The sound that keeps the soul of the H'Mong village
In the late afternoon, hazy clouds cover the mountain slopes of the Northwest. In the quiet space of the highland villages, the sound of the Mong khen rises, sometimes trầm hùng, sometimes réo rắt, hòa cùng the sound of the thousand winds and the sound of streams flowing. That sound has followed the footsteps of the H'Mong people through generations, becoming an indispensable part of the cultural life in Son La.
For the H'Mong people, khen is not simply a musical instrument. It is the voice of the soul, a way to express feelings, send feelings and connect people with ancestors and the community. From spring festivals, weddings, highland markets to funeral rituals for the deceased, khen sound is always present as a sacred symbol of national identity.
The H'Mong people still pass on the concept that boys must know how to play the khen and dance the khen; girls must know how to embroider dresses. Therefore, many children grow up in the khen sound of their fathers and grandfathers after each field trip. Those melodies gradually permeate into memory, becoming a string connecting generations.
Creating a complete khen is a process that requires meticulousness. The craftsman must choose wood to make the khen ball, choose bamboo tubes and bamboo tubes that reach the appropriate age, then meticulously craft each "chicken tongue" in bronze and adjust the sound. Just a small deviation is enough to make the khen sound lose its resonance, clarity and inherent vibrato.
More than 40 years attached to the khen craft in Suoi To commune, artisan Thao A Vang is still diligently preserving the traditional craft.
To make a good khen, first of all, you must understand the sound of the khen. The performer must know each note, each vibrato to adjust each tongue. Just a slight deviation and the sound is no longer correct," Mr. Vang shared.
According to him, each khen takes 3 to 5 days to complete, of which the most difficult stage is forging and adjusting the tongue. That meticulousness has created khens with the unique sound of the H'Mong people of Son La.
Following the sound of the khen to community tourism villages
If in the past the sound of the khen mainly echoed within the village, now, along with the development of community tourism, that sound has become a highlight in many festivals and tourism products of Son La.
In Ta Xua, where the H'Mong people account for the majority of the population, every afternoon the courtyard of Chung Trinh village cultural house is filled with the sound of khen, flute and traditional dances. Art troupes maintain regular practice to serve festivals, cultural festivals and welcome tourists.
Not far away, in Lang Cheu village, artisan Mua A Chu still regularly teaches the craft of making and performing khen to young people in the village. He and many local cultural nuclei directly guide from how to choose materials, assemble to techniques for breathing, keeping rhythm and performing.
Preserving the khen sound is preserving the identity of our nation. I hope young people not only know how to play the khen but also understand the cultural values behind each tune," said Mr. Mua A Chu.
Not only in Ta Xua, many localities such as Hang Dong, Xim Vang or Moc Chau plateau also maintain Mong khen clubs. These activities are not simply for performance practice but also a space to exchange skills, experience and love for traditional culture.
Tourists coming to Son La today not only look to Ta Xua sea of clouds, Moc Chau tea hills or the Xim Vang highland road, but also want to immerse themselves in the H'Mong cultural space. The sound of the khen echoing in the village yard, by the fire or in festivals has become an unforgettable experience for many people.
According to Mr. Do Van Xiem - Chairman of Ta Xua Commune People's Committee, the locality identifies cultural preservation as the foundation for developing community tourism.
We continue to preserve the Mong khen art, brocade weaving and traditional festivals to both preserve cultural identity and create more livelihoods for people through tourism development.
Along with homestay, experiencing traditional crafts and local cuisine, Mong khen art is contributing to creating a unique mark for Son La highland tourism.
To keep the sound of the khen forever with the great mountains of Son La
Amidst the modern pace of life, the most precious thing is not the large stages but the persistence in preserving culture in each village.
In Nam Nghep village, Ngoc Chien commune, artisan Khang A Dua has regularly guided teenagers to learn to blow and dance the khen after working sessions for many years. Those "classes" do not have textbooks or blackboards, only the sound of the khen, the dedicated guidance of artisans and the passion of young people.
Not only Nam Nghep, but also in Suoi To, Hang Dong, Ta Xua or Moc Chau, many localities have established folk art clubs, organized khen playing and dancing contests, and brought Mong khen art into traditional festivals and community tourism activities.
Conservation therefore no longer stops at preserving memories but gradually becomes a source of development. When people have additional income from performing arts, making khen, doing tourism or introducing indigenous culture, traditional values also have more vitality in contemporary life.
As evening falls on the Moc Chau plateau, clouds still cover Ta Xua, wind still blows through Xim Vang, Suoi To or Nam Nghep. The sound of Mong khen resonates in the great forest like the self-expression of the mountains and forests, connecting the past with the present and connecting generations with a rustic but persistent sound.
In the midst of the cycle of modern life, there are still artisans silently holding each melody, each breath of the khen. And as long as the sound of the Mong khen still echoes in the mountains and forests of Son La, the cultural soul of the H'Mong people will continue to be preserved, passed on and spread to future generations.
