Top 5 Most Common Questions About Vietnamese Cultural Foundations

Question: Describe the foundation and conditions that led to the development of two cultural types and how agricultural and nomadic societies interact with nature, along with the consequences of these practices. Why do Westerners have a higher environmental awareness compared to Easterners?

Suggested Answer:

Foundation and Conditions:

• Nomadic Culture:
  • Developed in cold, dry climates with little vegetation, making agriculture difficult. Ideal for livestock farming.
  • Nomadic lifestyle due to livestock rearing.
  • Organized for easy movement, emphasizing mobility.
• Agricultural Culture:
  • Developed in warm, humid climates with fertile land and abundant waterways, ideal for farming.
  • Settled lifestyle focused on crop cultivation.
  • Agricultural societies prioritize stable, long-term living arrangements, emphasizing permanence.

Interaction with Nature:

• Nomadic Culture:
  • Minimal dependence on nature, with little concern for ecological harmony.
  • Focused on domination and control over nature, not integration.
  • Can harm the environment, encouraging people to confront nature without respect.
  • Disregard for nature, leading to ambitions to conquer it.
• Agricultural Culture:
  • Farming requires settlement, making it highly dependent on nature.
  • Respectful of nature and strives to live in harmony with it.
  • Connected to the land, with a strong sense of environmental stewardship.
  • Harmony with nature is key.

Explanation:

• Eastern countries lag behind the West in material development. Most Eastern nations are still developing, with many facing hardships, leading to lower environmental awareness.
• In the East, the focus on material growth often leads to environmental destruction for personal gain.
• For Westerners, the environment is crucial for survival, so they have a strong commitment to protecting it.
• Easterners believe they can adapt to nature, often exploiting it without considering future consequences.
• Environmental laws in Eastern countries are not strictly enforced, allowing harm to continue.

Question: How many types of human cultures exist? What are they? Describe the geographical distribution of nomadic and agricultural cultures and how these societies interact with their social environment, including the consequences of these interactions.

Suggested Answer:

Two types of human cultures:

• Agricultural-based culture
• Nomadic-based culture

Geographical Distribution:

• Nomadic culture: Northwestern Europe, Northern China, and south of the Yangtze River in China
• Agricultural culture: Found only in ancient Southeast Asia’s rice paddy regions, Eastern China, Okinawa, and parts of India like the Asem region
• The transition zone between these cultures lies in Southwest Asia, Northeast India, Northeast Asia, and Siberia.
• Historically, nomadic cultures were more widespread, but today, they exist only in transition zones, having been replaced in the West.

Social Environment Interaction:

• Nomadic culture:
  • Values strength, law, combat, and a male-dominated society, with a community built around strict rules and discipline.
  • Survival and elimination rules are harsh within the community.
  • Authoritarian monarchies with strict control, focusing on the ruler’s personal authority.
  • Open, aggressive relations marked by competition, and expansionist tendencies.
• Agricultural culture:
  • Values emotions, education, women’s roles, and community ties.
  • Highly adaptable, with strong communal awareness and a sense of responsibility developed early on.
  • Emphasizes harmony, conservatism, and regionalism.

Question: What is culture? How does it differ from civilization, culture in the historical sense, and material culture?

Suggested Answer:

Definition:

• According to Ho Chi Minh: "Human beings created language, writing, ethics, laws, science, religion, literature, art, and tools for daily life to survive and fulfill the purpose of life. These innovations are culture. Culture is the totality of ways of living and their manifestations created by humans to adapt to the needs of life and survival."

Distinctions:

• Culture vs Civilization:
  • Civilization and culture differ primarily in value: while culture is a broad concept encompassing both material and spiritual values, civilization is more focused on material values.
  • Culture has a historical depth, whereas civilization is a contemporary snapshot showing the level of cultural development at a particular time. For example, the steam engine in the 19th century symbolized civilization, but by the 20th century, it was seen as outdated, overtaken by space shuttles and computers.
  • A highly civilized nation can still have a poor cultural foundation, just as a less advanced nation may have a rich culture.
  • These differences lead to variations in scope: culture is specific to a nation, with spiritual and historical values unique to that group, while civilization is international, with material values that can spread easily.
  • Culture is more closely tied to Eastern agricultural societies, while civilization is more associated with Western urban societies. Civilization focuses on technology, whereas culture expresses the relationship between humans, nature, and the divine.
  • It can be said that civilization is a part of culture.
• Culture vs Cultural Heritage and Material Culture:
  • Cultural heritage consists of the spiritual values passed on by people of talent and virtue, representing distinct national and historical traits. Culture and heritage are similar when referring to the spiritual life of a society, but they differ in historical depth and scope. Culture is a broader concept, encompassing material culture.
  • Material culture refers to the physical achievements of a society, such as buildings or tools. While it reflects national and historical characteristics, it is considered a more narrow concept compared to culture and heritage.
  • In summary, civilization, cultural heritage, and material culture are all subsets of the broader concept of culture.

Question: Can you explain the Fertility Beliefs in Vietnam?

Suggested Answer:

Origins:

• From the beginning, the need to sustain and develop life was a fundamental necessity for humans, especially in an agricultural society. To maintain life, a good harvest is essential. To promote life, human reproduction is vital. Based on this, the agricultural societies of Southeast Asia developed two key perspectives:
  • One group sought to find objective laws of nature through philosophical reasoning: the Yin-Yang philosophy.
  • The other group, with a more limited understanding, saw supernatural forces in nature and worshiped them as divine, which led to the emergence of fertility beliefs (Fertility = abundance, Growth = development).

Manifestations:

• In Vietnam, Fertility Beliefs have been present throughout history in two primary forms: worship of reproductive organs and worship of sexual acts.
  • Worship of reproductive organs:
    • Worshiping male and female reproductive organs is known as the worship of fertility symbols (Fertility = birth, Growth = development, Symbols = instruments). This is the simplest form of Fertility Beliefs, common in agricultural cultures.
    • Stone statues of enlarged male and female reproductive organs dating back thousands of years BCE have been found in places like Văn Điển and Sa Pa. In the cemeteries of the Central Highlands, statues with exaggerated genitalia are often found.
    • In Phú Thọ, Hà Tĩnh, and many other regions, there are rituals worshiping fertility symbols (nõ = a stick symbolizing male fertility, nường = a basket symbolizing female fertility).
    • At Đồng Kị village festival (Bắc Ninh), fertility symbols made of wood are paraded, then burned to ashes and scattered over the fields for good luck.
    • In Phú Thọ, Bắc Ninh, Hà Tây, and other regions, there is a tradition of parading 18 fertility symbols at village festivals. After the parade, people compete to grab them, believing it will bring good fortune.
    • Worship of stones and crevices: At Dạm Pagoda (Bắc Ninh), there is a stone column in the shape of a male reproductive organ, featuring carved dragons from the Lý Dynasty. Fishermen in Hòn Đỏ (Sở) worship a crack in a rock known as Lỗ Lường.
  • Worship of sexual acts:
    • Along with the worship of fertility symbols, rice-growing societies, which place great importance on relationships, also have a unique form of fertility worship, centered on sexual acts. This belief is common in Southeast Asia.
    • On the lid of a bronze jar found in Đào Thịnh village, four pairs of male and female figures are depicted engaging in intercourse, surrounded by a sun motif. On the jar’s base, carvings show a series of boats linked together, with two crocodile-dragons in a mating position.
    • In the tombs of the Central Highlands, there are statues of mating couples.
    • Images of mating birds, animals, and frogs have been found everywhere.
    • During the Hùng Kings' Temple festival, young men and women perform dances in pairs, holding objects symbolizing fertility.
    • In Hòn Đỏ (Sở), when fishermen are unsuccessful in catching fish, they go to the sacred site, holding a male fertility symbol and striking Lỗ Lường three times.
    • Mortar and pestle represent male and female fertility symbols, while the act of grinding rice symbolizes mating.
    • On many bronze drums, there are depictions of pairs of men and women grinding rice.
    • Rituals of grinding rice at weddings also represent fertility.

Significance:

• The role of Fertility Beliefs in ancient Vietnamese life was so vital that the bronze drum - a symbol of strength and power - also represents the entire fertility belief system:
  • The shape of the bronze drum developed from the rice mortar.
  • The rhythm of the drum mimics the motion of grinding rice.
  • The central face of the drum features a sun design, with rays representing male fertility symbols, and between the rays is a leaf-shaped symbol representing female fertility.
  • The edges of the drum are often decorated with frog figures, which are also symbols of fertility beliefs.
  • The sound of the drum imitates thunder, signaling the arrival of the rainy season, which brings abundance and prosperity, reflecting the core idea of fertility.

Question: Please explain the belief in the worship of humans in Vietnam?

Suggested Answer:

General Origin:

• Humans possess both material and spiritual aspects. The spiritual part, which is abstract and difficult to grasp, is often deified and referred to as the "soul". The soul becomes the foundation for religious beliefs. In Vietnam and some Southeast Asian cultures, the soul is divided into the "hồn" (soul) and "vía" (spirit). There are three types of souls: tinh (spirit), khí (breath), and thần (god).
  • Men have seven spirits, corresponding to the seven holes on the face: two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, and the mouth.
  • Women have nine spirits: the same as men but with additional reproductive and nursing areas. The soul and spirit explain phenomena like frequent illness, sleepwalking, fainting, and death.
  • The spirit depends on the body: Some may have a strong or weak spirit, or even an evil spirit. If someone encounters an evil spirit, rituals like burning or exorcising the spirit may be performed. The soul exists independently of the body and may enter another person’s body.

Manifestations:

• Ancestor worship:
  • When a person dies, both the soul and spirit leave the body. While the body is gone, the soul continues to exist and protect the descendants; thus, ancestor worship is practiced.
  • Narrow definition: it refers to the worship of deceased relatives, such as parents, grandparents, and other family members who have passed on, as well as those who contributed to the family’s well-being.
  • Broad definition: the worship extends beyond the family and includes ancestral figures from villages and nations.
  • Origins of ancestor worship:
    • This tradition is rooted in the matrilineal clan system.
    • It is linked to the belief in the existence of the human soul after death.
    • It acknowledges ancestors in all forms, from humans to animals, plants, and objects.
    • Ancestor worship emerged as a product of the combination of the belief in the immortality of the soul, the veneration of ancestors, and the recognition of their role in protecting the family.
  • Manifestations of ancestor worship:
    • This form of worship is distinctive compared to that of the Chinese, deeply ingrained in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese.
    • It is historically significant, enduring, and widespread.
    • In Vietnam, ancestor worship is practiced at three levels: family, village, and nation. Worship of kings and deities combines both bloodline and social significance.
  • Meaning of ancestor worship:
    • It meets spiritual needs and reflects the moral values of humanity.
    • It has secular significance.
    • It is a cultural beauty, a characteristic of the Vietnamese that needs to be promoted positively, while minimizing any negative aspects.
• Worship of Thổ Công - the Earth God:
  • This deity watches over the household and determines the family’s fortune. The Earth God resides wherever people live: "the earth has Thổ Công, the river has Hà Bá". The relationship between Thổ Công and the ancestors is fascinating: while Thổ Công governs the family’s fate, the ancestors are respected for their role in founding the family. To avoid offending anyone, Vietnamese people place ancestors at the most honored place on the altar, usually the central one, while Thổ Công is placed to the left.
  • In Vietnamese belief, worshiping deities extends beyond the home. There are deities for villages and the entire community. In villages, the most important deity is the Thành Hoàng, the guardian god who protects and controls the fate of the villagers. Every village has its Thành Hoàng. This belief is so significant that King Lê Thánh Tông instructed his court to gather and compile the legends of each Thành Hoàng to issue royal decrees. These deities can be celestial, natural, or human spirits, sometimes associated with people who founded villages or died tragically.
  • Significance:
    • It represents the supreme authority of the king.
    • It is a distinctive form of belief reflecting the realities of village and community life.
    • It is a cultural collection that demonstrates deep humanism.
    • It is essential to encourage positive aspects while guiding people towards healthier, more virtuous emotions.
• Worship of the National Ancestor and National Mother:
  • The land of Phong Châu (Phú Thọ) is home to the shrines of the Hung Kings at Mount Hy Cương and the shrine of Âu Cơ.
  • In family shrines, village shrines, and even nationwide, the Vietnamese worship the royal ancestors – the Hung Kings. Additionally, a unique belief exists in the worship of the Four Immortals: Thánh Gióng, Tản Viên, Chữ Đồng Tử, and Liễu Hạnh. This practice highlights a profound cultural value in Vietnamese society, symbolizing the community’s strength, from agriculture to warfare, and their aspirations for both material prosperity and spiritual happiness.