Xoan Singing-Intangible Cultural Heritage

Xoan singing, also called temple gate singing, honours village guardian spirits. According to legend, the folk singing appeared in the time of Hung Kings. In the old time, Van Lang people did Xoan singing in the springtime when the New Year came. There are three types of Xoan singing: The worship singing to commemorate Hung Kings and village guardian gods; the ritual singing to pray for good crops, good health; and the festive singing - a form of love duet.

 

Ancient Xoan melodies were originated from ancient villages of Van Lang State during the reign of Hung Kings. Starting from present-day Phu Tho province, Xoan singing was proliferated to other villages along the Lo and Hong rivers. Four ancient Xoan singing wards were An Thai, Phu Duc, Kim Doi and Thet in Kim Duc and Phuong Lau communes (Phu Tho province).

 

Xoan singing is a performance art with all forms of rhythms and lyrics like recitative, declaiming, poetry recitation and singing. The singing is performed by female choir, male choir, group singing, duet singing, polyphonic singing, turn-by-turn singing. Xoan singing features solemn tones, slow tones, quick tones and charming lyrical tones.

 

In Xoan singing, dancing and singing always go together and combine together. Dances illustrate words. Singing and dancing is usually in a given order. The singing starts with four ritual repertoires praying, praising and describing production. The songs sung are mainly ancient lyrics. The second part is ‘cach’ singing, performed by a guild. In this part, Ong Trum or Kep (male singer) opens a book and declaim 14 long poems, mimicked by dao (female singers). 14 poems by anonymous depict labour and livelihood in the countryside, glorify nature beauty, and repeat old stories. After the “cach” singing are lyrical folk performances. Each successive repertoire is illustrated by dances or performances like fishing. The vitality of Xoan singing roots from the combination of ritual singing and love singing.

 

In recent years, the government of Phu Tho province has implemented some key tasks to preserve and promote the intangible cultural heritage of humanity - Xoan singing.

 

The province has also organised classes to teach and practise Xoan singing for local young people.

 

This important content decides the sustainable safeguarding of Xoan singing and upholds the role of elderly artisans in training younger generations. In 2015, the younger artisans will succeed the elderly to teach the folk singing for the next generations.

 

To carry out the "Preservation and promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in need of urgent safeguarding - Xoan singing of Phu Tho in the 2013-2015, with a vision to 2020” Project, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will survey original Xoan singing wards and Xoan-learning localities, examine the status of conserving and promoting Xoan singing heritage values, and analyse data collected.

 

Besides, the province has carried out heritage protection projects in line with the UNESCO Convention, local social, economic, cultural and tourism development objectives.

 

Phu Tho has also researched, collected and compiled “Xoan singing collection” - the most complete scientific work on Xoan singing of Phu Tho, which will lay the groundwork for Vietnam to submit documents to UNESCO for addition of “Xoan singing of Phu Tho” to the list of intangible cultural heritages of humanity in 2015.

 

Besides, the province has established projects to preserve, repair and restore relics related to Xoan singing; collected, researched, published, documented and digitalised Xoan singing materials; organised Xoan singing performances in Vietnam and other countries, organised scientific conferences; studied to restore Xoan singing festivals, oratorios and customs associated with the worship of Hung Kings Beliefs in original Xoan singing wards.

 

Phu Tho will also boost the popularity of Xoan singing via mass media, particularly on the information portal of Phu Tho province, in both Vietnamese and English languages.

 

The province also plans to bring Xoan singing out of the list of heritages in need of special safeguarding in 2015.