Charnel-house statues ‘crying’

A charnel-house statue is not placed at a charnel-house.

 – Despite efforts to preserve charnel-house statues, more original statues have been offered for sale at extremely high prices.

 

Charnel-house statues are the identity of the Central Highlands culture. They represent the conception of existence, the deep and sacred sentiment between the dead and the living. But charnel-house statues are crying because of man’s hands.

 

According to the custom of the Central Highlands people, statues are assets that the living share to the death. The statues only serve the tomb-moving ceremony and festivals. After these events, statues are left at cemeteries forever for the extermination of nature.

 

It is believed that statues gradually vanish into the soil and go to Death. Disappeared statues will be replaced by new ones, from the deaths of others.

 

The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak is known for its elephant taming village named Buon Don and the outstanding system of charnel-house statues. But Dak Lak is losing its masterpieces.

 

The previous statues are being replaced by new ones, which are whittled very carefully and smoothly and sold at statue stores. “I look at them (statues) for a long time but they are quiet. They didn’t have anything to say to me,” said a village patriarch named Ma Pon.

 

Other charnel houses in Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Lam Dong are similar.

 

A recent survey conducted by Dak Lak authorities shows the number of statue-making artisans is decreasing because many of them are very old.

 

Village patriarch Y Thong said that in the late 20^th century, Buon Don had over 50 statue makers. The village now has only two, Ma Pun, 65, and Ma Tho 67. Buon Don village has less than 10 artisans, dropping from over 100 in the past.

 

Craftsman Ma Pun said it is quite difficult to seek suitable wood to make statues. In addition, according to custom, to put a statue into a charnel-house, the owner has to hold a ceremony, offering a big pig or a cow to the god. Meanwhile, many families are poor.

 

Wealthy families hire artisans to make true statues but it is very expensive now.

 

“The young only like singing karaoke and watching movies. They don’t want to make charnel-house statues anymore,” complained Y Thong.

 

While the authorities are trying to preserve charnel-house statues, more original statues are being sold at souvenir stores at very high prices. These statues quickly enter private collections. How do we preserve unique statues of the legendary Central Highlands?

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