Crafting a research report on a traditional cultural aspect in Vietnam

Topic: Crafting a research report on a traditional cultural issue in Vietnam

Crafting a research report on a traditional cultural aspect in Vietnam

Research Topic: Quan họ in the Contemporary Cultural Space of Diem Village - Bac Ninh

I. Research Outline:

1. Introduction:
a. Reason for Choosing the Topic:
- Quan họ embodies the beauty of traditional culture, playing a vital role in the spiritual life of the people of Bac Ninh and all Vietnamese.
- Diem Village is the cradle of quan họ. Thus, placing quan họ in the cultural space of Diem Village reveals its uniqueness and charm.
b. Research Purpose:
- Highlight the distinctive features of quan họ in Diem Village.
c. Research Methodology:
- Comparative, analytical, and synthetic methods.
2. Research Content:
a. Overview of Quan họ Bac Ninh:
- Known for its sweet, pure, and heartfelt melodies, Quan họ Bac Ninh has been a cultural gem for centuries.
- Evolved over thousands of years, quan họ can be classified into traditional and modern forms.
+ Traditional quan họ: originated first, demanding a deep understanding of rules and singing techniques, without musical accompaniment.
+ Modern quan họ: adapted and diversified in performance.
b. Land and People of Diem Village:
- Diem Village, situated in Hòa Long ward, preserves the cultural beauty of the Kinh Bac region.
- The people of Diem, with their simple and gentle demeanor, embody the inherited charm of quan họ melodies.
- Distinguishing features of Diem's singing style: slow, melodious, and less emphasis on fast-paced tunes.
c. Quan họ in the Cultural Space of Diem Village - Hòa Long Ward - Bac Ninh City - Bac Ninh Province:
* Differences in Singing Style in Diem Village:
- Diem's singing style is distinct, more traditional.
- Performers prefer slow, graceful singing with fewer fast-paced lyrics.
- Four pillars of Diem's quan họ: Ngô Thị Nhị, Trần Thị Phụng, Nguyễn Thị Bản, Ngô Thị Lịch.
* Development and Preservation of Quan Họ in Diem Village:
- Sustaining activities in local clubs.
- Integration into school curricula.
- Construction of the Bac Ninh Quan Họ Folk Theater.
3. Conclusion:
- Affirm the significance and value of quan họ in Diem Village and Bac Ninh quan họ in general.
- Emphasize the awareness lesson for preserving and promoting these traditional values.

Write a research report on an issue of folklore Literature 10 Connecting knowledge with life

II. Sample Research on an Issue of Traditional Vietnamese Culture:

1. Introduction

a. Reason for Choosing the Topic:

'Coming to my hometown in Kinh Bac, hearing quan họ, and witnessing the village's craftsmanship,'

'The Cau River reflects the moon's shadow, swearing as people come and go, returning to whom...'

Those sweet and melodious verses represent the quan họ folk songs of Bac Ninh. The folk melodies of quan họ have long become a cultural beauty in the spiritual life of the people in Bac Ninh and, more broadly, all of Vietnam. At the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on September 30, 2009, quan họ folk songs were recognized as an intangible cultural heritage, second only to the Hue royal court music, the cultural space of Tay Nguyen gongs, and ca trù. This demonstrates the significant role of quan họ in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the nation.

Currently, quan họ folk songs are present in many places across the country, but the majority is still in Bac Ninh. Most villages in Bac Ninh have quan họ singing venues. However, the first cradle of quan họ originates from the Diem Village, also known as Viem Xa Village, in Hòa Long Ward, Bac Ninh City. This is where the progenitor of quan họ, Mrs. Thuy, appeared and taught songs to everyone. Over the years, quan họ has not only preserved the traditional singing style but has also introduced many new and diverse styles.

Currently, there are numerous research papers and evaluations by leading researchers on quan họ folk songs. In this article, we will focus on researching quan họ in the contemporary cultural space of Diem Village.

b. Research Objectives:

Explore quan họ folk songs in Diem Village, Hòa Long Ward, Bac Ninh City to discover the unique, distinctive, and special features of quan họ in the cultural space of Diem Village.

c. Research Methodology:

The study employs the method of comparison, analysis, and synthesis.

2. Content:

a. Overview of Quan Họ Bắc Ninh:

Differing from other performance forms, quan họ folk songs of Bac Ninh are renowned far and wide for their sweet, pure, smooth, and heartfelt melodies. Until now, there is no accurate documentation about the origin of this musical genre. Some believe that quan họ first appeared in the 11th century, while others claim it emerged in the 17th century. Regardless of the time, quan họ is considered a means to preserve the essence of the culture of the Kinh Bac region. Throughout thousands of years of history, quan họ has undergone changes and enhancements, categorized into traditional and modern quan họ.

Firstly, traditional quan họ is the original singing style. It only exists in 49 quan họ villages in the Kinh Bac region. Traditional quan họ requires singers to understand the rules and techniques. At that time, it was not called 'singing quan họ' but 'playing quan họ,' as it was seen as a refined and elegant pastime. Traditional quan họ does not have musical accompaniment, mainly relying on the dialogue of participants in the 'xuân thu nhị kì' round.

Unlike traditional quan họ, modern quan họ has undergone some adaptation. The performance forms have become more diverse, including solo singing, duet singing, group singing, singing with accompanying dance, etc.

As of 2016, there are a total of 67 quan họ villages listed for preservation and development, with 44 villages located in Bac Ninh province.

b. The Land and People of Diem Village:

Diem Village, situated in Hoa Long ward, preserves many cultural beauties of the countryside in the Kinh Bac region. Growing up in the homeland of quan họ, the people of Diem Village are sweet and charming. In their behavior, speech, and interactions, the villagers exude a rustic and gentle demeanor. They are kind, simple, and notably hospitable, embodying the spirit of the quan họ verses we have heard:

'Guests arriving at home, sing a song'

'Tea is prepared for guests to enjoy'

or

'Oh dear, you who stay, don't leave...'

Seemingly, the children of the quan họ countryside are all very affectionate - a sweetness akin to the melodies. Not only the elder brothers and sisters are graceful when singing, but that grace also exists in everyday life. It is a charm passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, quan họ becomes so sweet and melodious.

c. Folk Song Quan họ in the Cultural Space of Diem Village - Hoa Long Ward - Bac Ninh City - Bac Ninh Province:

Placing folk song quan họ in the cultural space of Diem Village, we can see the uniqueness and attractiveness of the quan họ melodies here. In the past, due to limited mobility, interactions between Diem and other villages faced many difficulties. Therefore, the singing style in Diem has distinctive features, more traditional, compared to other places. The elder brothers and sisters often use a slow, gentle singing style, with fewer fast-paced songs. Hence, the nuances or rhythmic accompaniment in lyrics such as 'Dôông ôi à tô ông' 'Dôông tang tết, tết tang' 'tềnh tếnh'... are also restrained. Some songs like 'Bóc thư', 'Tình thư', 'Bóng giăng loan', 'Ăn ở trong rừng' are not divided into verses in Diem.

When mentioning quan họ in Diem Village, we cannot forget the four main pillars or the four veteran artists of quan họ in Diem Village. They are Ms. Ngô Thị Nhị, Ms. Trần Thị Phụng, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Bản, and Ms. Ngô Thị Lịch. They are all long-time artists, with hundreds of ancient quan họ melodies, recognized as outstanding national artists by the state.

Here, with every spring, festival days, or full moon, it becomes the day of the village quan họ club gathering. Often, without background music, the spontaneous dialogue carries a melodious tune. Each melody pours into the soul of the listener through poetic verses: 'Hừ la, hừ la a la..em hỡi hà, ơi hội hừ...'.

Especially, the villagers, as well as the government and local authorities, place great emphasis on preserving and conserving the quan họ folk songs. At Hòa Long Elementary School, in addition to enhancing skills and knowledge, the school has incorporated quan họ into teaching as an extracurricular subject. This practical activity helps nurture love, kindness, and loyalty in the students. It contributes to their personal development, fostering good character and a deeper love for their homeland and country.

With the aim of preserving quan họ folk songs, promoting tourism, the government has built the Bac Ninh Quan Họ Folk Song Theater. The construction covers a total area of 19,400 square meters, with a budget of over 178 billion VND. This demonstrates the genuine care and attention from the people and government. The place promises to be an attractive tourist destination, providing motivation for every artist to continue their creative efforts and dedication to the art.

Despite societal advancements, the cultural and spiritual values of quan họ in Diem Village are still preserved and promoted. The sincere singing and camaraderie of the elder brothers and sisters continue to enchant countless domestic and international tourists. This is the allure and charm of the quan họ homeland.

3. Conclusion:

Each quan họ village has its unique features, but once you've heard quan họ, you can't overlook the melodies of Diem Village. The smooth and charming folk tunes are a cultural beauty with significant influence on the cultural space of Diem Village. Quan họ is not only the pride of the people in Diem Village but also of all Vietnamese people. We need to strive to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values such as the quan họ folk songs of Diem Village.

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To write a complete research paper, you need to develop a detailed outline. During the outline creation, identify the topic, research direction, and highlight the key points. In addition to this article, you can refer to other sample writings for 10th grade, such as:
- Writing a research report with citations, footnotes, and supporting materials
- Paragraph on the theme: Water puppetry - a magical gift from Vietnamese fields
- Paragraph expressing thoughts on the author's satirical laughter as reflected in the excerpt from 'Huyen Duong'