Vietnamese Folklore: Enduring Identity and Values

Overview of Vietnamese Folklore

Vietnamese folklore is a priceless treasure trove, preserving the spiritual, moral, and aesthetic values of the nation over thousands of years of history. It is expressed diversely through many forms, from mysterious legends and magical fairy tales to concise and profound proverbs, folk songs, and heartfelt melodies.

Legends and Fairy Tales: Origins and Profound Lessons

Legends often tell stories about historical figures and major events related to the origins, history, and development of the nation. For example, the legend of Con Rong Chau Tien explains the origin of the Vietnamese people, or the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh reflects the Vietnamese people’s struggle for survival against nature. Fairy tales, however, are highly educational, often focusing on lessons about morality, kindness, and justice, through stories about imaginary characters and magical miracles.

Notable Stories:

Stories like Saint Giong, Tam Cam, and So Dua… are fairy tales that have entered the hearts of Vietnamese people, passed down from generation to generation, carrying profound philosophies about life and humanity.

Proverbs, Folk Songs, and Traditional Music: The Subtlety of Language

Proverbs are short, concise sayings that summarize the life experiences of the people. They reflect philosophies of life, production experience, social relationships… Folk songs and traditional music express the feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of Vietnamese people through melodious and heartfelt songs and melodies. Folk songs about love, homeland, and country have become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Examples:

“Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây” (He who eats the fruit should remember the one who planted the tree), “Một cây làm chẳng nên non/Ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao” (One tree does not make a forest/Three trees together make a mountain), “Thương thay thân phận con tằm/Kiếm ăn được mấy phải nằm nhả tơ” (Pity the silkworm’s fate/How little it eats before it spins and dies),…

The Value and Significance of Folklore

Vietnamese folklore is not only a precious intangible cultural heritage but also an endless source of inspiration for art, literature, cinema… It helps us better understand the history, culture, and people of Vietnam, thereby preserving and promoting the good values of the nation.

Preserving and promoting folklore is the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen to preserve and pass on these precious values to future generations.