Lo Van Bien

VietNamNet Bridge – Of three men who are experts of ancient Thai scripts and deep knowledge of folk culture, one is dead, one is ailing and only one can teach the scripts, craftsman Lo Van Bien.

In Muong Lo area in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai, there are nearly ten people who know popular Thai scripts, which they learnt in the ‘60s.

In the culture of Thai ethnic minority people, ancient Thai script is considered the spiritual heritage and the crystallized intelligence of Thai people. This kind of ancient script is now maintained on ancient books about culture, customs and habits, laws, history of Thai people or in family annals.

Ancient Thai scripts are facing oblivion because they have not been used or taught for a long time.

Thai people can currently read new or popular Thai script but they cannot understand ancient scripts. Recently, to preserve their ancient scripts, some Thai people in Muong Lo have formed a group to learn their ancient scripts, taught by the only remaining man who can read ancient Thai script, Mr. Lo Van Bien.

Within three months, 46 trainees, mainly young people, in Muong Lo can read, write and understand ancient Thai scripts.

“I’m so happy! I dreamt of teaching ancient Thai scripts to others to preserve our heritage. Now I’m satisfied. I can die and there is nothing to regret!” said Lo Van Bien.

To avoid the oblivion of ancient Thai scripts, trainees set up a club gathering the people who are volunteers to teach and collect documents, legends, folk songs in ancient Thai scripts. The club now has 50 members.

(Source: Nhan Dan)