Information on the thesis "House-building customs of the Austronesian ethnic groups in the Central Highlands" by graduate student Zelenkova Maria, majoring in Asian Studies.1. Student's Full Name: Zelenkova Maria 2. Gender: Female 3. Date of Birth: June 22, 1988 4. Place of Birth: Vladivostok, Russian Federation 5. Decision No. 1535/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated October 16, 2009, by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 6. Changes during the training process: None 7. Thesis Title: House-Building Customs of Austronesian Ethnic Groups in the Central Highlands. 8. Specialization: Asian Studies; Code: 60 31 50 9. Scientific Advisor: Prof. Dr. Mai Ngoc Chu 10. Summary of thesis results: (Summarize the thesis results, emphasizing new results if any) Today in Vietnam, there are over 800,000 people who speak Malayo-Polynesian languages, classified into 5 ethnic groups: Gia Rai, Cham, Ede, Churu, and Raglai. Although they are 5 different ethnic groups, their material lives have many customs that are almost identical. However, a noteworthy situation is that the customs and traditions of the Ede, Gia Rai, Raglai, and Churu people have many points of dissimilarity with the customs and traditions of the Cham people, even though they belong to the same language family. This is clearly reflected in the house structure of these 5 ethnic groups. The traditional houses of the Ede, Raglai, Gia Rai, and Churu people are stilt houses. Strongly influenced by matriarchal traditions, whenever a daughter marries or a new couple joins the family, an additional section of the stilt house is added. The more children, the longer the house. Ede stilt houses are usually the longest, while Gia Rai stilt houses are the tallest. Churu stilt houses are smaller than those of other ethnic groups in the same group. Cham houses, however, share almost no common features with those of other Austronesian ethnic groups. Cham houses are a cluster of houses within a compound. The relationships between the houses in this cluster reflect the breakdown of the large, matriarchal family structure into smaller families with shorter houses. Of the five ethnic groups, only the Gia Rai have communal houses (nhà rông). The community houses of the Ede, Churu, and Raglai are stilt houses. The Cham community house is a complex of towers. Despite many differences, the cultures of the Austronesian ethnic groups in Vietnam also share many common characteristics. For example, all five ethnic groups value rituals and procedures related to house construction: the selection of land and wood, the choice of house orientation, and the determination of the most auspicious date and time to begin building a new house. In the beliefs of all five ethnic groups, the house is considered a somewhat sacred object, because it is made of wood, and wood in the form of trees in the forest is the dwelling place of the gods (Yang). Furthermore, the house is the environment that produces, integrates, preserves, and transmits the culture of the family and community. Many important events such as childbirth, marriage, and funerals take place within the house. The Austronesian ethnic groups in Vietnam are those who do not have a migration custom, so the role of the village and the house in their community is extremely important. Everything begins in the village, and the village begins in the house. 11. Practical applications: (if any) This research can be used in the teaching process and contribute to the preservation of Vietnam's cultural diversity. The topic also highlights the cultural characteristics of the Austronesian ethnic groups in the Central Highlands in terms of house construction, thereby contributing to clarifying the value and cultural identity of Austronesian ethnic groups in Southeast Asia. 12. Further research directions: Research on house construction customs of each Austronesian ethnic 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
