(VOVworld) – The San Chi of Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province, have strict family rules and hierarchy. Family members love and respect each other without discrimination of daughters- or sons-in-law.

Stilt houses of the San Chi (baotintuc.vn)

The San Chi have adapted their customs and lifestyle to society but still maintain the core family standards. Doctor Dang Thi Hoa, Deputy Director of the Institute of Family and Gender, says: “They respect family hierarchy and relationships among grandparents, parents, and children. They live in harmony and support each other. In production, they share the work sensibly among old and young people.”

The San Chi live in a patriarchal system in which the father or the eldest son holds primary power. The father arranges and decides every family task. At dinner, all family members gather to talk about their work that day and what they will do the following day. Doctor Hoa again: “The women take care of the housework and the men do the heavy work. The wife keeps the money but the husband and wife often talk to agree on spending it. The San Chi respect the role of men and women, husband and wife, grandparents and children.”

San Chi women prepare meals

When their parents die, sons discuss how to divide the assets. The eldest son will get the largest share. If there are no sons, a son-in-law will be the heir. A son-in-law is responsible for worshipping the ancestors of his wife. Ly Thi Ba of Ho hamlet, Luc Ngan district, says: “We love our daughters-in-law as our own children. I have three sons-in-law and I consider them my own children. If I’m not satisfied with them, I can tell them straightforward and they won’t hold it against me.”

The maternal side has an important position in one’s life. A man takes the three family names of his father, his mother, and his wife. Doctor Tran Binh, Head of the Culture Management Faculty, of Hanoi Culture University, says a husband prepares a small altar in the garden to worship his wife’s parents. “He makes a small stilt house of about half a square meter to worship his wife’s parents. When the shaman says the souls want some food or clothes, the husband will make offerings. He worships them on New Year’s Day and during festivals.”

Older San Chi people live with their children, usually the youngest son, advising him on production and teaching him about San Chi traditions and customs.