The number of local shamans, who play important roles in the life of various ethnic groups, is slowly reducing, putting traditional local customs at risk, according to researchers and locals in the north-western province of Hoa Binh.

Cultural leader: Bui Van Kinh (top) of the Muong group has been a shaman for 71 years. The number of local shamans, who play important roles in the life of various ethnic groups, is slowly falling, putting traditional local customs at risk.

Known in the local language as bo mo or thay mo, the shamans have long been considered as keepers of knowledge who preserve the spirit of hamlets and villages.

"According to the beliefs of many ethnic groups, they should be talented, virtuous, knowledgeable and highly respected in the community," Prof To Ngoc Thanh, chairman of Viet Nam Folk Literature and Arts Association, told Viet Nam News. "They are always people with the capacity to guide others in behaving according to moral traditions and customs."

"Shamans are experts in spiritual ceremonies, which encourage people\'s will, beliefs and energy in certain circumstances and lead people to the truth, the good and the beautiful," he said.

"All local customs require the participation of shamans, such as festivals, full-month celebrations for newborns, weddings, building temples, building houses and cutting down old trees," he said.

Thanh added that shamans would read different verses of worship at each of the ceremonies, with the most special words reserved for funerals.

The words for worship at funerals always consist of three parts. The first part recalls history of the nation and people. The next features the life of person who died, from birth to death, while the last represents good-bye.

Thanh clarifies that while the words of worship read at funerals are similar in general content among different ethnic groups, the length of the oration is varied. For example, Thai shamans spend only three days and nights for the oration while other groups may spend up to 13 days and nights.

"However, advanced society and urbanisation have dramatically changed the customs of ethnic groups. The role of shamans has gradually reduced," he said.

Luu Trung Thep, deputy head of Hoa Binh city\'s Culture and Information Department, told Viet Nam News that there were only eight shamans still practising in the city\'s 15 wards and communes, and only 15 still worked in the ten outlying districts.

"There are fewer and fewer young people who can speak ethnic languages, which are typically used by shamans during worship. Shamans can only teach the job verbally which may be why fewer young people are interested," Thep said.

In Lung Van Commune, home to 2,500 people of the Muong group, there are only two brothers, Bui Van Kinh, 88, and Bui Van Kinh, 86, who work as professional shamans.

The brothers said they learnt the job during childhood from their grand father and father. Both joined the revolution against French and American invaders but after completing their military duty they went on to be shamans in their community.

Thep admitted that shaman\'s task was special.

"Learners must follow strict criteria. The job is often handed down from fathers to sons but not all sons can take on the job. It requires both knowledge and humanity," he said.

Shaman Kinh gave another reason for the dwindling number of shamans: "There are many other better-paying jobs," he said.

He has eight children but none of them intend to follow in their father\'s footsteps.

Thanh said the association and the provincial authorities filmed shamans Bui Van Du and Bui Van Chi of the Muong group presiding over a fake funeral 10 years ago. Their words of worship were roamnised so that the association could preserve the special cultural feature.

"We have not had the chance to invest in further recordings since then," Thanh said.

"Changes in society have resulted in changes in culture," he said. "We should accept that as an indispensable feature of modern life. But we can preserve and hand traditional customs down to future generations with proper measures from the State, cultural sector and concerned agencies." — VNS