The Central Highlands is home to dozens of ethnic groups, with many close and similar cultural traits, including the usage of a dog - a ceramic item that plays an important role in life. their lives.
Choé - cultural values of the Central Highlands
Coming to the Central Highlands villages, stepping on the stilt houses, the first thing we see are the dogs lined up in big and small order right next to the main wall of the house, as if to show. showing the socio-economic status of the owner.
In the Central Highlands region, there are many names and each ethnic group has different names: Ma people (Dop and Jang), K'ho (Yang), E De (Cheh), M'Nong (Jang) ... In addition , there are also names according to the decoration or size of the dogs such as: The Ede people call the tortoise ears Tang krua (krua means turtle), the monkey with monkey head ears is Ako kra (kra means monkey). The K'ho call their big dogs Yang, medium dogs Jro and small dogs Gri ...
Each ethnic group has different tastes about birch types: The Ma people prefer the type of birch with the pattern of water-etching, or veins, dark brown enamel. Different from the Ma, the M'Nong usually have a short, round, enamel black body. The Ede people prefer white, blue and eel skin types, tall, large, ... In addition, "mother cradling" (on the shoulder with 1 to 4 small dogs) is also one of the types. particularly rare, very popular in the Central Highlands people. The precious dogs sometimes have to change to 30-40 buffaloes or buffaloes an elephant.
The value of a dog is based on the color of the enamel and the number of ears on the body of the dog, it also depends on the dog they believe to be a god of blessing, because it has been used many times to be useful in related ceremonies. to harvest, health and good luck of the owner. Or through a dream, people often see the dream god to buy a "sacred" dog or not to use a certain dog, to cede it to others. Therefore, the value of a dog depends on the seller and the buyer. There are cases where buyers pay 30 buffaloes, homeowners still do not sell, but "choose to send gold" to others for a much lower price.
Journey to find dogs
The Central Highlands do not produce dogs. High value varieties mainly from China, Japan, Thailand ... They exchange indirectly through the peoples living nearby, especially the Cham because their language is quite close to the Highland community.
Old Ka Kieu Mang of the Ma ethnic group in Bang village said: “To have a precious dog, not only do you have to have buffalo, deer horn, ivory, leopard, honey or veil, a beautiful counter (skirt) in exchange for but also have to go to places where the Cham are far away. People have to walk very small trails in the jungle. Every time you follow the surface of the bark is not rough, find out where the Cham people are. Each time going to change, in the village to invite each other about 15-20 people to dare to go, everyone brought with them, working to fight the wild animals. Sometimes when they were going, they met a group of other merchants in Dak Lak, they brought along elephants to exchange, their trade union joined them, with up to 50 people ... ".
Etiquette related to "sacred" dogs
According to the conception of the Central Highlands, "sacred" dogs are dogs that reside in the gods. So, when they bring the dog home, they usually do not bring the dog immediately. Homeowners must make offerings to the spirit to enter the "soul" for new dogs. During the procession of the procession, the sacrificial animal's blood is applied to the mouth. This ritual is like a dog that has the presence of a god. At that time, dogs are allowed to be brought into the house and carefully placed in the most solemn place, only important occasions to use.
In the Central Highlands, whether it is a communal house or a stilt house, there is always a tree of wine. The family's tree if only raised about 1 meter above the floor, but in the communal house is soaring to the roof, the tree is decorated with the characteristics of each ethnic group. When drinking alcohol, they always tie a dog into a tree to avoid breaking the dog (because if broken, the spirit will reprimand). According to the experience of the old people, choé is as old as wine because the intestine of uncoated antique choos makes it easier for yeast to stick and ferment. So they are more precious.
For ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands, not only is a useful container associated with the habit of drinking wine, but also the accumulated wealth of the family, a measure of wealth and power, Sacrifices are used for sacrifices for the gods, a fine for those who violate customary laws of the community, wedding gifts, dowries for their children, and gifts for the deceased.
Today, dogs are no longer a commodity exchange as before, but it still occupies an important position in each family and community of the Central Highlands ethnic groups. Any of their festivals still cannot be without alcohol. Not only that, alcohol is currently considered as one of the "specialty" drinks of the Central Highlands tourism. In particular, in cafes or old villas, even in modern houses ... the ancient dogs are considered valuable decorations. Therefore, it has contributed to preserving, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values typical of the Central Highlands.
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