More Investment Needed for the Development of Xoan Singing

Over thousands of years, since Xoan singing was initially a kind of performing art related to worshipping gods, it has now become a unique heritage, cultural activities which particularly characterise local people. 

 

Although it is a precious heritage, Xoan singing is on the verge of getting lost and falling into oblivion. This is attributed to untimely passing it to young generations; artists growing old or in poor health; the degradation of Xoan singing relics; poor treatment policies to artists and the lack of conservation plans. The specific practical solutions are very important to lift Xoan singing out of the risk of getting lost, thus becoming part of modern life and meeting the needs of local people, especially after it is inscribed on the list of Intangible Heritages in Need of Urgent Safeguarding of UNESCO. Besides, the conservation and promotion of this kind of art form contributes to enhancing the spiritual life for people, stimulating the socio-economic development of Vietnam and raise Vietnam's position on the regional and global stage.

 

In the efforts of heritage conservation, in January, 2013 the Prime Minister issued Decision 2058/QD- TTg approving the project of preserving and promoting the values of Xoan singing - the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in Phu Tho (period 2013-2020) . Accordingly, the more worthwhile investment in Xoan singing needs to be done with the following tasks. Firstly, it needs to intensify collecting, doing researches, documenting and digitalising Xoan singing lessons, cultural activities and music accompanied with Xoan singing culture space. Secondly, the embellishment of key relics located in the original Xoan guilds and the act of restoring performing space of Xoan singing as the worship singing to commemorate Hung Kings also need to focus on. Simultaneously, the Centre for Conservation and Preservation of Xoan singing Intangible Culture Heritage should be established. Moreover, it is necessary to promote, disseminate and honour values of Xoan singing to local and international friends, at the same time, promulgate mechanisms and incentives to artists and guilds. 

 

In the coming years, it will be strongly oriented towards the conservation and development of Xoan singing in tourism and services through performances at Xoan singing guilds and relics. The investment in repairing and embellishment of relics related to Xoan singing will be also put on top of priorities and the act of restoring traditional customs and festivals in surrounding areas will be of great importance. Besides, it will be essential to invest in infrastructure in Phu Tho and surrounding areas to meet the needs of tourism development and improve the living standard of Xoan singing community. This kind of art performing form also needs to be reinforced to participate in international exchanges of Intangible Culture Heritage.    

Those who work in culture field in Phu Tho are attempting to preserve and uphold Xoan singing values with the hope of promoting Xoan singing to become a unique cultural tourism product which contributes to the socio-economic development in Phu Tho. The goal is that, by 2015, Xoan singing would be taken out of the urgent-protective situation to become the Intangible Heritage; plus, transmitted to next generations in the community.

 

With an estimated budget of about VND165 billion, the scheme will be implemented from 2013 to 2020 according to divergence: Period one from 2013 to 2015 will focus on collecting, doing research, inventorying, documenting, digitalising all documents of Xoan singing; teaching the ancient songs to people in the Xoan singing community; planning, repairing and restoring relics accompanied with Xoan singing and worshipping of Hung Kings; conserving and preserving Xoan singing performances, customs and festivals connecting to the worshipping of Hung Kings in Phu Tho Province; enhancing the management capacity for Xoan singing guilds. Period two from 2013 to 2020 will continue to implement the rest contents of the previous project.