Culture of ethnic minorities is like twinkling color threads that are diversified and unique on the “brocatelle” of Vietnamese culture. Muong ethnic group is one of the ethnic groups with many people and diversified landscape and living environment. In its history of formation and development, Muong ethnic group created a “valley culture” bearing rich tradition.
For Muong people, there are three kinds of natural resources that are considered the most important: land, water and forest. Land (tất, tật) is the most valuable production material that decides on the survival and wealth of the community, gets associated with the prosperity and wealth of villages, concurrently serving as an important worshiping object. Water is inevitable source of living, the leading basis criterion of Muong people when choosing land for establishing a village. Water is also the cultural symbol of Muong people. Forest (hầng, rứng) is the concern of Muong people not only because of practical values but also because of the natural resources brought about by the forest to the people. The life of Muong people depends on that thing, that is, they cut down trees to build houses on wood, collect forest products and animals for living and using.
During the living and association with the nature, Muong people have accumulated valuable traditional knowledge on using and managing natural resources in accordance with the conditions of the residential area. In order to provide the readers with knowledge about local knowledge of Muong people on using and managing natural resources in the tradition as well as in the present, the book in which Nguyen Ngoc Thanh and Tran Hong Thu (Institute of Anthropology) act as the chief editors focuses on clarifying the issues on local knowledge on using and managing land resources (wet field land, burnt-over land, forest - garden - hill land); on using and managing water resources (domestic water, farming water, aquaculture and seafood catching water); on using and managing forest resources; concurrently pointing out similarities and differences in the local knowledge on using and managing natural resources of Muong people in different localities. This is a meticulous research using such methods as field investigation, discussion, interview to collect information. The intensive and extensive survey by the authors is conducted mainly in Thanh Son district (Phu Tho) and Cam Thuy district (Thanh Hoa).
Pham Vinh Ha
