.2.1 Natural and Socio-economic conditions *Natural condition: Doi Son commune and Son Nam sub-area all has mountain-river and lowland topography They has climate tropical with four seasons *Economics: In past, structure of economy of Son Nam. .. demonstrated that people has lived in this land for a long time Doi Son s history also link with many cultural and historical events of nation Long Doi Son pagoda has many special aspects such as Sung Thien Dien Linh stele, precious statutes, etc Doi Son commune has two large festivals In which, Doi Son plough festival is the unique festival in the country Doi Son people has no religion as Son Nam people... presented Doi Son culture in two aspects: time and space Doi Son cultural space reserve the the traditional values, which inspired the love with homeland from Doi Son people *Some problems Understanding about Doi son cultural space still was incomplete Currently, the documents about Doi Son culture are very rarely Ha Nam people has no knowledge about their homeland’s culture *Some recommendations Doi Son cultural. .. 2.1.6 Cultural House Doi Son commune has the center cultural house on People’s Committee of Doi Son commune This is place 16 where was held many activities such as the meetings, cultural activities, classroom career The cultural house was contributed to the material and spirit live of the people here Doi Son commune has four cultural houses level village It was cultural house of Doi Tin, Doi Nhi, Doi. .. plough field on Doi Son s field on the morning on 7th January The “Hoi” section includes many entertaiment activities such as drawing buffaloes, wrestling, making drums, etc In 2009, it was the first year that Ha Nam province held wrestling at Doi Son commune All other years, the wrestling is held in Lieu Doi wrestling festival (Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province) Doi Son plough festival has humane sense . the thesis Chapter 1: The forming factors of Doi Son cultural space Chapter 2: The specific characteristics of Doi Son cultural space Chapter 3: Doi Son cultural space in Son Nam cultural sub-area. CHAPTER 3: DOI SON CULTURAL SPACE IN SON NAM CULTURAL SUB-AREA Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1 The name Son Nam and Son Nam cultural sub-area” Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.1 Place name. first year that Ha Nam province held wrestling at Doi Son commune. All other years, the wrestling is held in Lieu Doi wrestling festival (Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province) . Doi Son plough