The Khen dance (tang quay) of the Hmong ethnic minority is a type of folk performing art that has existed for a long time and has been passed down through many generations.
During festivals and New Year’s Eve, the sound of the Khen is considered the soul of the Hmong people, expressing their feelings to friends, community, nature, mountains and forests, and expressing unique cultural values, creating a unique identity.
For the Hmong people, performing Khen dance cannot be without a musical instrument made by themselves, which is the Hmong Khen. With this unique Khen, the player can blow out and inhale. The Khen is also a dance prop with a structure suitable for bending and turning and jumping.
The Khen (called Khenh, Kềnh, Kỳ in the Hmong language) is a sacred musical instrument, connecting the earthly world and the spiritual world of the Hmong people. The Mong people still tell each other about the origin of the Khen, from the story of 6 brothers missing their father, making a flute to play for their father, until they could no longer play, the youngest brother put all 6 flutes together to create the Khen as it is today.
Originating from customs and practices, the Mong Khen has many themes and melodies. With a happy sound, the Mong people invite friends to go out in the spring, go to the market, wish each other good luck… When sad, the Khen sounds slow and deep, often played at funerals to express condolences to the family, to send the deceased to the other world… Khen dance performances always have fun content, meaning congratulations and inviting friends to gather and have fun. The Khen sound makes people forget the difficulties and hardships after a year of hard work, contributing to strengthening friendship, love, and neighborhood love.
