Cultural values of the Co Tu in Quang Nam province through the ceremonies related to the cycle of human life

Abstract

The Cơ Tu people live primarily in the provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue. According to the 2009 survey data of the general statistics office of Vietnam, the Cơ Tu ethnic group has a population of 61,588, equivalent to 0.1% of the population of Vietnam. The Cơ Tu language belongs to the Austroasiatic linguistic family, Mon-Khmer group, whose script is based on the Latin alphabet. In Quang Nam province, the Cơ Tu population totals 45,715 people, ranking second after the Kinh (Viet). They play a very important role in developing the western strategic region of the province. The Cơ Tu ethnic group preserves many festivals and ceremonies bearing the imprint of wet-rice agricultural occupants. In particular, the ceremonies related to the cycle of human life are considered a fairly sustainable environment in the preservation of traditional cultural capital.