The Upland Rice Cultivation Beliefs of the Chil People in Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province

Abstract

Chil is one of the 6 local groups of the Co Ho ethnicity in Lam Dong
province, with a long-standing cultural belief. Because the traditional economy of the Chil
people here is swidden agriculture, beliefs related to agriculture, especially rituals performed
during the process of swidden rice cultivation, are typical cultural features of the village
community and each family. However, this belief has now changed, even faded away, because
many rituals are no longer practiced. Based on a number of published documents and field
data in 2023 - 2024, the article clarifies the traditional and changing elements in the swidden
rice cultivation beliefs of the Chil people in Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province. Thereby,
it points out the causes leading to the change and proposes a few recommendations to
contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural and religious values of the ethnic group
in the context of current socio-economic development.