Exploring the Beauty of Vietnamese Folklore

The Richness of Vietnamese Folklore

Vietnamese folklore is a priceless treasure trove, preserving the spiritual, moral, and intellectual values of the nation over thousands of years of history. From fairy tales and mysterious legends to concise and meaningful folk songs and proverbs, all reflect the life, thoughts, and feelings of the Vietnamese people.

Legends and Fairy Tales: Origins and Meanings

Legends often tell stories about historical figures and real events embellished with fantastical elements, carrying educational meanings and explaining the origins of objects and phenomena. For example, the legend of Son Tinh and Thuy Tinh explains the annual flooding phenomenon. Fairy tales focus on imaginary characters and magic, offering lessons on morality, kindness, and justice. Stories like Tam Cam and Thach Sanh have resonated with the Vietnamese people for generations.

Folk Songs and Proverbs: Conciseness and Depth

Folk songs (Ca dao) are short folk songs that express people’s feelings and thoughts about love, homeland, and country. The language of folk songs is close, easy to understand, rich in imagery and emotion. Proverbs (Tục ngữ) are short, concise sayings that summarize life experiences of the people, carrying an educational and guiding nature for human behavior in life. For example, the proverb “Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây” (Remember the one who planted the tree when you eat the fruit) expresses gratitude.

Influence and Preservation of Folklore

Folklore is not only a precious cultural heritage but also an endless source of inspiration for art, literature, and cinema. Many modern literary and cinematic works have drawn inspiration from legends and fairy tales to create unique works of art. However, the preservation and promotion of folklore today face many challenges due to the development of modern society.

The Role of Education in Preservation

Education plays an important role in transmitting and preserving folklore for future generations. Incorporating fairy tales and legends into the curriculum will help children learn more about the history and culture of the nation and cultivate their character.

Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Values

To preserve and promote the value of folklore, it requires the participation of the whole society, from researchers and managers to individuals. Organizing cultural activities, traditional festivals, publishing books, and films about folklore will contribute to promoting and spreading these good values to a wide audience.