VHO - Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Huynh Thanh Dat emphasized that the Workshop is not only an opportunity to study, look back and honor a special historical figure - a person who has made great contributions to the national culture, literature and art, but also an opportunity to reflect together on the responsibility in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, specifically in the field of theater, especially the art of Cheo.

On April 15, in Hoa Lu city, Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee coordinated with Vietnam Stage Artists Association, Institute for Research on Preservation and Promotion of National Culture to organize the scientific seminar "Life and career of Upasika Pham Thi Tran".

Attending the workshop were Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Huynh Thanh Dat; Secretary of Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee Doan Minh Huan and leaders of central ministries, branches, research agencies, scientists, researchers, artists and actors.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Huynh Thanh Dat emphasized that the scientific workshop has important and profound significance in both theory and practice.

This is not only an opportunity to study, look back and honor a special historical figure - a person who made great contributions to national culture, literature and art, but also an opportunity to reflect together on the responsibility in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, specifically in the field of theater, especially the art of Cheo.

According to the Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission, Venerable Pham Thi Tran is considered the founder of Cheo art, a unique, distinctive and rich folk art form with national identity.

She was not only the first founder of Vietnamese theater art, but also the first woman to be appointed to an official position in the history of the nation.

She left behind an extremely valuable cultural heritage, leaving a special mark in the history of the country's performing arts.

Through historical documents and folk legends, from the very beginning, Vietnamese theatrical art not only served the people's need to enjoy art through singing troupes, but also served political and military tasks, encouraging the fighting spirit of the army.

The late Mrs. Pham Thi Tran was the one who organized the stage troupe to perform in the military since the Dinh Dynasty, which shows the stature and special role of Vietnamese stage art right from the dawn of Dai Co Viet nation.

The Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission requested that all levels and sectors continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's resolutions and conclusions on the fields of culture, literature and art.

Concretize tasks and solutions for implementation; strengthen research, preservation and promotion of the value of traditional art forms, including Cheo art.

It is necessary to build systematic and sustainable programs and projects, and at the same time strongly apply science and technology in the work of preserving, communicating and popularizing heritage.

Encourage artistic creativity, create conditions for a harmonious combination between tradition and modernity, between folk culture and contemporary culture, thereby forming new theatrical works with Vietnamese identity and widespread influence.

Focus on traditional cultural education in schools, helping the young generation understand, love and be proud of the cultural heritage of their ancestors.

Promote experiential activities, research competitions, and community art programs to spread love for national culture...

The Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission also expressed his belief that with the leadership of the Party, the attention of authorities at all levels, the participation of professionals and the whole society, traditional cultural values, including the Cheo stage art that Madam Pham Thi Tran has enlightened, will continue to be preserved, promoted and shine in the spiritual life of the people, contributing to building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity.

The introduction at the workshop presented by researcher Nguyen The Khoa, Deputy Director of the Institute for Research on Preservation and Promotion of National Culture, showed that: Although Ms. Pham Thi Tran has long been recognized as the founder of Cheo art, the first founder of Vietnamese stage art, her death anniversary has been recognized by the Government as the death anniversary of the founder of Vietnamese stage.

However, the life and career of Upasika Pham Thi Tran are still not fully and widely known.

Even in the Cheo and theater industry, many people still do not know who Upasika Pham Thi Tran is.

Compared to our ancestors, who canonized and appointed Upasaka Pham Thi Tran as the village's tutelary deity, and built temples to worship her like many other ancestors of the Mother Goddess religion or Saint Tran, the honor that today's generation gives Upasaka Pham Thi Tran is perhaps not worthy.

Therefore, the Workshop is an opportunity to learn more deeply and thoroughly about the life and career of the Upasika, to better assess the significance of the appearance of a Vietnamese theater founder in the 10th century, and to find more extensive and effective forms of honoring Upasika Pham Thi Tran.

The workshop held a discussion session with 2 topics: Homeland, background, career of Upasika Pham Thi Tran and Promoting the legacy of Upasika Pham Thi Tran in current socio-economic development.

The presentations focused on discussing the background, career and significance of the appearance of the first founder of Vietnamese theater - U Ba Pham Thi Tran.

Analyze and evaluate the contributions and legacy of Ms. Pham Thi Tran in the development of Cheo singing art in particular and Vietnamese stage art in general.

Proposing directions and solutions for research, preservation and promotion of the value of stage art and heritage of Upasika Pham Thi Tran in the construction and development of economy, culture and society of Ninh Binh province in the current period.

Closing the workshop, Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Tong Quang Thin affirmed that the results of the workshop affirmed the role, importance and contributions of Madam Pham Thi Tran to Cheo art as well as Vietnamese stage art.

Based on the reception of comments from the Workshop and research results from experts and scientists, it will be a necessary premise, an objective scientific basis for the province to carry out tasks of building and perfecting solutions to promote the heritage values ​​of Upasika Pham Thi Tran in economic, cultural and social development in the current period.