SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOR LESSONS IN THEN SONGS OF THE NUNG PEOPLE IN DONG HY, THAI NGUYEN

Abstract

In Dong Hy, Thai Nguyen, Then ritual activities and ancient Then songs of the Nung people are still practiced regularly and play an important role in life. Various Then songs, containing many spiritual values and imbued with ethnic cultural identity, have not yet been explored clearly and systematically. To research this issue, the authors conducted fieldwork to collect Then songs, translate their meanings, observe rituals, and interview artisans to see reflections on spiritual beliefs and applicable lessons in the Then songs of the Nung people in Dong Hy, Thai Nguyen. That spiritual belief is expressed through the concept of the magical world of the mysterious "Muong" with the gods and the vast natural space. Lessons on behavior in family relationships are rich in kindness and loyalty. This creates human values and positive meanings in Then songs, which have mysterious characteristics.