“Living” Epics in Central Highland-Vietnam

This article is about h’mon, an epic genre of Bahnar ethnic in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Typical of this epic type is H’mon Dam Giong (or The Dam Giong epics). The contents of this article include space and mode of performance of h’mon; characteristics of the “living epic” of h’mon (It is the ability to refresh the content of h’mon by adding new details); characteristics of the character system (including the central character and the re-appearing characters).


Introduction
In Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces in Central Highlands-Vietnam there is a special type of folklore, which is h'mon, an epic of Bahnar ethnic. In Bahnar, h'mon means an epic genre or epic (ex: "h'mon Dam Giong" meaning "epic Dam Giong"). H'mon also means "h'mon performance" or "epic performance", for example, "he sings h'mon" meaning "he performs epic". H'mon performed most in the Central Highlands-Vietnam is h'mon Dam Giong. This is an epic group including hundreds of linked epics together told about Dam Giong, an outstanding hero of the Bahnar ethnic. Therefore the h'mon called The Dam Giong epics. According to Project on surveying, collecting, preserving, translating and publishing the Central Highland treasure (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), there are about 120 works by h'mon genre (Thinh, 2008), among them translation and published 30 publications (Son, 2013).
Today, h'mon Dam Giong (The Dam Giong epics) are still being performed in the villages. H'mon is a special genre of folklore. It was performed epic in the ancient way of the Bahnar ethnic. In particular, it can add new details or non-native cultural elements while preserving the genre and style of the traditional performance. Therefore, h'mon is called "living epic". To understand the "living epic" feature of h'mon, this article will cover the following aspects by exploring The Dam Giong epics. are also associated with their village name or in a place they know or hear. The Bahnar think h'mon as their chronicle.
Performance space and mode of performance are a unique characteristic of h'mon. H'mon only exists in the specific space of performances and the specific mode of performance. Separating h'mon from space and mode of performance, h'mon is just a corpse without soul.

H'mon Is "Living Epics"
The content of the h'mon is often the story on the theme of building and developing community in the history of development of the Bahnar ethnic. It is the process of labor production to build life, the wars to protect the community and expand the territory, etc. However, the contents of h'mon not only tell the story in the past but also add details, content, new events to match the current time. We can find details of modern life such as "cement", "ceramic brick", "binoculars", "gold chain", "golden ring" (Note 3),  young. This is a special feature of the "living epic" of h'mon.

Structure of H'mon Is Epic Cycle
The another story, in a series of reflections that can only ends if it becomes permanent: so it is through storytelling and integration with together" (Todorov, 2014).
The structure of The Dam Giong epics can be compared to the type of "epic cycle" of the world epic. These epics may initially have existed as independent works of art, but with the focal point of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they could stand together, linked together to complement one another. Although the connections between the epics are loose, they form a unity through the "fragments" of stories related to the Trojan War and the protagonists are Troy heroes. Performers can add a few details or some scenes to link between epic and epic. The similarity of The Dam Giong epics structure and cycle epic is that the epics revolve around a concentric shaft and their focus is the epic hero or the original epic. Each "round" corresponds to a single epic and corresponds to a cyclic period around the centre. However, the focus of The Dam Giong epics structure is the character Dam Giong, while the focus of the 12th Greek epic is the Iliad and Odysses epic.

Character Dam Giong Are the Focal Point for Converging Other Characters and Events that
Create the Concentric Structure

Re-Appearing Characters Connect Single Epics with an Integrated Structure
The Dam Giong epics usually has a re-appearance characters system. This character system appears regularly in many epics and always revolves around character Dam Giong. They have the function of clarifying the character, actions of character Dam Giong and linking other epics. The re-appearance characters have many relationships with character Dam Giong such as parents, relatives, brothers, friends, enemies, gods. These relationships have not changed in many single epics. With the re-appearance characters system, single epics gather into a group, connected by themes, characters and some common features that make up the epic cycle. In particular, the re-appearance characters often appear in pairs. So, we called the pair reappearance character.  , 2001-2007).
The re-appearance characters and the pair reappearance character add the qualities to Dam Giong so that the character becomes the ideal character. In addition, they also function as a word-of-mouth formula, a type of performance that helps artists create and perform epics. This feature gives The Dam Giong epics an open structure in its process of formation and transmission. It contributes to the uniqueness of The Dam Giong epics that is "living epic". The re-appearing characters can be compared

H'mon Is a Special Kind of Folk Performance
H'mon is a special kind of folk performance of Bahnar ethnic in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

H'mon Is a "Living Epic"
Calling h'mon is a "living epic" because it is being performed in the Bahnar villages in a traditional way from ancient times. In particular, it is capable of adding new details of modern life and non-native cultural elements, non-native religions into the work. The addition of new details makes the content of h'mon richer and increasing the attractiveness to the audience. The Dam Giong epics contain a Christian element that shows its content is "open". It is the ability to accept non-native cultural elements to enrich the content and fit the new performing environment.

The Epic Cycle Structure Creates New Epics
The epic cycle structure allows linking hundreds of single epics into The Dam Giong epics. This structure creates the characteristic "living epic" of h'mon. It is capable of renewing epic content and producing new epics. It allows the performer epic creativity without being limited. In fact, many performers have created so many new epics beyond the epics that he learned from others.

The Re-Appearing Character Is Seen as a Performance Pattern for Performers to Perform and Create New Epics
The re-appearing character is seen as a performance pattern for performers to perform and create epics.
With the character system, performers can remember details, events and content of hundreds of epics and creates new epics. So h'mon is "alive" until today. Currently, it is still performing in villages of Bahnar ethnic in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

H'mon in the Central Highlands still Exist
Although the performance environment of h'mon is narrow and the performers are not much (due to old age, death) h'mon in the Central Highlands still exist. It is hoped that the government and the cultural management agency will be interested in preserving and developing this unique cultural form.