Mystical Hmong Instrument which speaks with Spirits // BBC: Vietnam's Last Qeej Makers
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- The qeej (pronounced 'khen') is a unique musical instrument used by the Hmong people in Vietnam to connect with the spirit world. It is primarily played at funerals - to guide the deceased to their ancestral resting place. We follow two of the last makers of the instrument as they shape its sacred sound from copper and bamboo.
Our Etherium Sky crew produced this project for BBC.
Shot & Directed by: Matt Dworzańczyk
Hmong Translator: Ly Thi Pang
BBC Series Producer: Fiona MacDonald & Dan John
Original BBC Story:
www.bbc.com/re...
Thanks for the history and allow some light to those individuals who has no idea what a "QEEJ" means to us as Hmong people.
Thank you for watching! :)
Thanks for your comment.
such sweet, quaint peacfully haunting music
Long ago, the “qeej” use to be an instrument to help protect you from evil spirits when you’re traveling at night if you’re going home from someone’s house or farm. But now, it’s mostly associated with funeral services as a guide for the deceased person to guide them on into the afterlife. Haunting, yet Beautiful musical instrument with a scary backstory.
When the old man said difficult, he said "khó"(4:20) which means difficult in Vietnamese. In Hmong you would say "nyu-ah". Its interesting to see the language absorb the culture. Even today we call our mothers "ni-ah", which stems from archaic Chinese 娘(ni-ang).
My god grandfather use to make these. I haven’t seen him in so long so I’m not sure if he still does but I remember visiting and he would have a big piece of cloth laid out on the floor as his work area while he carves the instrument. Truly beautiful craftsmanship. I’m sadden that I’ve grown apart from my Hmong roots, so here I am learning about my culture through the internet.
Its our privilege, or we'll join the ignorant who identify themselves by the color of skin.
No matter how difficult the qeej may be to make and play, it's still part of our shared human heritage and there's simply no reason why we couldn't value it enough to make sure it doesn't disappear. All it takes is the will and the resources to encourage new generations to take up the practice, which I think young Hmong people would be happy to do.
have been went to Meo Bac from Hanoi when lived in Vietnam. and never forget the memory with Hmong people. because the Hmong village chief invited me in memorial service for his parents when went to travel alone. and then we cried for parents, drunk, had dinner and slept together. The qeej is their sad history with poor life but I love all of them.
My grandpa started playing this outside at night and my dog started howling the opposite direction. I need to learn to play this sooner
I still remember attending Hmong funerals and listening to the Qeej for hours and never got tired of it.
Great video. I heard that the tonal melody would guide the spirit to the Creator of heaven and earth.
👍👍 what an awesome coverage about hmong special Qeej.
he kinda vibin doe 😳
Incredible
It's sad because technology is advancing so quickly. Children are becoming less interested in their own culture while the older generation grandpas and grandmas are dying off. I guess this is how cultures die.
I think, it's true up to a point. It also, depends on where you in the world too, as I mostly see only in younger gens like maybe, millennial z in western countries like USA, Europe or Australia, who has forgotten their cultures.
But, if you go oversea to parts of southern Asia and mainland in China, Hmong people are still connected to the old ways for young to old generations, though. At least, that's what my relatives have told me as they do go visit these countries often. 😊
Omg ur right even I’m am...shit...
I still want to learn...
Once had a White friend hear this instrument and he just didn’t understand, he kept saying “huh what even is that? Is that even music?”
To me, as a Hmong American, I hear a sorrowful song guiding spirits home.
To him, it’s a foreign sound that he cannot understand in a million years.
I really like the Queej snippet that starts at 3:27. Is there an actual Audio file of the full song? I would love to listen to the whole piece if possible. Please let me know. Thank you
Not audio, but you can check out my feature film "Love Market" here - ua-cam.com/video/Ci0NEA0pFaE/v-deo.html - there is lots of qeej music in it and the father-son qeej maker duo is also more extensively featured. And you can find the film soundtrack on my channel! :)
Thank you so much for this beautiful video ❤
Same dialect as me but with Viet accent.
Tuaj saib kj txhawb rau kj lawm thiab tuaj sib txhawb os
Where does this guy live at part in Vietnam I want a specially made instrument Qeej for me to buy one or a couple from this guy in youtube
They're in Meo Vac, in far northern Ha Giang province. Email me and i can give you more detailed directions - but you'd have to visit him personally, afaik they don't do any online/shipping thing.
Is there a documentary of this video.
It's a different project but this story of the Khen Makers (as well as other stories from this region) are featured in our film "Love Market". You can find it on Amazon, or here: ua-cam.com/video/Ci0NEA0pFaE/v-deo.html . Thanks for watching!
Koj puag tseem muaj qeej muag Txiv ntxawm
Thov tuaj kaw koj aos
White boy married to Hmong. There are SO many things which could be said, and expressed.
First, and foremost. Some Hmong are Christian. Their funerals are way, way, different from "traditional" Hmong funerals....
They don't have the qeej playing. Because they believe it's not necessary.
Traditional Hmong play the qeej day and night, night and day for 3-4 days.... They're trying to "play them into the spirt world."
If the Christians had their way this instrument would be wiped off the face of the earth. Funny thing is they follow Christian traditions that have European Pegan origins. Christmas tree isn’t Christian.
This is one of God trumpet in revelation if they didn’t know.
Am a whitewash 😔
Same bro 😔