Vietnamese Folklore: A Precious Heritage to Preserve

Overview of Vietnamese Folklore

Vietnamese folklore is a rich and diverse treasure trove, accumulated over thousands of years of history. It encompasses traditional art forms such as legends, fairy tales, proverbs, folk songs, traditional musical instruments, water puppetry, folk games, and more. Each region boasts its own unique characteristics, creating a vibrant and colorful picture of Vietnamese folklore.

Legends and Fairy Tales: Stories about History and Life

Legends:

Legends often tell stories about historical figures, major events, and fascinating natural phenomena. Famous legends include the story of An Dương Vương and Mị Châu – Trọng Thủy, Sơn Tinh – Thủy Tinh, and Thánh Gióng. These stories not only explain the origins of objects and phenomena but also showcase the rich imagination and creativity of the ancient Vietnamese people.

Fairy Tales:

Fairy tales focus on imaginative, extraordinary stories, often featuring supernatural characters like fairies, Buddhas, and demons. Through these stories, the ancients conveyed lessons about morality, life, and human relationships. Familiar fairy tales like Tấm Cám, Sọ Dừa, and Thạch Sanh all carry profound messages about good and evil, justice and fairness.

Proverbs and Folk Songs: The Essence of Folk Wisdom

Proverbs are short, concise, and meaningful sayings that encapsulate the life experiences of the people. Proverbs offer lessons on labor, production, social behavior, and morality. For example: “One tree doesn’t make a forest,” and “A person’s teeth and hair are their appearance.”

Folk songs are short lyrical poems, often sung during work and social activities. Folk songs express people’s emotions and thoughts, reflecting social life, customs, and traditions. Folk songs about love, friendship, and community are deeply intimate and moving.

Preservation and Promotion of Folklore

Folklore is an integral part of Vietnam’s cultural identity. Preserving and promoting folklore is the responsibility of every citizen. We need specific measures to preserve various forms of folklore, teach them to younger generations, and combine them with modern activities to make folklore more accessible and appealing to everyone.