Overview of Muong People in Hoa Binh

broken overall structure. The correct implementation of the functions of the components that make up the structure will ensure that the overall structure (system) operates stably and sustainably. Because culture is considered a system with high integration and stability over time, the structural-functional theory has a suggestive effect on how to arrange the general structure of culture so that it can best meet human needs [40].

The structural-functional theory is used as the basis for the author of the thesis to study the structure and function of the family and family culture of the Muong people in Hoa Binh. The structure and function in the family and family culture operate in a unified entity. If a function is eliminated or disrupted, it will inevitably lead to instability in the overall structure of the family and family culture. When the family structure changes, the social structure changes and the family structure also changes.

- Cultural exchange and acculturation theory: Cultural exchange and acculturation is a method of cultural positioning based on the theory of cultural centers and diffusion, also known as cultural diffusion theory with representatives such as F. Rasel, L. Frobenius, F. Giabner, W. Schmidt, G. Elliot Smith, W. Riers,...

This theory holds that cultural distribution is uneven. The original culture is concentrated in some areas, then spreads to neighboring areas. The farther away from the center, the less influence the original culture has - until it disappears (primary diffusion). This mechanism creates cultural intersections - places that are influenced, but also creates many cultural centers and dark areas - where the diffusion does not reach. Intersections also have the ability to develop themselves to form new cultural centers and continue to influence neighboring areas.

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The process of exchange can occur when elements of one culture penetrate another culture (passive absorption); or this culture borrows elements of another culture (active absorption); then on that basis, endogenous and exogenous elements are adjusted and modified accordingly, causing cultural exchange.

Cultural exchange can be understood as the meeting, penetration and mutual learning between cultures. In this process, cultures complement, receive and enrich each other, leading to cultural change, development and progress.

This theory is the basis for the author of the thesis to study the cultural exchange and acculturation in the family culture of the Muong people with the Kinh people and between different Muong regions.

In today's era, Muong family culture is influenced by the process of cultural exchange and modernization, especially in societies that are transforming from an agricultural economy to an industrial one. Muong family culture has changed from traditional to modern family culture. Muong family culture is less influenced by foreign cultures, so it can be said that the process of domestic cultural exchange and modernization are the two most important and fundamental factors that have a strong impact on the transformation of Muong family culture. The renovation process in our country has transformed many traditional cultural values, forming new cultural values in the context of integration in the globalization process. The market economy creates new opportunities and new challenges in building a "progressive, national-identity-rich" Vietnamese culture.

1.3. Overview of the Muong people in Hoa Binh

1.3.1. Place of residence

73 km to the Southeast.

Peace, in there

There are 67 extremely disadvantaged communes, 64 highland communes, and 23 communes in the Hoa Binh hydroelectric reservoir area. The total natural area is 4,662.5 km2 , of which forestry land accounts for more than 51% ( forested land accounts for 45.5%), agricultural land accounts for 12%, and aquaculture land accounts for 0.27%).

Hoa Binh has 5 rivers, especially the Da River originating from China flowing through Hoa Binh for 151km. Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Lake has a capacity of 9.5 billion m3 . In addition, there are other lakes such as Dong Bai, Dong Ben, Sam Tang, ...

Currently, the Muong population ranks 4th among the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, after the Kinh, Tay and Thai. The Muong people live along narrow valleys, on mountain slopes and beside streams. Before 1975, the Muong people were mainly concentrated in the Northwest of Yen Bai province, the entire Hoa Binh province and 6 mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa province (Ngoc Lac, Thach Thanh, Cam Thuy, Ba Thuoc, Nhu Xuan, Lang Chanh). In Phu Tho province, the Muong people lived in Yen Lap, Thanh Son, Tan Son districts and scattered in a few districts of Son La, Ha Tay (old) and Ninh Binh provinces. Today, due to migration, the Muong people are present in almost all places in Vietnam, but Hoa Binh still has the largest population of Muong people, accounting for more than 60% of the province's population.

Hoa Binh is a land with a long history, a place with a tradition of solidarity and steadfast struggle in the process of building and defending the country. During the French colonial period, in order to implement the policy of divide and rule, the French divided the land with a large Muong population in Hung Hoa, Son Tay, Hanoi and Ninh Binh provinces, establishing a new province called Muong province (today's Hoa Binh province). By 1896, Hoa Binh's territory was relatively stable, the total area of the province was 4,749km2 , the population was mainly Muong people, in addition to other ethnic groups such as Tay, Thai, Dao... Therefore, in folklore

There is still a saying: "Nhat Bi, nhi Vang, tam Thang; tu Dong" to refer to the four large Muong villages of the Muong people in Hoa Binh. Accordingly, Muong Bi is in Tan Lac district, Muong Vang is in Lac Son district, Muong Thang is in Cao Phong district, now part of Ky Son district (due to district separation) and Muong Dong is in Kim Boi district.

1.3.2. Ethnic history

The Muong people have the Muong name Mol (or Mon, Moan, Mual); local groups: Ao Ta (Au Ta), Moi Bi .

Not from the beginning of history, the Muong ethnic group had an ethnic name like today. Previously, the Muong people did not use this noun as the name for their ethnic group. According to Tran Tu, Muong is a word used to refer to a residential area of the Muong people consisting of many villages. Each area is under the control of a Lang family. Through the contact and exchange between the Muong and Kinh people, the Kinh people used

The word Muong is used to refer to this ethnic group. Nowadays, the Muong people still call themselves Mol, Moăn like in Hoa Binh, Mon like in Thanh Hoa. In Phu Tho, the Muong people call themselves Mol, Monl. Although these words have slightly different pronunciations in each region and locality, they all mean the same thing: people. Therefore, the Muong people often call themselves Mol or Monl: human beings. The word Muong is originally the word Muong , the Muong people use it to refer to their place of residence and has nothing to do with their current ethnic name. However, according to the fluctuations of history as well as the process of economic and cultural exchange with other ethnic groups, up to now, the word "Muong" has been accepted by the Muong people and considered as their ethnic name. Therefore, Muong has become the official and only name of this ethnic group to distinguish it from other ethnic groups, and is the name that is widely used.

Many researchers believe that the Muong people have the same origin as the Kinh (Viet) people - the pre-Viet - Muong inhabitants. There are many different opinions about the time of separation of ancient Viet into two ethnic groups, Viet and Muong. Linguists determined that the Vietnamese and Muong languages separated from each other around the end of the Northern domination period (before the 10th century), from which they deduced that the process of separation of Viet - Muong took place from the 7th or 8th century. According to the group of authors of the book Contributing to the study of Hoa Binh province , the separation process lasted from when the Eastern Han Dynasty annexed Trieu Da's Nam Viet country until Vietnam gained independence - until the 10th century, after the Vietnamese people gained independence and until the 11th century, when Thang Long citadel appeared, the division into Muong and Viet (Kinh) ethnic groups became an obvious historical event [59, pp. 12-14].

In terms of anthropology, the Vietnamese and the Muong are identical. Based on scientific research, it can be said that the Muong and the Vietnamese are two branches of the same family, or in other words, the Muong are a part of the Vietnamese people who have long lived in the mountainous areas [59, p.12]. Up to now, they have basically retained the roots left by their ancestors such as:

The Vietnamese have the custom of wrapping Chung cakes to worship on holidays, and so do the Muong people.

The Vietnamese have a legend of Au Co giving birth to a hundred eggs that hatched a hundred children, 50 followed their father to the sea, 50 followed their mother to the forest, the Muong people have the legend of "Birth on Earth and Water" and the story of a hundred eggs.

Some Vietnamese people in Ba Vi, Vinh Phuc have the custom of worshiping the god Tan Vien Son Thanh, the Muong people have the custom of worshiping King Tan or Duc Thanh Tan, both are gods of mountains and rivers.

Through research works on History, Archaeology, Ethnology, Cultural Studies, etc., we can believe that Viet - Muong is an entity but has been separated by certain historical circumstances. Research on Muong people in Vietnam not only shows a panoramic picture of a unique civilization but also helps to determine the origin of Vietnamese culture. In addition, the Viet - Muong relationship also shows the lively exchange in the relationship between Muong culture and other ethnic groups in the Vietnamese ethnic community.

Hoa Binh has always been considered the cradle of the Muong people in Vietnam. Therefore, the cultural life of the Muong people is rich and imbued with identity. In Hoa Binh, cultural beauty is imprinted in all activities of life. Over time, Muong cultural values prove a lasting vitality in the lives of the people. That affirms the richness and diversity of Muong culture that is constantly growing and developing in the open space of the new era.

1.3.3. Economic life

The natural environment has created favorable conditions for the Muong people to live mainly by growing wet rice. Muong people's wet rice fields are usually of two types: low-lying swampy fields and terraced fields. Irrigation techniques are quite developed, especially small-scale irrigation. In addition, they also cultivate swidden fields, on which Muong people often grow upland rice, corn, potatoes, cassava and some legumes, vegetables and fruits.

Daily life is closely linked to streams, large streams flowing along the valley, connecting this valley with other valleys, with small streams from the forest flowing into the large stream. The system of large and small streams brings water, thanks to the irrigation systems ( ditches, canals ), bringing water to the fields to irrigate the land, which is the place to pull

nets, casting nets to catch fish and shrimp to enrich daily meals, providing water for bathing, washing, daily activities... As a self-sufficient economy, their production activities create almost all the essential needs for production and daily life; therefore, small handicraft activities have existed for a long time such as weaving, pottery, carpentry, forging... the most prominent are weaving, brocade making, creating unique products such as fabrics, blankets, skirt waistbands, towels, bags...

The Muong people's production tools are quite simple. For wet rice cultivation, they mainly use plows and harrows (the lime-tipped plow and the bamboo-toothed harrow are their two ancient tools). For slash-and-burn cultivation, they use axes, knives, and sticks to make holes...

Household handicrafts are quite developed. Most of the tools and household items are made by the Muong themselves. Muong women are good at weaving and making blankets and mattresses (according to custom, when getting married, they must have enough blankets and mattresses for their husband's family). Men make hunting tools and weave other household items when necessary. They only have to buy metal objects, ceramics, matches, salt and tobacco.

Commerce was underdeveloped, there were very few markets in the Muong region, a commodity economy had not yet formed, in the past, buying and selling through the form of bartering was very popular.

In general, the traditional economy of the Muong people is mainly self-sufficient. In addition to rice cultivation, the Muong people also raise livestock, poultry, hunt, and exploit natural resources. Farmers are heavily exploited by the government, their lives are precarious and deprived.

Nowadays, due to the exchange with other regions and the influence of the market economy, the economy of the Muong people in Hoa Binh has also had positive changes. The average annual GDP growth rate is from 7.7 to 9.5%; GDP per capita reaches over 6.7 million VND, equivalent to 464 -551 USD, equal to 58-69% of the national average. The structure of economic sectors tends to shift significantly, the development rate of tourism and services increases compared to previous periods, specifically as follows: agriculture - forestry - fishery: 47.71%; industry - basic construction: 17.96%; tourism and services: 34.33% [112].

Hoa Binh has many attractive tourist destinations such as Tien Cave in Lac Thuy district, Tien Phi Cave in Hoa Binh city, nature reserves, Kim Boi mineral spring, Da River lake and especially Hoa Binh hydroelectric plant (the largest in Southeast Asia) has become a tourist attraction for visitors. In addition, tourist destinations are also traditional cultural villages of ethnic groups in the province such as Giang Mo village (Muong ethnic group) in Cao Phong district, Lac village, Van village (Thai ethnic group) in Mai Chau district; Xong Duong village (Dao ethnic group) in Da Bac district... Hoa Binh also has Suoi Ngoc - Vua Ba tourist area in Luong Son district and many historical, cultural, architectural relics, traditional occupations, festivals, customs, folk arts of many ethnic groups which are very rich, diverse and unique. These are products of "Hoa Binh Culture".

1.3.4. Cultural characteristics

The Muong people, in the process of survival for many generations, have left for the next generation a unique cultural treasure. From material culture to spiritual culture, all are closely linked to the characteristics of the living environment, linked to their wet rice cultivation profession. Those cultural activities still exist in the lives and subconscious of the Muong people, although many of them have been and are changing over time.

The Muong people are hard-working and diligent, working to create prosperous centers and are famous for their vast, fertile rice fields. When life is prosperous, they also create a treasure trove of folk culture and art with many genres; legends, fairy tales, jokes, long poems, folk songs, proverbs, folk songs... to leave for the next generation to inherit and continue.

That literature and art have partly reflected the spirit of the Muong people and Muong society in history. For example, the Muong proverb talks about Lang Dao society at that time:

"The wolf's blood is the dog's blood"

The blood of the poor is the blood of the dragon.

Or: "Near the wolf, lose the chicken"

"Wolf comes to the house like a ghost comes to the door"

Muong legends also closely follow historical events of Muong society from primitive times to the class era, such as the legend of De Dat De Nuoc.

Along with folk culture, folk art is also quite developed, very diverse and rich. There are many unique and special features unlike those of many other ethnic groups, such as gong art activities. The Muong gong has been used in many jobs, in festivals, funerals, especially during Tet and singing of the gong.

1.3.4.1. Cuisine

The Muong people are hard-working, intelligent and enjoy many advantages from nature. Mountains, forests, rivers, fields and gardens provide them with abundant and rich food sources: rice, crops, livestock, poultry and other products:

Chinese yam, Chinese yam, bitter bamboo shoots, honey

Or: Sticky rice, sticky rice, on the fields, on the hills Small fish, big fish in the pond, in the stream

Hunting in the forest, you get animals and birds . Picking and finding vegetables and fruits.

Or: Steamed rice, stilt house, water carried, roasted pig, days gone by, months coming.

From natural ingredients, they process them into familiar dishes that are delicious, unique, meaningful and imbued with national identity.

Like many ethnic groups in Vietnam, although the dishes are made from the same ingredients, each ethnic group has different ways of preparing and using them.

The characteristic of Muong people's dishes is that they are prepared by steaming or grilling such as steamed sticky rice, fish dishes, steamed snails... Therefore, Muong people's dishes in daily life as well as on holidays and Tet all have their own flavors, suitable to their taste and customs.

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