TTLV: Concepts and practices in the Tay people's ritual of warding off misfortune: a case study of Nghia Do commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: Ma Thi Diep 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: October 18, 1987

4. Place of birth: Phu Dinh Commune, Dinh Hoa District, Thai Nguyen Province

5. Decision No. 1883/QD-XHNV-SDH dated October 21, 2010, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis title:Concepts and practices in the Tay people's ritual of warding off misfortune: a case study of Nghia Do commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province.

8. Major:EthnologyCode: 60 22 70

9. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van SuuDepartment of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

This thesis studies the beliefs and practices in the Tày people's ritual of warding off misfortune in a mountainous commune in northern Vietnam (a case study of Nghĩa Đô commune, Bảo Yên district, Lào Cai province).

1. Focus on understanding the beliefs of the Tay people in Nghia Do commune regarding the ritual of warding off misfortune.

2. Analysis of the ritual process of the misfortune-averting ceremony in the study area.

3. Explain the significance of the ritual of warding off misfortune in the life of the Tay ethnic community in Nghia Do commune. Identify the trends of change in this ritual within the specific socio-economic context of the research area.

11. Practical applications:

- This thesis contributes further practical information about the beliefs and practices in the Tày people's ritual of warding off misfortune in a mountainous commune in northern Vietnam.

12. Directions for further research:

- Changes in the ritual of warding off misfortune under the influence of socio-economic development and cultural policies in Vietnam.

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Ma Thi Diep 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: October 18, 1987. Place of birth: Phu Dinh, Dinh Hoa, Thai Nguyen

5. Admission decision number: 1883/QD-XHNV-SDH Dated October 21, 2010

6. Changes in academic process: none

7. Official thesis title: The conception and practiceswarding off bad luckritual of Tay ethnic: The case of Nghia Do commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province.

8. Major: Ethnology 9. Code: 60 22 70

10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Suu, Department of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

The thesis examines the conception and practices ofwarding off bad luckritual of Tay people in commune of Northwest Vietnam by:

1. Examining the conception of Tay ethnic in Nghia Do village aboutwarding off bad luckritual.
2. Analyzing the process ofwarding off bad luckritual of Tay people in Nghia Do commune.
3. Explaining the meanings and cultural values ​​ofwarding off bad luckritual of Tay people as well as discuss the key issues of these conceptions and practices in the contemporary society of Tay people in Vietnam.

12. Practical applicability:

- The thesis contributes to enhance our understanding of the Tay people, especially their of conception and practices in regard towarding off bad luckrituals.

13. Further research directions:

- Cultural values ​​and cultural change in Tay ethnic group in contemporary Vietnam.

14. Thesis-related publications: none