Tugging rituals and games
{{Short description|Tugging rituals and games included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list}}
{{About|the rituals and games collectively designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity|tug of war|Tug of war
}}
{{Infobox intangible heritage
| Caption = Keo co in Vietnam
| ICH = Tugging rituals and games
| ID = 01080
| Region = APA
| Year = 2015
| Session = 10th
| List = Representative
| Countries = Cambodia - Lbaengteanhprot
Philippines - Punnuk
South Korea - Juldarigi
Vietnam - Keo co}}
Tugging rituals and games are four cultural practices in Cambodia, Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam, which were collectively included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List in 2015.{{Cite web |title=UNESCO - Tugging rituals and games |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tugging-rituals-and-games-01080 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=ich.unesco.org |language=en}} The tugging rituals and games, namely lbaengteanhprot (Khmer: ល្បែងទាញព្រ័ត្រ), punnuk, juldarigi (Korean: 줄다리기), and keo co (Vietnamese: kéo co), include two teams, with each pulling one end of a rope, attempting to tug it from the other.{{Cite web |last=Vila |first=Alixandra Caole |title=Traditional Philippine game named 'intangible heritage' by UNESCO |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2015/12/14/1532897/traditional-philippine-game-named-intangible-heritage-unesco |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Philstar.com}}{{Cite web |title="Keo co" recognized as World Intangible Cultural Heritage Site |url=https://en.dangcongsan.vn/culture-sports/-359466.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Dangcongsan |language=}}{{#invoke:Cite web||title=Traditional tug of war listed at UNESCO |url=https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=131236 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Korea.net |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Ministry Culture and Find Art |url=http://www.mcfa.gov.kh/site/detail/542 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.mcfa.gov.kh}}
The tugging rituals and games promote social solidarity, provide entertainment and mark the start of a new agricultural cycle.{{Cite news |date=December 14, 2015 |title=Traditional PHL tugging games put on UNESCO Intangible Heritage List |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/547865/traditional-phl-tugging-games-put-on-unesco-intangible-heritage-list/story/ |access-date=February 3, 2024 |work=GMA}} While these traditional practices often emphasize competition, the game is intended to show the importance of cooperation.
They are often organized in front of a village's communal house or shrine, preceded by commemorative rites to local protective deities.{{Cite web |last=Luzon |first=Inquirer Northern |date=2016-07-25 |title=Ifugao harvest ritual makes Unesco cultural heritage list |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/798735/ifugao-harvest-ritual-makes-unesco-cultural-heritage-list |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} Village elders play active roles in leading and organizing younger people in playing the game and holding accompanying rituals.
Rituals and games
= Lbaengteanhprot =
Lbaengteanhprot is performed during the Cambodian New Year and Chlong Chet, a rice farming festivity.{{Cite web |last=Kimsal |first=កញ្ញា វ៉ាន គីមសល់ {{!}} Ms Van |date=2023-04-12 |title=ល្បែងទាញព្រ័ត្រ ល្បែងប្រជាប្រិយខ្មែរជួយឱ្យរាងកាយមានកម្លាំង |url=https://education.ams.com.kh/education-update/national/news/khmer-traditional-games-help-keep-the-body-strong-and-healthy |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=AMS EDUCATION |language=km}} It is performed by two opposing teams, normally women against men, in an open space at a village center or in a Buddhist monastery compound.{{Cite news |title=ឈ្វេងយល់អត្ថន័យនៃល្បែងទាញព្រ័ត្រ ក្នុងឱកាសបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំថ្មីប្រពៃណីខ្មែរ |trans-title=Understand the meaning of tug-of-war on the occasion of Khmer New Year |url=https://sbm.news/articles/624be566a90ee5a3909eab23 |work=SBM}}
The tugging ritual and game is practiced among the rice cultivating communities located around Tonle Sap and the area north of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2022 |title=Pull together |url=https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/en/pull-together/ |work=Heritage in-flight magazine}}
= Punnuk =
{{Main|Punnuk}}
In the Philippines, punnuk is practiced in Hungduan, Ifugao.{{Cite web |last=Inquirer |first=Philippine Daily |date=2019-08-25 |title=Tug-of-war keeps rice terraces alive |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1157206/tug-of-war-keeps-rice-terraces-alive |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} The tugging ritual and game, held at the Hapao River, is performed after the completion of harvest.{{Cite news |last=Geminiano |first=Pamela |date=August 1, 2018 |title=Ifugao's post-harvest ritual 'Punnuk' amazes DOT head |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1043182 |work=Philippine News Agency}} It formally closes the farming cycle and signals the beginning of a new one upon commencing with the punnuk.{{Cite web |date=2015-12-13 |title=Ifugao tugging ritual inscribed onto Unesco intangible heritage list |url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/216127/ifugao-tugging-ritual-inscribed-onto-unesco-intangible-heritage-list/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Lifestyle.INQ |language=en-US}}
The tugging ritual and game consists of groups of men wielding a hooked sapling of the attoba tree. The men use the hook to hold on to a woven anthropomorphic figure that is thrown in the middle of the river. They pull against the other contenders. It is believed that the winning group will have a bountiful harvest.
= Juldarigi =
{{main|Juldarigi}}
File:Korea-Hi Seoul Festival-2006-09.jpg
The South Korean juldarigi is practiced in the agricultural areas of Dangjin, Namhae, Milyang, and Uiryeong, and the fishing area of Samcheok.{{Cite web |title=줄다리기 |trans-title=Tag of war |url=https://heritage.unesco.or.kr/%EC%A4%84%EB%8B%A4%EB%A6%AC%EA%B8%B0/?ckattempt=1 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=KOREAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO}} The ropes used in juldarigi are made from kudzu, hemp, or rice straw, depending on the geographical or ecological conditions on a region or the characteristics of the local livelihood.{{Cite book |title=Tugging Rituals and Games: A Common Element, Diverse Approaches |publisher=ICHCAP |year=2019 |isbn= |location=South Korea |pages=9, 12, 105 |language=English}} Rope production requires the concerted efforts of the entire community over a period of almost a month.{{Cite web |last=Doo |first=Rumy |date=2017-04-14 |title=[Eye Plus] Tugging for luck, for 500 years |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170414000426 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}} The rope symbolizes a dragon, which is believed to bring rain.
The tugging ritual and game divides the group into two teams. In places that divide participants into teams by gender, it is generally believed that women must win to bring prosperity and fertility.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSTrAAAAMAAJ&q=juldarigi+women+win |title=Korean Art Guide |date=2002 |publisher=Korean Information Service |isbn=978-89-7375-554-7 |language=en}} Meanwhile, in regions that divide teams by township, it is thought that good fortune is brought by the victory of the team from an eastward town.{{Cite book |last=Korea) |first=The National Folk Museum of Korea (South |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsR3BgAAQBAJ&dq=juldarigi&pg=PA77 |title=Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs: Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore and Traditional Culture Vol. 1 |date=2014-10-30 |publisher=길잡이미디어 |isbn=978-89-92128-92-6 |language=en}}
= Keo co =
In Viet Nam, keo co is practiced mostly in the northern midlands, the Red River Delta, the north-central region, and Lao Cai Province. The tugging ritual and game is often held as a part of the spring festivities, marking the beginning of a new farming cycle and expressing wishes for healthy crops.{{Cite web |title=Korea-Vietnam Tugging Rituals (Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) and Game exchange program held at Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam |url=http://vanmieu.d.webcom.vn/en/korea-vietnam-tugging-rituals-intangible-cultural-heritage-of-humanity-and-game-exchange-program-held-at-van-mieu-quoc-tu-giam-244330D6219F5F6297B2CBF6819A2FE7.html |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Korea-Vietnam Tugging Rituals (Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity) and Game exchange program held at Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam {{!}} Văn Miếu Quốc Tử Giám |language=en}} In some areas, keo co is also tied to the stories of local heroes and their contributions in fighting against invaders and defending the people.{{Cite web |title=Promoting heritage values of tug-of-war games and rituals |url=https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/en/post/15510 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=vietnamtourism.gov.vn}}
The tugging ritual and game is often organized in front of a village's communal house or shrine, preceded by rites for the local deities.{{Cite web |title=Guidelines for intangible cultural heritage education in Vietnamese schools towards sustinable development goals |url=https://www.irci.jp/wp_files/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/02266a89148ce6a6c3cee628367a4f76.pdf |access-date=February 3, 2024 |website=irci.jp}} The materials used in keo co vary depending on the ecological and cultural context of each community. They can be made of bamboo poles, rattan cords, or hemp.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tugging-rituals-and-games-01080 Unesco.org: Tugging rituals and games]
Category:Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Category:Culture of the Philippines