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Hongnam : Ethnic Minorities
The NUNG
The Nung have about 706,000 inhabitants living in the provinces of Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac
Thai, Ha Bac and Tuyen Quang. They have other names such as Xuong, Giang,
Nung An, Nung Coi, Phan Sinh, Nung Chao, Nung Inh, Qui Rin, Nung Din and
Khen Lai.
The Nung language is close to that of the Tay and belongs to the Tay-Thai group. The Nung have writings called Nom Nung (Nung demotic scripts) which have prevailed since the 17th century.
The Nung live on rice and corn. They cultivate rice either in submerged fields along the ravines and in terraced fields on the hillsides. They grow cash crops and fruit trees such as tangerines and persimmons. Anise is the most valuable tree of the Nung which has brought them high profit every year. Handicrafts are a continuing activity, particularly weaving cloth to supply local need. Then comes carpentry, blacksmithing, basketry and ceramics. Nung villages are often built on the hillsides, in front of them are the submerged fields and behind are burnt-over land and gardens. The Nung houses are built on stilts and made of wood. The roof is covered with tiles or thatch. The Nung wear indigo attire. Deep in the Vietnamese people's memory, President Ho Chi Minh
often wore an indigo vest of Nung style to keep him warm in the cold days
when he lived in Pac Bo cave in 1941 to plan the national revolution, after he returned from abroad. In certain regions, ancient stories tell about indigo and a faithful love of a woman who persistently waits for her
The Nung preserve an abundant treasury of folk arts and culture including folksongs and alternating songs (sli). The smooth melodies of sli are in harmony with the natural sounds of the forest and mountain which have deeply impressed those who come to Nung regions. Then is a folksong comprising many elements: verses, music, decoration and performance style. The Lung tung (going to the fields) ceremony is very well-known and attractive to people of all ages. It is always organised on the first month of the lunar year. |
The Nung mainly worship their ancestors. The altar is placed in a bay of the
house and above it hangs the altar to deities, genies and saints both
Confucian and Kwan Yin.
husband to comes back from the battlefield. The Nung consider indigo a symbol of loyalty. The Nung prefer dishes fried with pig fat. A unique and luxurious dish of the Nung is khau nhuc. Cross-drink has become a long-standing custom of the Nung.