THE IMMORTAL SPIRITS IN VIETNAMESE FOLKLORE
In the primordial dawn, when heaven and earth were still shrouded in mystical mist, the Vietnamese people quietly wove wondrous tales where the soul of the mountains intertwined with the breath of humanity. Each legend, each folktale, is a shimmering fragment of time, reflecting the light of the soul and the sacred aspirations of the people.
They say that when Son Tinh raised the mountains and summoned the wind to battle the furious Thuy Tinh, it was not merely a clash between two deities but a tribute to the indomitable spirit of humanity against the wrath of nature. And Tam, who patiently picked each grain of rice in the darkness, became the embodiment of perseverance and unwavering faith in justice.
Each story is a clear stream flowing through the Vietnamese soul, cleansing greed and pettiness while nurturing compassion and love. “The Legend of Betel Leaves and Areca Nuts” sings of the bonds of marital devotion and brotherly affection. “The hundred-knot bamboo tree” tells of the journey of the downtrodden who, despite being trampled upon, rise resiliently, like a green bamboo shoot amidst the storm.
From the depths of the sea where Lac Long Quan reigns to the towering peaks where Au Co gave birth to a hundred eggs, the legend of the Vietnamese origins paints a grand portrait of the harmony between heaven and earth, humanity and the divine. It is the pride of the dragon and fairy bloodline that eternally flows through the veins of every Vietnamese.
And when the gleaming sword in “The Legend of the Returned Sword” was given back to the Golden Turtle in the tranquil waters of Hoan Kiem Lake, we heard the sigh of peace and the burning desire for freedom. The deities are not distant; they dwell in every breeze, every tree, and every step the Vietnamese take on their homeland.
Do you hear the echoes of Saint Giong’s iron horse galloping in the laughter of children in the village fields? Do you see the spirit of Son Tinh in the farmers who brave the floods, guarding each rice paddy and every stalk of grain?
Folktales and legends do not slumber in old books. They whisper through a mother’s lullaby, in proverbs like “When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree” and “Do good, receive good” – seeds of morality sown into the hearts of children from their earliest days.
Like an underground current nourishing lush green fields, folktales seep deep into Vietnamese art and culture. From traditional opera and folk painting to modern literature, the images of Tam, Thach Sanh, and Saint Giong remain vivid and alive.
Today, as animated films, comic books, and contemporary theater breathe life into these mythical figures, they not only revive ancient memories but also awaken national pride and remind younger generations of their sacred roots.
Do you hear the echoes of Saint Giong’s iron horse galloping in the laughter of children in the village fields? Do you see the spirit of Son Tinh in the farmers who brave the floods, guarding each rice paddy and every stalk of grain?
Folktales and legends do not slumber in old books. They whisper through a mother’s lullaby, in proverbs like “When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree” and “Do good, receive good” – seeds of morality sown into the hearts of children from their earliest days.
Like an underground current nourishing lush green fields, folktales seep deep into Vietnamese art and culture. From traditional opera and folk painting to modern literature, the images of Tam, Thach Sanh, and Saint Giong remain vivid and alive.
Today, as animated films, comic books, and contemporary theater breathe life into these mythical figures, they not only revive ancient memories but also awaken national pride and remind younger generations of their sacred roots.
In the hurried pace of modern life, the storytelling by the fire, village festivals, and pages of folktale books quietly keep the flame of memory burning. It is the sacred duty of every Vietnamese to not only preserve but also breathe new life into these tales so they may continue to soar.