ALL
educational games
ICH Elements 5
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Disentangling games
One of the Mongolian traditional games is the disentangling game. Without doubt, this must have been originated from a nomadic livestock breeder's livelihood as a demand to untie and disentangle difficult knots, ties, and entangled things. Consequently, parents took much care to train their kids to learn how to disentangling things and created a variety of disentangling games. First-hand materials were rope, thread, and whip-cord which were used for making diverse knots and used for children to untie the knots. For instance, "Khonih kholboo" (Chain stitch), "Bogtsnii uya” (Saddle bag tie), "Argamjaanaas biye salgakh" (Untie oneself from a tether), "Yeson nukh" (Nine holes), "Bogj niiliilekh" (Link the rings) and "Chodriin zangilaa" (Hobble knot) can be mentioned. There are stories that Mongolians would challenge the groom's smartness by a game Uurgiin huivnaas bogj salgakh" (Separating a ring from a sting) and challenge the bride's intelligence by games like "Link the rings” and "Run colts".
Mongolia -
Ganggangsullae
Inscribed in 2009 (4.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Korea and the rest of East Asia, engaged in rice farming for several millennia, have formed a rice culture that can be compared to the wheat culture of Europe. Ganggangsullae is one of the most representative seasonal rituals of Korea’s rice farming culture, which permeates nearly every aspect of life among Koreans. Ganggangsullae gives hints about the origins of recreational music and dance emblematic of the Korean peninsula, as it used to be widely performed in the southwestern coastal region of the peninsula and is closely linked to inland circle dances accompanying music, including Notdari Bapgi (Walking Over a Human Bridge) and Wolwoli Cheongcheong (Moon, Moon, Radiant Moon). A combination of various recreational elements based on the basic form of holding hands to form a circle while singing and dancing, Ganggangsullae has been named as such since the refrain “ganggangsullae,” whose exact meaning is unknown, is repeated with every bar. It was originally performed by unmarried youngsters aged between 15 and 20, and sometimes allowing the participation of recently married youngsters. But, when it was designated as a state cultural heritage the community members, largely women in their 40s or 50s, rendered the performance. Since then, Ganggangsullae has been handed down by middle-aged female members of the community, displaying proficient skills, rather than the creative vividness and dynamics of youngsters when they perform it. Traditionally, Ganggangsullae was performed on Korea’s representative seasonal occasions, including Seol (the lunar New Year), Daeboreum (the first full moon day of the year), Dano (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), Baekjung (the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month), Chuseok (the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month), and Junggu (the ninth day of the ninth lunar month), with the one on Chuseok being the largest. As such, Ganggangsullae has been developed into a performance most commonly conducted on Chuseok (Korea’s Thanksgiving). Under the bright full moon, dozens of young village women hold hands to form a circle and sing and dance. While the sun symbolizes men, and the moon, women, and women’s physical features are represented by a round shape, Ganggangsullae assumes the characteristics of the law of imitation, one of the laws of magic, reflecting primitive aesthetics. Because the dancing is strenuous, only young women are allowed to perform, but it is also their privilege as women of child-bearing age. Ganggangsullae is a ballad dance unique to Korea. The songs are poems written by ordinary people and a lead singer set the pace. Fellow performers follow the lead with the next lines in a song. Besides folklore and folk dance, folk music is also incorporated in the performance as traditional Korean music instruments such as a drum and an hour-glass shaped drum accompany the dance, adding to the entertainment. Ganggangsullae is so exciting and dynamic that participants often lose themselves and end up performing from the early evening when the moon rises until the moon sets. Depending on the tempo set by the lead singer, the music is categorized into gin (slow) Ganggangsullae, jung (middle) Ganggangsullae, and jajeun (quick) Ganggangsullae. The tempo of the dancers’ movement also varies according to the music. During interludes, games reflecting life in farm or fishing village are played. They include imitating the Korean terrapin (one person goes into the circle to dance and the next comes in and imitates her), gathering brackens, tying herrings, treading on roof tiles, rolling and unrolling straw mats, catching a mouse (picking the tail), playing gatekeepers, riding palanquins, and looking for a handkerchief. The archetype of Ganggangsullae is found from agricultural folk customs of Mahan, a Korean state that existed 2,000 years ago, according to ancient Chinese historical texts. In the history of man, it is not common to see an intangible cultural heritage handed down for such a long time. This long transmission of Ganggangsullae implies that expectations for the role of women both in the society and in the family have continued for such a long time as well. Traditional Korean society was male centered, and young women were not allowed to sing aloud or go out at night. On Chuseok, however, women could freely sing and enjoy outdoor amusements under the full moon, venting their long-suppressed emotions through Ganggangsullae. The festival guaranteed women a chance to break away from usual restrictions and enjoy the festive mood. Throughout its history, Ganggangsullae also had other functions. It is said that in 1592, Admiral Lee Sun-sin had women perform Ganggangsullae at night around a fire. The flickering shadows fooled the invading Japanese into overestimating the size of Lee’s forces, who ultimately prevailed. Also, listening carefully to the song verses, one can notice that there are many lines criticizing the society. In particular, the words written under the Japanese colonial rule reflect the Koreans’ resistance to the occupation forces. Ganggangsullae is rarely performed in today’s rural villages since most young women have left for cities. But thanks to its national designation as an Important Intangible Cultural Heritage and state-level cultural and educational policies, Ganggangsullae has spread outside its traditional base in the southwestern region of the Korean peninsula. Today, Ganggangsullae is part of the music curriculum of elementary schools and is performed at many secondary schools and universities as well as public festivals across the country. In recent years, research has been conducted regarding the application of Ganggangsullae in the field of art therapy. Ganggangsullae is expected to help those suffering from psychological problems such as depression. Also, new possibilities are being explored as an alternative therapy to help obese women lose their weight and as a means to enhance the well-being of lonely senior citizens.
South Korea 2009 -
Nàng Hai Moon Praying Festival of the Tày Ngạn
The Nàng Hai Festival, also known as the Moon Praying Festival, begins in January and lasts until mid-March with the symbolic meaning of mothers and fairies on earth going to heaven to welcome Mother Moon and fairies down to earth. The Ngan ethnic group believes that on the Moon there is Mother Moon and 12 fairies, her daughters, who always take care of and protect the crops of all people. They choose a mother to be Mother Moon, and the girls play the role of fairies, including two unmarried girls who play the two moon sisters. The characters all wear traditional costumes according to regulations. They set up a "moon tent" as a place for Mother Moon and the fairies to sit during the ceremony. Before the ceremony, the people playing the role of Mother Moon (Mụ Cốc) and the girls stand in front of the altar so that Mr. Tào can perform the transformation ceremony for the souls of Mother Moon and the fairies to enter. From then on, they must abstain according to regulations. The ceremony is held on a large field with the rituals of "worshiping the local land princess" at the communal temple to ask permission for the villagers to organize the Moon-praying festival the following night. According to tradition, the ritual of carrying offerings from Thanh An communal house to the outdoor altar is a very important part to invite the gods to witness. The procession consists of 8 young people carrying the palanquin, including 4 men and 4 women, led by the shaman and the dancers, followed by trays of offerings including a pig's head, 4 pig's feet, chicken, duck, wine, cakes, and five-color dyed sticky rice. The shaman worships the local land goddess and the gods, the artists perform the rituals of dancing around the altar when the Moon-welcoming festival opens. After completing the ritual of reporting to Mother Moon and the 12 fairies, the village elder performs the rituals of praying for blessings, good luck, favorable weather, good crops; inviting Mother Moon and the fairies to bring crops and blessings to the villagers. The ceremony lasts for twelve nights. Each night, a Mother is invited. After that, they held a ceremony to send the moon ladies back to heaven. As for the festival, the shaman blew the trumpet and opened the festival. Villagers and commune residents participated in traditional sports activities such as: men's and women's volleyball; blindfolded duck catching; and pond fishing. In addition, the festival featured performances of folk songs, then singing, coi singing, folk games, and traditional cuisine of the Ngan ethnic group such as bamboo-tube rice, wild vegetable dishes, pork fish sauce, field carp fish sauce, salted plums, five-color sticky rice, pickled bamboo shoots, black plums dipped in sesame salt. This is a unique folk festival imbued with spiritual colors, with a positive and highly educational nature in the Ngan community. With its unique cultural values, the Ngan ethnic group's Moon Praying Festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2018.
Viet Nam -
Ngũ hành Goddess's Birthday Festival
Taking place from January 18 to 21, Ngũ hành Goddess's Birthday Festival - 5 blessed gods (Kim Đức Thánh Concubine, Mộc Đức Thánh Concubine, Thủy Đức Thánh Concubine, Hỏa Đức Thánh Concubine, Thổ Đức Thánh Concubine), who protected residents in the early stages of exploring the land. The following rites are carried out on the eighteenth day: opening the top gate, Mộc Dục, opening the neck, and reciting prayers for peace. In the 19th, folk games and performing arts take place such as Bóng rỗi singing and dancing, shadow dance, fortune offering dance, lily dance, chair dance, Khạp dance, knife dance, wine offering dance, etc attracting many people. Among them, Bóng rỗi singing and dancing as well as shadow dancing include songs, dances and songs together, and ritual dances - have the sacred nature of spiritual rituals. In the evening, a Đại Bội ceremony is held before the opera troupe performs ancient operas. On the 20th and 21st, people continue to perform traditional rituals, such as Túc Yết ceremony, Đoàn Cả ceremony - Thanksgiving ceremony. The most important offering is the Heo yết - the ceremonial pig. Among them, the Đoàn Cả ceremony is the biggest and most important ceremony, sacrificed at midnight. Offerings include live pigs - sticky pigs, sticky rice, incense, lamps, incense, wine, tea, and water. Rituals in the Đoàn Cả Ceremony include offering incense, offering wine, offering fruit, offering tea, and reading wishes in Chinese characters; Cut a square of the front and hind thigh meat to sacrifice to the gods; burning wishes and votive papers). Folk shows continue to perform at Bà temple. The most attractive is the performance "Chặp Địa Nàng Singing" with cheerfulness, humor, and great educational value.
Viet Nam -
Knowledge and Techniques of Writing on Buông Leaf of the Khmer
The Knowledge and Techniques of Writing on Buông Leaf of the Khmer in An Giang belong to the category of folk knowledge heritage, containing the value and content of Buddhist scriptures, also known as Buông Leaf scriptures (Xatra Slákrít). This is a rare ancient book engraved on Buông leaves, written in ancient Khmer or Balinese, which appeared in the 19th century. Buông Leaf scriptures have 4 types: Buddhist scriptures; Folk tales; Festivals, folk games; Folk teachings, showing the values of technique, aesthetics, art and have important significance in the spiritual and religious life of the Khmer people. From choosing leaves, drying leaves, processing and using black powder to highlight the letters, especially writing on leaves (or carving letters on leaves) is very elaborate. The artisan uses a pen with a sharp metal tip (called a decha) to slowly carve on the dried leaves, carving on the leaves must be done evenly. After writing, people mix soot with oil and rub it on the leaves, then wipe the surface of the leaves clean, so that the letters stand out. When all the documents are written, the pages are pierced to "close" them into a book with a wooden cover, also known as Satra. Each set of Sutras is 5 - 8cm thick, weighs 300 - 600 grams. Each set of Sutras has 4 - 10 books (volumes); each book has 20 - 60 sutra leaves; each leaf has 5 lines, with about 150 words. The content written on the leaves, in addition to copying sutras, also includes stories and lessons of high educational value to help people become good, maintain filial piety towards grandparents, parents... contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Khmer people. With its unique values, in 2017, the Ministry of Culture - Sports and Tourism recognized "Knowledge and Techniques of Writing on Buông Leaf of the Khmer" as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Viet Nam