- Purpose & Concept
In hầu đồng, every ritual performance (giá đồng) is tied to a mythic narrative – a goddess, a mandarin, a prince, a princess. These stories are not just heritage; they are psychological and spiritual experiences for both mediums and participants. This zone is designed to let visitors listen, encounter, and embody these sacred stories in an immersive way.
- Learning Objectives
Participants will:
- Understand the mythological background of major spirits in the Mother Goddess system (e.g., Mẫu Thượng Ngàn, Cô Đôi, Quan Lớn Tuần Tranh, Chúa Thác Bờ).
- Recognize how these myths are rooted in environment and community: rivers, forests, battles, compassion.
- Experience an “encounter with spirits” through digital and performative immersion.
- Appreciate hầu đồng as a practice of healing, identity, and cultural continuity, not only performance.
3. Core Components
a. Myth & Tale Listening Chamber
- A dimly lit chamber with 3D sound and projection visuals.
- Traditional storytellers’ voices narrate key myths with visual illustration.
- Short 3–5 min sessions highlight the spirit’s identity, virtues, and symbols.
b. Narrative Immersion Booth
- Visitors choose a spirit figure, put on a scarf or hold a ritual object.
- A short video is recorded and given as a digital keepsake.
c. Community Story Circle
- An open corner where visitors share personal stories about luck, hardship, or faith.
- A facilitator connects these lived stories with hầu đồng myths, showing how ritual narratives offer frameworks of meaning.
- Psychological & Cultural Dimensions
- Narrative Healing: Myths become symbolic maps for people to process pain, hope, and renewal.
- Embodied Myth: Listening and role-playing allow participants not just to understand, but to feel the myth.
- Collective Sharing: The story circle builds community, linking personal lives with cultural memory.
- Design & Atmosphere
- Spatial layout: Three segments → (1) Listening chamber, (2) Immersion booth, (3) Story circle.
- Lighting: Sacred, dreamlike tones (purple, gold, blue).
- Sound: Background chầu văn rhythms with layered storytelling voices.
- Props: Ritual scarves, fans, swords, flowers for tactile experience.
- Educational & Preservation Value
- Preserves not just the form of ritual but its mythic and narrative essence.
- Bridges traditional faith with modern creativity, ensuring continuity of practice.
- Evaluation & Impact
- Metrics: Number of visitors per sub-zone, average time spent.
- Surveys: “What did you feel when you met the spirit?”
- Observation: Whether visitors connect hầu đồng to deeper spiritual and psychological meanings, beyond spectacle.
8 Outcomes: Storytelling
- Cognitive: Clear understanding of who the spirits are and their myths.
- Emotional: Feelings of closeness, awe, and “receiving blessings.”
- Cultural: Recognition of hầu đồng as a living narrative universe, where myth and life intertwine.
- Psychological: A sense of comfort, inspiration, or even healing through symbolic encounter.
