Top 5 Best Essays in the Role of Lang Liêu Recounting the Legend of "Bánh Chưng, Bánh Giầy"

I am Lang Liêu, the son of King Hùng. Surely, you remember me and the legendary Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy, don't you? Do you know why I made these two types of cakes? It's a long story.

After my father, the king, had quelled all wars and brought peace to the people, he realized he was growing old and weak, and wanted to pass the throne to one of his sons. However, with twenty sons, he couldn't decide who should succeed him. So, the king devised a wise method to choose his heir: whoever could please him with their offerings during the Tiên Vương ceremony would be named successor, regardless of whether they were the eldest or not.

I was both excited and worried when my father made this announcement, because all my brothers were eager for the throne, each preparing elaborate feasts to honor the king. As for me, I was the eighteenth son. My mother had passed away early, and I had grown up isolated from the luxury of the palace, only concerned with farming and growing crops. I had nothing to prepare for the feast. I was anxious and troubled.

One night, I dreamt of a god who appeared to me and said:

- Nothing in the world is more precious than rice; only rice can nourish people and is never tiring. Use rice to make cakes and present them at the Tiên Vương ceremony.

Upon waking, I was overjoyed. I pondered the god's advice and realized how perfect it was. I chose fragrant white sticky rice and used green beans and pork for the filling, wrapping them in dong leaves and cooking them for a day and night to create a square-shaped cake. But I was unsure of what to name it. To change the flavor and form, I pounded the same ingredients into a round shape—yet I still didn't know what to call it.

On the day of the Tiên Vương ceremony, I nervously brought my cakes, while my brothers presented grand feasts filled with exotic delicacies. However, my humble offering was chosen by the king, who was most pleased with it. He even decided to use my cakes for the ceremonies honoring Heaven, Earth, and the ancestors.

Everyone, including the royal officials, praised the taste of my cakes. The king gave them meaningful names:

- The round cake represents Heaven, and it is called Bánh Giầy. The square cake represents Earth, and it is called Bánh Chưng.

My father passed the throne to me, trusting that I would carry on his legacy. Following the god's wisdom and my father's wishes, I focused on improving agriculture and animal husbandry during my reign, ensuring prosperity for the people.

To all the children and people, do not forget to make Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy every Lunar New Year. Remember to cherish and appreciate rice, for it is the gem of the Earth and the sky.

I am Lang Liêu, the eighteenth son of King Hùng. My family was very poor, and since my mother passed away early, I had to work alone in the fields, growing rice and crops to nourish the gods. Unlike my other royal brothers, I didn't receive much pampering from the king. However, through hard work and diligence, I found luck and happiness in life.

One day, the king summoned all his sons and ministers to announce his intention to pass on the throne. While my brothers wore fine clothes and carried grand offerings, I stood there in my humble, weathered clothes, holding only a plow and a small piece of land—how could I compete? I looked at the luxurious feasts, the golden dishes, the smoked pork hanging by the fire, and I felt disheartened. I never thought of the throne, yet I feared disappointing my father and the revered ancestors.

As my brothers searched far and wide for rare delicacies, I lay awake night after night, troubled. One evening, I fell asleep and dreamed that a god appeared to me, telling me to create two cakes: one square and one round, using sticky rice on the outside and pork and onions as filling.

On the day of the ceremony, amidst the fragrant incense and the grand offerings of exquisite foods, I placed my humble cakes on the altar. The king tasted all the dishes with calm composure, but when he reached my cakes, he paused and held each one thoughtfully. Then he smiled and invited the gods to share in the cakes. Everyone praised them for their taste. The king said:

- Lang Liêu is indeed a filial son. The round cake symbolizes Heaven, and the square cake symbolizes Earth. The pork, beans, and rice are gifts from Heaven and Earth. The dong leaves that wrap the cakes signify protection, just as our ancestors cared for Lang Liêu. These cakes are worthy of being honored by the gods. I will name them Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy.

Thus, I ascended to the throne, and my grandson said to the others:

- We must follow the example of our grandfather, who became king not through wealth, but through hard work and filial devotion. Though he was poor, his respect for the king and the ancestors was invaluable. We must remember that no matter our background, we must always honor labor and live with integrity.

- So, is it true that since then, every New Year, people make Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy, grandfather? - A grandchild asked.

- Yes, ever since I became king, I passed on the tradition of making these cakes during the New Year. - I said solemnly to my grandchildren.

I am Lang Liêu, the eighteenth son of King Hùng. Despite being the king’s son, I was not blessed with wealth or the same affection from my father as my other brothers. My mother passed away early, leaving me to tend to the fields on my own, cultivating rice and crops to survive. I found joy in farming, and through hard work and perseverance, I was fortunate enough to experience happiness. One of my greatest joys was pleasing my father during the Tiên Vương ceremony, which led to me inheriting the throne.

Here’s how it happened:

One day, my father called all of us into the palace. He told us that due to his old age and failing health, he might soon join the ancestors, and he wished to pass on the throne to one of his sons.

My father declared:

- At the Tiên Vương ceremony, whoever can please me with their offering will be chosen to continue the legacy of our ancestors.

My royal brothers, clad in fine clothes and beaming with pride, left the palace, while I, in my weathered clothes, returned home with a heavy heart, feeling confused and uncertain. What could I do with only a plow, a small plot of land, and the simple tools of a farmer? I looked at the golden rice storage, the bundles of onions, and the salted pork hanging on the stove, feeling disheartened. I never thought of the throne, but I feared disappointing my elderly father and the revered ancestors.

While my brothers searched high and low for rare delicacies, I lay awake night after night, troubled. One evening, I fell asleep and dreamed that a god appeared, advising me to make cakes from the very ingredients I grew. The god instructed me to create two cakes: one square and one round, with sticky rice on the outside and pork and onions as the filling.

On the day of the ceremony, amidst the fragrant incense and the luxurious offerings from my brothers, I placed my simple cakes on the altar. The king tasted every dish with calmness, but when he reached my cakes, he paused and carefully examined each one. After a long moment, he smiled and invited his ministers to share the cakes. Everyone praised them for their taste. The king said:

- Lang Liêu is truly a filial son. The round cake symbolizes Heaven, and the square cake represents Earth. The pork, beans, dong leaves, and sticky rice are all gifts from Heaven and Earth. The dong leaves wrapping the cakes symbolize care and protection, just as our ancestors cared for Lang Liêu. These cakes are worthy of being honored by the gods. I will name them Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy.

This is how I became king, and I shared this story with my grandchildren. One of them said:

- Grandfather, since then, has every New Year been marked by the making of Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy?

- Yes, ever since I ascended the throne, I’ve passed down the tradition of making these cakes during the New Year. - I told them solemnly.

My name is Liêu. Although I am a prince, I am different from my brothers. While they live in luxury, I spend my days working the fields—planting corn, sweet potatoes, and rice. The only things filling my home are rice and corn.

One day, my father, the king, called us together and said:

- I am nearing the end of my life and wish to pass the throne to one of you. Prepare an offering for our ancestors. The one who presents a dish that pleases me most will be chosen as my successor.

When my brothers heard this, they sent people to every corner of the kingdom, searching for rare and luxurious foods, such as exotic meats and delicacies, hoping to impress our father and claim the throne. I, however, did not have the means to do the same, nor did I want to. I believed that an offering to our ancestors should be made with my own hands. I spent many days contemplating what to do. My house was filled with rice, beans, and sweet potatoes, but those seemed too plain. What could I offer? One night, I dreamed that a deity whispered, "Use rice to make cakes for the offering." The more I thought about it, the more I realized the wisdom of those words. While exotic foods may be enjoyed for a while, rice is a staple that can be cherished forever. So, I selected the best glutinous rice, soaked it carefully, and made square cakes wrapped in dong leaves, filled with pork and mung beans. I also made round cakes by grinding sticky rice into smooth dough. The cakes were delicious, and I was overjoyed to offer them to the ancestors.

On the day of the ceremony, my brothers presented their lavish dishes, but my father barely glanced at them. When he reached my offering, he paused for a long time. I explained the words of the deity to him. After tasting the cakes, he was pleased and declared that the square cake symbolized the Earth, with all its plants and animals, and he named it Bánh Chưng. The round cake symbolized the Heavens, and he named it Bánh Giầy.

With great formality, my father announced that I had won and would inherit the throne. I was deeply moved and grateful. From that day on, I devoted myself to caring for the people's land, ensuring that everyone had enough to eat and live in comfort.

Each year, during the Tết festival, alongside the five-fruit tray and the peach and apricot branches on the ancestor's altar, Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy are placed with great reverence. My family follows this tradition, no matter how busy we are.

Last year, on the night before the New Year, my family and I stayed up beside the pot of Bánh Chưng, waiting for midnight. As the night grew deeper, everything around us fell silent, except for the steady bubbling of the pot and the crackling of the fire. Occasionally, a small pop echoed from the pot. I sat by the warm fire and fell asleep, my thoughts drifting to the stars above.

Suddenly, I heard a powerful voice—it was King Hùng's voice:

- I know my time is near. I want to pass the throne to one of you. Prepare an offering for the ancestors. The one who creates a dish that pleases me the most will be chosen as my successor.

Upon hearing this, my brothers rushed to find rare and exotic foods, such as rare meats, bird delicacies, and royal dishes, all in hopes of becoming king. They didn't realize that the humble grain of rice, which nourishes us every day, was the true treasure. I was worried, unsure of what to offer, as all I had at home were rice, sweet potatoes, and yams. Then, I remembered the words of the deity:

- Use rice to make cakes for the offering. The wisdom of those words rang true. Anyone can grow rice through hard work, and though exotic foods may become tiresome, rice will last forever. King Hùng, a ruler who loved his people and the land, understood the deep meaning of rice. The square cake symbolizes the Earth, full of life and nature, while the round cake symbolizes the Heavens. These two cakes—Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy—are expressions of filial piety and respect for the ancestors. King Hùng declared that Lang Liêu had won and would inherit the throne. Just as I was about to thank him, I heard a voice calling:

- Add more water to the pot or the cakes will burn.

I woke up from my dream, deeply moved. Yes, the one who inherits the throne must hold the same values as the king. Lang Liêu’s ascension was truly deserved. The fresh rice, beans, and fragrant rice represent the vitality of our country, always full of life and energy. Since then, our people have worked the land with greater dedication, and rice has flourished, becoming even more fragrant and delicious. I believe a true ruler must always put the people first, just like King Hùng and Lang Liêu.

Now, whenever I sit by the fire, enjoying the delicious taste of Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy, I remember the story behind these cakes. I have great respect for those who work tirelessly under the sun to grow rice, which sustains us all.