Vietnam receives UNESCO certificate recognizing Then practices as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Then is an essential ritual practice in the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in Vietnam , mainly in 11 northern provinces including Tuyen Quang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, and Lao Cai. Artisans perform Then, an essential ritual practice in the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in Vietnam , at the ceremony to receive UNESCO’s certificate on September 3, 2022. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre Then , which was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019, reflects concepts about human beings, the natural world and the universe, UNESCO said on its website. As explained by the UN agency, Then ceremonies describe a journey in which the Then Master (male or female) controls ghost soldiers travel ing from the earth realm to the heaven realm to offer items of worship and present their prayers for peace, for treating illne