TL;DR: The Bru-Van Kieu people in the Trường Sơn mountains follow animism, believing all things possess a soul. Shamans (village elders) act as intermediaries connecting humans with the spirit world and ancestors, playing a vital role in rituals such as reburial and offerings.
What is the animist belief of the Bru-Van Kieu people?
The Bru-Van Kieu, one of Vietnam's 54 brotherly ethnic groups, live mainly along the Trường Sơn range in Quảng Trị province (formerly including Quảng Bình province). Their belief life is built on the foundation of animism, a primal yet profoundly deep system of thought in which every object and natural phenomenon, from mountains and forests to rivers and streams, from plants to animals, possesses a soul and supernatural power. This belief is not only a system of faith but also a guiding principle that governs the entire material and spiritual life of the community, from farming and hunting practices to life-cycle rituals and social relationships.
Who makes up the world of deities and ancestors for the Bru-Van Kieu people?
The Bru-Van Kieu conceive of the world as layered between humans and supernatural beings. At the top are the deities who govern natural phenomena such as the mountain god, river god, forest god and rice god. Alongside them is the world of ancestors, those who have passed away and are believed to still watch over and bless their descendants. This distinction does not create an absolute distance but involves close interweaving and mutual influence. The living must perform the proper rituals to appease, give thanks to, or seek protection from the invisible beings, ensuring harmony between the human world and the spiritual world.
What is the role of the ritual master in the spiritual life of the Bru-Van Kieu people?
Within that belief landscape, the ritual master (usually a village elder or a person of prestige) holds a central and irreplaceable position. They are not only the organiser but also the only recognised "bridge" for communicating with the world of deities and ancestors. Hungarian ethnographer Vargyas Gábor, who spent many years living with the Bru-Van Kieu community in Hướng Hóa district (Quảng Trị) from 1985 to 1989, recorded this role truthfully and vividly through his photo collection "Deities, Ancestors and the Ritual Master".
The ritual master is believed to be able to see, hear and negotiate with supernatural forces. They know how to read omens, understand the chants thoroughly, and know how to use offerings suited to each type of deity and each purpose of the ceremony. One of the striking images recorded is the rite of "making the sword stand upright on its own", an act that is symbolic and tests the spiritual power of the performer, showing the special connection between the ritual master and the invisible world.
A summary table of the elements of the Bru-Van Kieu people's animist belief by characteristic and role.
| Element | Characteristic | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Deities | Govern natural phenomena such as mountains, rivers, forests, rice | Prayed to, thanked, appeased |
| Ancestors | The deceased, watching over descendants | Bless descendants |
| Ritual master | Village elder or person of prestige | Bridge for communicating with deities and ancestors |
| Reburial of graves | Gathering remains, cleaning them, placing them in a new resting place | Helps the soul rest, strengthens links between generations |
| Places of worship | Base of old trees, forbidden forest, stream banks, a patch of ground inside the house | No fixed temples or pagodas are built |
| Offerings | Chicken, pig, ruou can (rice wine drunk from a jar), products of the mountains and forests | Express reverence and gratitude |
| Musical instruments | Cong, chieng (gongs), drums, dan moi (jaw harp), flutes | Drive away evil spirits, invite deities, create rhythm |
What are the typical rituals in spiritual life?
What is the Bru-Van Kieu people's custom of reburial of graves?
One of the most important customs that researcher Vargyas Gábor paid particular attention to is the reburial of graves. The Bru-Van Kieu conceive of death not as an end but as a journey of transition. After an initial period of burial, the family holds a reburial ceremony (exhuming the grave) to gather the remains, clean them and place them in a new resting place, usually in a sacred forest or a more elaborately built tomb. This ritual is not only a physical act but also an important spiritual rite, expressing the care of the living for the deceased, helping the soul rest and not disturb the descendants. It is an occasion for the community to gather, perform offerings together and strengthen the bonds between generations.
How do places of worship and offering rituals take place?
Unlike many other ethnic groups, the Bru-Van Kieu often do not build fixed temples, pagodas or churches. Their places of worship are usually sacred sites in nature such as the base of old trees, forbidden forest areas, stream banks or a chosen patch of ground inside the house. Offering rituals are held according to the farming cycle or when the family or community encounters important events. Offerings are usually chicken, pig, ruou can and products of the mountains and forests, expressing reverence and gratitude to the supernatural beings who have granted a life of plenty.
What role do music and musical instruments play in rituals?
Music plays an indispensable role in the belief rituals of the Bru-Van Kieu people. Ethnic instruments such as cong, chieng, drums, dan moi or various kinds of flute not only create a solemn, sacred atmosphere for the ceremony but are also believed to be a means of connecting with the world of deities. The sound of the gongs is believed to be able to drive away evil spirits, invite deities to witness and create rhythm for ritual dances. Preserving and safeguarding these instruments is itself safeguarding a part of the soul of the ethnic belief culture.
Why should this cultural heritage be preserved?
According to Mr Phạm Trọng Hổ, Vice Chairman of the Hướng Hóa District People's Committee, displaying Professor Vargyas Gábor's photo collection has great significance in preserving, keeping and promoting the cultural heritage values of the Bru-Van Kieu people. The photographs taken more than 30 years ago are not only precious historical documents but also a "mirror" reflecting a belief life that once existed, helping today's younger generation understand more about the cultural roots of their own ethnic group. Donating the photo collection to the locality for display at the Traditional Culture House is a deeply meaningful act, contributing to affirming the enduring value of animist belief in the modern context, and at the same time serving as a bridge for the world to know and treasure a unique cultural feature of Vietnam.
Topic overview article: What does Vietnamese folk belief include?
