Like other ethnic minority groups living along the Truong Son Mountain range, the Bana Kriem ethnic group in Vinh Thanh has their own culture traits which become invaluable spiritual property. Statue sculpture and woodcarving are the most notable among the culture traits.
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Bana ethnic women in Vinh Thanh, a mountainous district located in the west of Binh Dinh Province.
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Visiting any Bana ethnic villages, we easily find that woodcarving is mainly present at the village’s communal house, from staircase, floor to roof-top. The sculptures are usually made by talented craftsmen, depicting geometric patterns in addition to human being and animal designs.
Each of the carved animals symbolically reflects a succinct notion, said Bok Vin - a patriarch of Kon Blo village, Vinh Son commune.
Carving of Plang bird (racked-tailed tree pie) stands for the villagers’ hospitality shown towards other neighbours. Plieu bird (red-whiskered bulbul) represents chattering of many generations in their gatherings.
A flock of Kơ tớp bird (spotted doves) perching in rows at the roof-top symbolizes a good harvest of abundant corn and rice. Birds of Jông and Dyé (grey parrot and vernal hanging parrot respectively), which are able to mimic human being voice, hospitably invite everybody to enjoy ruou can (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes which is very popular among the highlanders).
The above-mentioned kinds of birds are also whittled into sculptures. Moreover, there are wood sculptures of other kinds of avian feathers like kingfisher, woodpecker, eagle, falcon, and owl. Monkey is common in beast sculptures while weasel, elephant are less found.
Among the wood sculptures, puppets often cost the most effort of the Bana Kriem craftsmen. The movable painted puppets, which sometimes wear jewelry, are kind of dolls. They are made to bring fun on the occasions of the village festivals.
In order to protect crops at fields or milpa, the Bana Kriem craftsmen also make dummies which are able to move with the wind or under human control to drive away pesky sparrows, munias, squirrels and mice.
On the occasion of good luck praying rituals, the Bana Kriem people make puppets of plume grass on a bamboo tree which is erected by roads or the village main gates. They also make puppets from bamboo to pray for large families with many children and grandchildren. Their works of white bamboo bird puppets at river wharf are to pray for good weather. In addition to the sculptures, there are metaphoric busts which are carefully carved at face or head.
Unlike other Bana groups, Bana Kriem people don’t make sepulcher statues. Stone carving hasn’t been found in the existing Bana Kriem group although stone ancient citadel of Ta Kon at Vinh Son commune still exists, challenging time and culture researchers with its epic legends about the Bana Kriem ethnic group there.
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