annex 3 a study of shamanism - ichcap · 2018-11-26 · a study of shamanism | 135 religious...

Annex 3 | A Study of Shamanism From ICH

Safeguarding Approach

A study of Shamanism | 133

A STUDY OF SHAMANISM From ICH Safeguarding Approach

1. Basic information

A. Beneficiaries of the Project

Cultural researchers from the Department of Cultural Heritage,

MOCST

Shaman researchers from the Center for Research and Preservation

of Vietnamese Ritual Culture

B. Implementing Institutions/Organizations

Department of Cultural Heritage, MOCST

The Center for Research and Preserving the Religious Culture

C. Sponsor: ICH Centre for Asia and the Pacific (ICHCAP) in Korea

D. Time Table: June - October/2009

E. Implementing venues

Study Tour Visit in Seoul and other local cities in Korea

Workshop and shaman performance in Hanoi, Vietnam

F. Budgets

Total budget : 8,000 USD

7.000 USD (the remaining funds from previous collaborative project/ ICHCAP)

1,000 USD (DCH)

134 | Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Efforts in Vietnam

2. Project Description

Shamanism is an expression of folk belief that exists in various countries,

especially in Asia and Siberia. Among the North-east Asian countries,

Korea is the one where various forms of Shamanism still exist rather

commonly. Gut of Korea and mediumship (Lên đồng) of Vietnam are

crucial and typical rituals of Shamanism, aiming at treating illness,

praying for good lucks and getting rids of the devils. Several Gut

practitioners/communities for example Seoul Saenamgut – property

number 104; Hwanghaedo pyongsan sonoreumgut No 90, Geoynggido

dodanggut No 98, Yangju sonorigut No 70, Jeju chllmeoridangut No 71,

Jindo ssltgimgut No 72. In Vietnam, during the years of 1960 - 1980, Lên

đồng was prohibited because it was considered to be superstitious. Over a

decade after the independent war, from 1986, with a viewpoint of

renovating ways of thinking in different domains for the development of

the country, some folklorists have done researches in order to identify

cultural values of Lên đồng, at the same time, pointed out its negative and

backward aspects to the social life of present - day contexts in order to

direct it toward kindness, beauty and truth. To effectively implement the

UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural

Heritage, Vietnam needs to answer the following questions: ‘Can Lên

đồng of Vietnam be considered an intangible cultural heritage element?

What are the safeguarding means for this form of expression? How to

disseminate the value of this tradition as a way to promote an ICH

element rather than to merely encourage a belief?’

This project proposal aims at helping Vietnamese researchers to

approach the methods that Korean experts have been doing to identify

the values of Gut and safeguard it as an important national ICH element in

order tofind out the answers for the question mentioned above.

3. Rationale and description of activities

A. Objectives

Lên đồng (going into trance) or also called hầu đồng, hầu bóng, đồng bóng

(service to the spirits) is a shamanic ritual practice. This is a ritual in

which normal people communicate with the spirits through male or

female mediums. Nowadays, Lên đồng is still a spiritual need and a folk


religious practice of a certain communities of the Viet people. In general,

Lên đồng are performed many times throughout the year at festive

events, especially at festivals dedicated to the Father God, the Mother

Goddesses and related deities in response to communities and

individuals’ demands. At present, Len dong is still considered

superstitious by the authorities because of the fact that this rituals has

been used for bad purposes by many people. In addition, those who

practice the ritual are not able to explain the purposes of the ritual is to

wish for disease to be cured and to have good fortune, therefore they are

blamed to waste too much of money for a nonsence purpose and to cause

bad effects to their families In reality, the nature of Lên đồng is the main

ritual practice of the Mother Goddesses religion, a form of beliefs deeply

imbued with historic, ethic and cultural values. Thus, Lên đồng needs to

be studied with the aim to safeguard this tradition as an ICH or property

of community.

The results of this project will benefit communities who are owner of this

cultural tradition. After the ritual would have been identified, designated

and safeguarded by the Government under the Law on Cultural Heritage,

the owner community would be honored and provided with directives to

guide their activities and practices in order to safeguard the heritage.

Related communities and society at large would have a comprehensive

understanding and awareness of the tradition which used to be

considered backward and therefore needs to be rejected.

B. Activities

A delegation of 3 Vietnamese cultural researchers and managers will

conduct fieldwork among several groups of Gut practitioners to

understand how Korean shamanism, as an important national

heritage, is practiced. They will discuss with Korean cultural

researchers and managers about Korean experiences in

identification, assessment and dissemination of the values of Gut (for

instance: performance, presentation, etc) at different periods of

Korea’s modern history. The knowledge and experiences gained

after the visit will form the basis for proposing resolutions to

safeguard Lên đồng in Vietnam.

Later, a small-scale scientific seminar will be organized in Hanoi,

Vietnam. About 15 Vietnamese and Korean cultural specialists,

researchers and managers will discuss on the following issues:

cultural values of Lên đồng and Gut, viewpoints on research and


identification, as well as conditions needed for recognition and

safeguarding of this tradition as a living heritage of communities;

experiences in disseminating the values of this tradition as a cultural

property.

Prior to the seminar, Korean delegates will spend one day to study

Lên đồng., This study will help them a better understanding of the

tradition and will better prepare them for the discussion.

It is recommended that a group of Korean shaman performing group

(about 12 persons), shaman performing group which has been

safeguarded by the Korean Law on Cultural Heritage will come to

Vietnam on this occasion to perform at the seminar. Their presence

and performance will create an opportunity for Vietnamese

researchers to approach and experience the values of Gut in order to

propose effective measures of safeguarding Lên đồng, a folk ritual of

Vietnam.

C. Expected outcomes

A 3-day study tour of Vietnamese delegation to Korea, including 3

Vietnamese cultural researchers and managers, with participation of

ICHCAP staff and 01 Korean-Vietnamese interpreter.

A 1 - day seminar organized in Hanoi by the Department of Cultural

Heritage, MOCST in collaboration with the Center for Research and

Preservation of Vietnamese Ritual Culture, which includes 15

Vietnamese and Korean specialists in folk cultures and cultural

policies.

Performances of the Korean shaman performing group (12 persons)

at the workshop and/or at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum or at

the Vietnam Museum of ethnology. Besides, the group will have time

to visit Hanoi, Vietnam.

An evaluation report by the DCH and ICHCAP after the completion of

the project.

4. Management and implementation bodies

Department of Cultural Heritage, MOCST

The Center for Research and Preservation of Vietnamese Ritual

Culture

In consultation with ICHCAP


5. Meanings of the project

A. The project will strengthen cultural cooperation between Vietnam and

Korea and contribute to the implementation of the UNESCO 2003

Convention for the safeguarding of the ICH. Perhaps, results of the

project will be a case study, a practical contribution to other countries

in the region.

B. The project will raise awareness and capacity of the DCH and

Vietnamese researchers in studying to build policies for the

safeguarding and promoting of cultural heritage.

C. The project will improve the cooperation among countries in the Asia –

Pacific region, contributing to the dissemination of Korean image and

heritage.

6. Time Plan and budget

A. Time Plan

June, 2009: submission of proposal

15 – 18 August, 2009: Study tour of Vietnamese researchers in

Korea

9 – 12 September, 2009: Seminar and performance in Hanoi,

Vietnam

Octorber, 2009 : completion of evaluation report.


B. Work shop programme

Time Activities Venue

7 Sep.2009 22:05 Arrival Noi Bai airport

Travel to hotel Eden Hotel

8 Sep.2009 8:00-8:30 Breakfast Eden Hotel

8:30-

12:30

Travel to the Vietnamese

Women’s Museum to prepare for

the performance in the afternoon

(Korean delegation)

Vietnamese

Women’s Museum

12:30-

13:30

Lunch

13:30-

13:45

Travel to the Vietnamese

Women’s Museum

14:00-

16:00

Gut performance by Korean

practitioners

Vietnamese

Women’s Museum

16:00-

16:15

Tea break

16:15-

17:30

Visiting Museum/relic

17:30-

18:30

Dinner

18:30-

21:00

Attending the Len dong ritual

(Korean delegation and

Vietnamese experts)

Hanoi

21:00 Back to hotel

9 Sep.2009 7:30-8:00 Breakfast Auditorium at the

Vietnamese

Women’s

Museum, 36 Ly

Thuong Kiet st.,

Hoan Kiem dist.,

Hanoi

8:15-8:30 Travel to the Museum

8:30-8:35 Introduction

(Ms. Nguyen Kim Dung)

8:35-8:45 Opening speech of DCH’s Deputy

Director (Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly)


Chairman: Prof. Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh

8:45-9:30 Presentation

(Prof.Dr. Ngo Duc Thinh)

9:30-9:45 Tea break

9:45-

11:45

Presentation

(Dr. Yong-Bhum Yi)

11:45-

12:15

Presentation

(Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly)

12:15-

14:00

Lunch

14:00-

16:00

Discussion

- The experts

- Local delegates

- The practitioners

16:00-

16:30

Recommendations and close of

the workshop

19:00-

21:00

Dinner

10

Sep.2009

7:30-8:00 Breakfast and check out Eden Hotel

8:30-

11:30

Field trip in Nam Dinh province,

visit the cultural space of Len

dong ritual, Phu Giay

Nam Dinh

province

12:00-

14:00

Lunch

14:00-

16:00

Visit Tran Hung Dao Temple

16:00-

18:00

Travel back to Hanoi

18:00-

20:30

Farewell party Hanoi

20:30 Leaving Hanoi for Noi Bai airport Noi Bai airport

23:50 Departure


FINAL REPORT

A Study of Shamanism From

Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Approach

Within the cooperation framework in the field of safeguarding intangible

cultural heritage between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the

Republic of Korea, the Department of Cultural Heritage under the

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam has coordinated with

the Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Korea,

and the Center for Research and Preservation of Vietnamese Ritual

Culture to propose a project entitled ‘A Study of Shamanism - From

Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Approach’. The project was

implemented in Hanoi, Vietnam from 8 to 10 September, 2009 by

activities as scientific seminar, Seoul Saenam Gut performance and

mediumship ritual (Vietnamese Len dong). This report is on the

implementation of the above mentioned Shaman project, which was

financially covered by the remaining budget of the project of

Establishment a Living Human Treasures System in Vietnam and partly

funded by the Department of Cultural Heritage.

I. Objectives

The project aims to support Vietnamese researchers to approach the

methods that the Korean researchers have carried out to affirm cultural

values of Gut and preserve it as a national important heritage. Through

the project, Vietnamese researchers can find out suitable approaches and

implementation methods for Len dong of Vietnam.

II. Activities

To gain the objectives of the project, the Department of Cultural Heritage

carried out different activities as follows.


Inviting 20 Seoul Saenam Gut practitioners from Korea to Hanoi,

Vietnam to introduce Gut ritual performance to the workshop

participants, including cultural managers, researchers and

Vietnamese Len dong practitioners in the afternoon of the 8th of

September, 2009 at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. In the

evening of the same day, all the Vietnamese and Korean delegates

attended Len dong ritual performance in its cultural space at An Tho

shrine.

The scientific seminar with the theme of ‘Promoting cultural values of

Len dong and Gut in the contemporary life’ was held at the

Vietnamese Women’s Museum on 9 September, 2009. There

attended researchers, cultural managers, especially Gut

practitioners from Korea and Len dong practitioners nation wide -

from the three regions of the North, Centre and South of Vietnam.

The Korean practitioners and researchers also paid a visit to an

other cultural space of Len dong - Phu Giay Len dong center in Nam

Dinh province on 10 September, 2009.

Outcomes

1. The Seoul Saenam Gut performance of the Korean practitioners,

together with the introduction of a researcher, Dr. Lee Yong Bhum, has

provided Vietnamese researchers, cultural managers and Len dong

practitioners with initial understanding about Gut ritual. similarly, the

Korean researcher and practitioners were invited to attend and

experience the unique ritual culture of Len dong in its real cultural

space. Both Korean and Vietnamese participants realized the

resemblance in cultures of the two countries.

2. There were 3 important presentations in the workshop ‘Promoting

cultural values of Len dong and Gut in contemporary life’. The first

report entitled ‘Len dong in Mother religion’ was presented by Prof. Dr.

Ngo Duc Thinh, Director of the Centre for Research and Preservation of

Vietnamese Ritual Culture. The second presentation entitled ‘Reality

and insufficient points in cultural policy to worship’ was delivered by Dr.

Lee Yong Bhum, researcher of the Korean Institute for Religion and

Culture. And the last one under the theme of ‘For the maintenance of

heritage in the contemporary life’ was presented by Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly,

Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage of Vietnam.


Through the information provided by researchers and cultural managers,

the participants obtained certain knowledge of the policies of Vietnam

in safeguarding, promoting intangible cultural heritage and of Len dong

ritual in Vietnam. In addition, it was important that Vietnamese

cultural managers, researchers and practitioners could learn much

from the Korean policy for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural

heritage and of the Korean worshipping practices, both, the

advantages and disadvantages as well. The Korean’s good lessons were

very useful for us to apply and the shortcomings also helped to avoid

those problems that the Korean had encountered.

After the presentation session, the participants discussed on the issues

related to Len dong and Gut rituals. The Korean and Vietnamese

practitioners shared information on the cases when they became their

ritual practitioners, each specific section among the whole ritual

process, the taboos when carrying out the ritual practices, and so forth.

It was very interesting that both sides found the same similarities in

their rituals and beliefs.

3. Korean delegates had good impression when visiting cultural space at

Phu Giay and some other monument sites in Nam Dinh province.

In general, the workshop was organised well and met with the

expected objectives of the project. This workshop created a useful

opportunity for those who worked as cultural managers, researchers

and practitioners to communicate, exchange ideas and have

appropriate awareness of traditional culture of the country. The

participants also contributed opinions and shared experience in

practicing ritual and cultural management and research. From practical

experience of Korea, Vietnamese cultural managers and researchers

can find out approaches and suitable policies in safeguarding

intangible cultural heritage; and restrict mistakes, reduce non-realistic

in management and preserving method. This was really a useful and

effective workshop to both Vietnam and Korea sides.

III. Recommendations

Vietnam and Korea have been being in good relations in many

aspects of life. The idea of organising the workshop was an initiative

one. The workshop was successful as the objectives and


requirements. It will be necessary to continue to develop the

initiative and maintain this cooperative relationship in the future.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific,

Korea, has cooperated long term with the Department of Cultural

Heritage, Vietnam in the field of safeguarding intangible cultural

heritage. This workshop was a continuation of previous safeguarding

activities. The Department of Cultural Heritage would like to thank

very much for the cooperation and support of budget of the Centre to

carry out successfully the project ‘A Study of Shamanism - From

Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Approach’.

Through the workshop, exchange and enjoying the rituals, we

realized that Gut and Len dong ritual have distinct resemblance,

both form of religious beliefs and cultural heritage which express

identification of two nations. Gut has inscribed as heritage, Len dong

returns to practice initially and would like to inscribe as heritage.

Vietnam can learn from the experience of Korea in approaching a

belief from angle of traditional cultural heritage.

Heritage elements are living entities, are human being or community

practicing heritage. Heritage has played an important role in

traditional society and now continues promoting its role in

contemporary society. Society will not acknowledge the ritual as

heritage if its practitioners exploit it for their own benefits and make

harms to the community. There need to have measures to support

the practitioners of Len dong in Vietnam to preserve its cultural

values, regulate religious principles and rituals towards the good to

create mutual agreement about culture.

From the success of workshop, the suggestions arose during in the

process of exchanging and sharing experience, the Department of Cultural

Heritage would like to recommend that we need to continue to look for

more opportunities to organise exchange and studies visits between

practitioners, managers and researchers of the two countries of Vietnam

and Korea.

Hanoi, 20 October, 2009

The Department of Cultural Heritage

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Viet Nam.

annex 3 a study of shamanism - ichcap · 2018-11-26 · a study of shamanism | 135 religious...

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