Unique mask of the Dao
The mind of the Dao is projected in most cultural activities, through the forms of intangible performance combined with rich tangible heritages, in which masks are an important representation in the spiritual life of the Dao people in Lao Cai.According to the Dao cultural researchers at the seminar on the traditional Tet holiday of some Vietnamese ethnic minorities held in Lao Cai, the Dao masks are a piece of memory. collectives are passed down naturally from generation to generation. The mask is used mainly in the ceremony of dignity, this is the official life cycle of the Dao, so this object is very important in their religious life.
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| The masks show the sophistication of the Dao's sculptural art. |
Ceremonial masks are created in many different forms to represent gods, religious deities and peoples to become a part of the spiritual heritage of the community. In particular, the ceremonial masks of the Dao people are carved from wood pieces, reflecting the details of their visual arts, both mysterious, enchanting and simple but containing many religious and cultural meanings. cultural identity.
Wood used for masking is often chosen as not hard, light, and does not crack, warp, and importantly easy to shape. Under the skillful hands of artisans, the logs are chiseled, carved, carved into masks with faces resembling saints and gods as recorded in ancient Dao books. The mask, when manipulated or shaped, will be a work of sculpture. The parts on the mask such as eyes, nose, mouth ... are stylized with wild lines, partly showing the character and charisma of the shaped character, often with majesty and dignity as character. of the gods.
With the enthusiasm and desire that the typical culture of the Dao will not be eroded, since 1990, Mr. Hoang Thong, now living in Ho Chi Minh City, has spent time, energy and finance everywhere to collect practice, accumulating hundreds of masks of the Dao. For the masks of the Dao to be honored, to have the opportunity for the public to enjoy, especially to help the Dao community in the province better understand the unique culture of their people, thanks to the support of Lao Cai Provincial Museum, in December 2019, Mr. Hoang Thong, for the first time, brought a collection of Dao ethnic masks to exhibit at the Lao Cai Provincial Museum.
Through this activity, Mr. Thong would like to introduce more about the cultural identity of the Dao ethnic community for those who like to learn about the cultures of the ethnic groups of Lao Cai.
