Top 12 Most Popular Characters Requested During the Traditional Lunar New Year

The character "Tâm" holds deep Buddhist significance in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. It emphasizes the cultivation of virtues, aiming to purify the heart by eliminating desires, selfishness, hatred, and leading to a peaceful, calm life. When referring to "Tâm," it is associated with the heart, soul, and conscience of a person. All actions stem from one's heart—if the heart is pure, thoughts and actions align with righteousness, but if corrupted, negative thoughts and harmful actions emerge.

The character "Tâm" is often used to guide people's thoughts toward goodness, self-cultivation, living positively, and doing good deeds. A distorted heart leads to chaos in life; a dishonest heart leads to unrest; a heart filled with jealousy breeds hatred; a heart full of envy brings unhappiness; a greedy heart results in lies. Therefore, let your heart be placed on your chest to love, on your hands to help others, on your eyes to see the suffering of others, on your feet to run to the aid of those in need, on your mouth to speak comforting words, on your ears to listen to others' advice, and on your shoulders to bear responsibility...

The character "Đức" symbolizes human morality and the beauty of character. People who request the character "Đức" are often looking to remind themselves to live authentically and in accordance with their conscience, in order to achieve peace of mind. There is an old saying, "First cultivate virtue, then seek prosperity," meaning that one must first build good moral character before seeking wealth and success. Another saying, "With virtue, one can live comfortably," reflects a similar sentiment. Having virtue, or living with virtue, is extremely important.

On the other hand, even those who follow the Buddhist path are trained in virtue through the simplest actions. It is common to see monks going on alms rounds, not because they are hungry, but to give everyone a chance to practice generosity and charity. Through these acts, Buddha encourages those who practice to cultivate humility and discard arrogance, as only then can they achieve enlightenment. This is also a way to help others. So, even in astrology, while human fate is often emphasized, there is a saying, "Virtue conquers fate," reminding people to value virtue, which not only helps society but also creates a better destiny for oneself.

The character "Tài" symbolizes talent, the ability to perform tasks with quality, and represents the desire for success in life. The character "Tài" is also a wish for achievement from those who seek it as a gift. While virtue – or "Đức" – is the foundation of a righteous and good person, talent is also a vital trait that contributes to one's character. A person with both virtue and talent is truly a "complete individual".

Talent is the ability to perform a task or profession beneficial to society with high quality and efficiency. A talented person is always creative, constantly seeking new ideas, often possessing deep theoretical knowledge in a particular field and practical expertise. Talent only becomes truly valuable, meaningful, and socially relevant when it is built upon the foundation of virtue and kindness. When both qualities combine harmoniously and exceed the average, it is truly what we call a gifted individual! To be honest, true talent has always been rare.

The character "An" symbolizes peace and tranquility, reflecting the desire for a peaceful, happy life. The character "An" is one of the most sought-after symbols, commonly displayed in homes. Historically, it was not only requested during the Lunar New Year but also embroidered onto paintings as decorative art in many households. The character "An" consists of two components: "Miên" on top and "Nữ" at the bottom. "Miên" represents a roof, symbolizing a home, while "Nữ" reflects the graceful, feminine posture of a woman from ancient times, her legs slightly bent, face tilted, and hands placed at her side. This character signifies the essence of a woman within the home.

Today, the character "An" is often interpreted with the idea that a woman in the home is safe and protected, cared for by the man. However, the meaning of "An" is not limited to this interpretation. In ancient times, it was believed that a woman’s role in managing the household allowed the man to focus on larger tasks outside. This does not diminish the woman's role, but emphasizes that a stable and peaceful home is the foundation for a peaceful society. The house is secure when the woman cares for it. This is the true meaning of "An".

Nhẫn symbolizes tolerance, patience, and broader, it represents the inner strength of a person. Many people request the character "Nhẫn" to hang in their homes as a reminder to themselves to practice patience and maintain harmony within the family and community, ensuring a peaceful life. Choosing the right character of "Nhẫn" can be incredibly beneficial in life. When used properly, it can empower a person with immense strength!

The character "Nhẫn" is a hallmark of East Asian civilization and has become a fundamental rule of conduct, from family life to society. Vietnam, with its agricultural culture emphasizing human relationships, uses feelings and respect as guiding principles in social interactions. Therefore, patience and tolerance are core values in Vietnamese culture. A peaceful, harmonious family is often shaped by the ability to practice patience.

The character "Hiếu" is a popular character requested at the beginning of the year, often given to grandparents and parents to express gratitude for the arduous work of raising and nurturing them. It also represents the care and concern of children toward their parents. In the ancient script, "Hiếu" (filial piety) is written similarly in both Nôm and Han characters, combining the symbol for "Khảo" above and "Tử" below, depicting the image of a child carrying their parents on their back. This visual representation symbolizes the relationship where the parents are above, and the child is beneath, signifying the moral duty of children to honor and care for their parents.

Throughout history, the concept of Hiếu has been considered the foundation of ethics in our culture. As the saying goes, "Of the hundred virtues, filial piety is the most important." Confucius stated that a filial child must respect their parents, treat them with utmost care, offer cheerful support in times of need, be deeply concerned when parents are ill, express heartfelt sorrow during funerals, and perform ancestral rituals with the greatest reverence.

The character "Duyên" symbolizes love, fate, and is a sign of good luck in relationships. It represents the serendipity that leads people to find their soulmates. In life, everything can be reduced to this one word, Duyên. If things come to fruition, it is because of fate; if they do not, then the timing just wasn't right.

There is a saying: "With fate, even a thousand miles apart can bring two people together, without fate, even standing face to face they will not meet." In life, some people may stand right before you, yet you don’t even notice their presence. Others, no matter how distant, will always seem to appear when you turn around. Some people may speak a thousand words, yet you remain unmoved. Others say nothing, yet you find yourself concerned about them every day. This is what the character Duyên represents.

The character "Tín" represents trust, mutual reliability, and the commitment to keep promises. It is about honoring your word and fulfilling your obligations. To have "Tín" is to first be true to yourself. A person who cannot keep their word to themselves is weak, lacks integrity, and can never achieve great success. If one cannot take responsibility for themselves, they will never be able to take responsibility for others. Thus, Tín is closely tied to honor, and honor is essential to a meaningful career.

Although it is not the first in the Five Virtues (Humanity, Righteousness, Etiquette, Wisdom, and Trust), the ancient wisdom teaches that without "Tín", one cannot be considered a true gentleman. Over time, the concept of the true gentleman has faded from societal standards, and so has the value of "Tín". However, when the storms pass, people realize that the temporary challenges are nothing compared to the lasting values that endure through time, just as the sea remains the sea after the storm. "Tín" returns as a constant in society's conscience.

The character "Cát" is composed of the character "Sĩ" (a scholar, a person of noble character) combined with the "Khẩu" radical (mouth) – symbolizing the words spoken by a wise person, which should always be beautiful and meaningful. This character embodies the desire for everything to be favorable and auspicious. "Cát" also means good fortune, the opposite of "Hung" which represents misfortune. The word "Tường" signifies happiness, luck, and prosperity. Thus, Cát Tường represents auspiciousness, completeness, and happiness.

When we speak of Cát Tường, we are referring to good luck and health. It is often used when someone is about to undertake something important, and friends and acquaintances will wish them "Cát Tường". It is also used when meeting elders, wishing them good health. For this reason, the character "Cát Tường" is one of the most commonly sought-after characters at the start of the new year.

The character "Lộc" represents wealth and prosperity. Those who seek this character do so with the hope of a prosperous year in their business ventures. It is a popular gift exchanged as a wish for success and good fortune. For this reason, "Lộc" is one of the most commonly requested characters at the beginning of the year, often hung in homes. In modern times, the character "Lộc" is generally associated with financial gain and material wealth. However, in ancient culture, it referred to the rewards and benefits granted to officials, often as a royal or government gift.

For the Vietnamese people, "Lộc" symbolizes prosperity and abundance. The greatest happiness in life is to be blessed with ample wealth and good fortune. Thus, during the Lunar New Year, it is customary to hang a painting with the character "Lộc" in the home, in hopes of inviting wealth and blessings into their lives. There is also the tradition of "picking Lộc" during the New Year, symbolizing the act of bringing good fortune and prosperity for the upcoming year.

The character "Phúc" symbolizes happiness, luck, and joy, representing the desire for a prosperous and happy life for the family. For a long time, the character "Phúc" has been a common decoration in Vietnamese homes. It signifies good fortune and happiness and is often associated with the idea of a blessed life. In Eastern culture, various symbols have represented "Phúc," and today, it can still be seen in many decorations, architecture, and even clothing. The tradition of hanging the character "Phúc" in the home has existed for centuries and was passed down from ancient Chinese culture. In the past, during the Lunar New Year, people would place the character "Phúc" on doors, gates, or walls to invite good fortune for the coming year.

On the left side of the character "Phúc" is the radical for "market" or "city," symbolizing the dreams and aspirations of people. To the right, there are three components: the "roof" radical, which represents the importance of a home for peace and stability; the "mouth" radical, symbolizing the joy and laughter that should fill the household; and the "field" radical, signifying the need for farmland and work to sustain a prosperous life. These elements reflect the simple, yet powerful, dreams of the people: not a life of extreme wealth, but one of contentment, peace, and happiness. This simple word, "Phúc," embodies the profound meaning of a peaceful, kind, and harmonious life.

The character "Thọ" symbolizes longevity and the wish for a long, healthy life. People who seek this character often desire a prosperous, healthy life, free from misfortune. The character "Thọ" is often requested by young people as a blessing for their grandparents and parents, wishing them good health, prosperity, and expressing respect for the elderly. In Chinese, "Thọ" means living a long life, and the aspiration for longevity and blessings is a universal dream. The character "Thọ" is often stylized in artistic designs, especially on woodwork, clothing, or decorative patterns.

Calligraphy of the character "Thọ" does not always need to be written exactly in the traditional Chinese form; variations in Han-Nom or calligraphic styles are also common. It is believed that the calligraphy should be placed in the Northwest sector, which represents good fortune, blessedness, and longevity. Everyone desires a long life and good health to enjoy time with their family, so calligraphy of the character "Thọ" is a popular gift, especially for birthdays or to celebrate the health of elderly relatives. The character is often paired with auspicious phrases or couplets that carry good wishes and meaning.