Thesis information "House building customs of ethnic groups belonging to the Austronesian group in the Central Highlands" by HVCH Zelenkova Maria, majoring in Asian studies.1. Full name of student: Zelenkova Maria 2. Gender: Female 3. Date of birth: June 22, 1988 4. Place of birth: Vladivostok, Russia 5. Decision to recognize student No.: 1535/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated October 16, 2009 by the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 6. Changes during the training process: none 7. Thesis topic: House building customs of ethnic groups belonging to the Austronesian group in the Central Highlands. 8. Major: Asian Studies; Code: 60 31 50 9. Scientific supervisor: Prof. Dr. Mai Ngoc Chu 10. Summary of the results of the thesis: (summarize the results of the thesis, emphasize new results if any) Today in Vietnam, there are over 800,000 people speaking the Malayo-Polynesian language, classified into 5 ethnic groups: Gia-rai, Cham, E-de, Chu-ru, Ra-glai. Although they are 5 different ethnic groups, their material life has many almost identical customs. However, there is a notable situation that the customs of the E-de, Gia-rai, Ra-glai, Chu-ru have many points of dissimilarity with the customs of the Cham, even though they belong to the same language system. This is clearly reflected in the house structure of these 5 ethnic groups. The traditional houses of the E-de, Ra-glai, Gia-rai, Chu-ru are stilt houses. Bearing a strong matriarchal character, every time a daughter gets married or a young couple, the stilt house is extended with another compartment. The more children, the longer the house. The Ede stilt house is usually the longest, while the Gia-rai stilt house is the tallest. The Chu-ru stilt house is a smaller house than the houses of the same ethnic groups. The Cham people's houses have almost no common characteristics with the houses of other Austronesian ethnic groups. The Cham people's house is a complex of houses in a compound. The relationship between the houses in this complex has shown the process of breaking down the large matriarchal family form to become small families with short houses. Of the five ethnic groups, only the Gia-rai have communal houses. The communal houses of the Ede, Chu-ru and Ra-glai are stilt houses. The Cham communal house is a complex of towers. Despite many differences, the cultures of the Austronesian ethnic groups in Vietnam also have many common traits. For example, all five ethnic groups consider the rituals and procedures related to house building: how to choose land and wood, how to choose the direction of the house and determine the most suitable day and time to start building a new house. In the concept of all five ethnic groups, the house is considered a sacred object because it is made of wood, and wood in the form of trees in the forest is the residence of the gods (Yang). Moreover, the house is the environment for producing, integrating, preserving and transmitting the culture of the family and the community. It is in the house that many important events take place such as birth, wedding, and funeral. The ethnic groups of the Austronesian group in Vietnam are ethnic groups that do not have the habit of migrating, so the role of the village and the role of the house in the community of these ethnic groups is extremely important. Everything starts from the village, and the village starts from the house. 11. Practical applicability: (if any) This research can be used in the teaching process and contribute to preserving the cultural diversity of Vietnam. The topic also highlights the cultural characteristics of the Austronesian ethnic groups in the Central Highlands in house construction, thereby contributing to clarifying the value and cultural identity of the Austronesian ethnic groups in Southeast Asia. 12. Further research directions: Research on house building customs of each ethnic group belonging to the Austronesian group in Vietnam. 13. Published works related to the thesis: None
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name: Zelenkova Maria 2. Sex: Female 3. Date of birth: June 22, 1988 4. Place of birth: Vladivostok, Russia 5. Admission decision number: 1535/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH Dated October 16, 2009 6. Changes in academic process: None 7. Official thesis title: House-building customs of nationalities belonging to Malayo-Polynesian ethnic group in Central Highlands 8. Major: Asia studies. 9. Code: 60 31 50 10. Supervisors: Prof., Dr. Mai Ngoc Chu (Full name, academic title and degree) 11. Summary of the findings of the thesis: (Summarize them with stress on the new findings, if any) Nowadays in Vietnam there are more than 800 000 people speaking Malayo-Polynesian languages, they are divided into 5 nationalities: Jrai, Cham, Ede, Churu, Raglai. Although they are 5 different nationalities, their material life has a lot of similar habits. However, there is a moment that must be noticed – Ede's, Jrai's, Raglai's and Churu's have customs a lot of points that are not corresponded to Cham's customs, in spite of their belonging to one language group. This is clearly reflected in house structures of these 5 nationalities. Ede's, Raglai's, Jrai's and Churu's traditional house is a pile-house. Strongly keeping matriarchal peculiarities, every time when a daughter is marring or when a young family joins to live with parents, the pile-house is added a new chamber. Than more children a family has, than the house is longer. Ede's house is usually the longest, and Jrai's house is the highest. Churu's house is the smallest one in comparison with other nations' houses inside this ethnic group. Cham's house almost doesn't keep any similar features with the houses of other nationalities belonging to Malayo-Polynesian ethnic group. Cham's house is a group of buildings inside a big yard. The connection between the houses in this architectural ensemble shows the relation process of forming the Big matriarchal family into the small ones with short houses. Among the 5 nations, only Jrai people have a Rong-house. Ede, Churu and Raglai communal houses are pile-houses. And Cham communal house is a group of towers. Although there are a lot of differences, but the culture of Malayo-Polynesian nationalities in Vietnam also has many similar points. For example, all 5 nationalities attach a huge importance to rites and ceremonies pertaining to house-building process: choosing the land and wood, determining the right direction and suitable time for building beginning. In interpretation of all 5 nationalities, house is realized as an object with a spirit, because it is made from wood, and wood, when it is a tree in a forest, is a dwelling place for many spirits (called Yang). Even more, house is a place, where community and family culture is created, matured, maintained and shared. Just house is the place where all important events happen: birth, wedding, funeral. Malayo-Polynesian nationalities in Vietnam have no migration customs, that is the reason why village role and the role of house, as home, is so important for their community. Everything starts from a village, and the village starts from a house. 12. Practical applicability, if any: This research work can be useful in teaching and also contributes to preserving Vietnamese cultural variety. This subject assigns cultural house-building peculiarities of nationalities belonging to Malayo-Polynesian ethnic group in Central Highlands, and through this, helps to clear up the value and ethnic characteristics of Malayo-Polynesian nationalities in South East Asia. 13. Further research directions, if any: Research house-building customs of each nationality belonging to Malayo-Polynesian ethnic group in Vietnam. 14. Thesis-related publications: None
