Top 6 Best Essays from the Perspective of Lac Long Quan Retelling the Legend of 'The Dragon and Fairy Ancestors'

I am Lac Long Quan, son of the Dragon Lady, belonging to the dragon lineage. Therefore, I live underwater but occasionally come to the land to help the people, fighting creatures like the Fish Spirit, Tree Spirit, and other evil monsters. I taught people farming, animal husbandry, and proper living. Whenever I appear on land, the people respect and admire me greatly.

Once, I used my magic to defeat five evil spirits who were harming the people. After the spirits were slain, the people were overjoyed and brought many valuable gifts to offer me, but I refused them all. They respected me even more for my kindness and integrity. Every time I finished a task, I returned to the underwater palace and reported to my father. Before I left, I reminded the people to call me if ever they faced danger.

One day, while I was playing with my father in the Underwater Palace, the people cried for help. I hurriedly bade my father farewell and went to the Northern mountains, where I witnessed the tragedy caused by the evil Tree and Fish Spirits, who were devouring innocent people. I was enraged and tracked down their lair.

After a month of battle, I eradicated the evil spirits, and the region was peaceful again. To express their gratitude, the people held a grand celebration, offering many gifts with the sounds of gongs and drums filling the air. For the first time, I experienced the beauty of the land with its majestic mountains and lush flora, which were absent in the Underwater Palace. I decided to stay for a while to enjoy the scenery.

One fine day, while admiring the river flowing gently around the hill, I saw a beautiful young woman, along with her maids, picking flowers and chasing butterflies at the foot of the mountain. She slipped while reaching for a flower, and I rushed to help her. After talking with her, I learned that she was Au Co from the Shennong clan, a beautiful and legendary figure. I had heard of her but had never seen her until now. I fell in love with her, and she returned my affection. We became husband and wife and lived together in the Dragon Palace.

Not long after, Au Co became pregnant, and when it was time for her to give birth, something miraculous happened: she gave birth to a bag of one hundred eggs. The eggs hatched into a hundred healthy and strong children who grew rapidly. One day, there was an urgent matter in the Underwater Palace, and my father called me back. Reluctantly, I had to leave Au Co and the children to go help my father, who was old and needed assistance.

Au Co was left alone to care for the children, waiting for my return with sadness. Eventually, she called for me and said, 'Why did you leave me and not stay with us to raise the children?' I explained, 'I am a dragon from the deep sea, and you are a fairy from the high mountains. Our lives are very different, and it is difficult for us to live together for long. I will take fifty children with me to the sea, and you will take fifty children to the mountains. We will each rule our territories and help each other in times of need.' She agreed, and I left with my fifty children for the sea. The eldest child followed Au Co to the mountains and became the first Hung King, establishing the kingdom of Van Lang. The monarchy was passed down through many generations, and the title of Hung King was always used.

The love story of Au Co and I has become a beautiful legend, and when people speak of their origins, they proudly call themselves 'Descendants of Dragons and Fairies.'

My dear children, I have been so busy lately that I haven't had the chance to visit you. Do you still remember me? Do you still recall the origins of our ancestors? Let me tell you the story once more, and make sure to remember it well, never to forget it.

Our ancestors hailed from the land of Lạc Việt, descendants of dragons. I am the son of the Dragon Goddess, which grants me extraordinary powers and unparalleled strength. At that time, there were many evil creatures such as Ngư Tinh, Hồ Tinh, and Mộc Tinh who harmed the innocent. I eliminated them to protect the people, teaching them how to cultivate the land and care for animals. However, I preferred living in the underwater palace rather than on land. I met your mother, Âu Cơ, in a very special way. She came to visit the land of Lạc after hearing about the beautiful flowers and rare herbs. She was from the high mountains of the North, a descendant of the God of Agriculture, and was extraordinarily beautiful. I was captivated by her from the moment we met, and soon, we became husband and wife, living in the Long Trang palace. You children were not born in the usual way but emerged from a pouch containing a hundred eggs. These eggs hatched into one hundred children, all of whom were healthy, handsome, and strong like me. I was overjoyed to watch you grow, living with your mother, the beautiful Âu Cơ.

However, as you know, I am accustomed to the water, and could not stay on land forever. So, I had to say goodbye to Âu Cơ and return to the underwater palace, leaving your mother behind, lonely and waiting for my return. She called me back, lamenting and reproaching me:

- Why did you leave me? Why didn't you stay to raise the children together?

But it wasn't that simple. Your mother and I are from different lineages. One of us is from the mountains, the other from the sea, and our customs and nature are different. Therefore, we could not stay together forever. I decided to take fifty of you to the sea to live and work, while your mother would take the other fifty to the mountains to govern their regions. Whenever there was a need, we would help each other, never forgetting our promises.

Your eldest sibling followed your mother and was crowned king, taking the title Hùng Vương. With a strong court of both civil and military officials, the kingdom established laws to ensure that the throne would pass from father to son. Now, my children, do you understand? All of you are brothers and sisters, descendants of the noble Dragon and Fairy lineage. You must live with honor, love, and support each other. I must leave now, but I promise to return in five hundred years to visit you all.

I am Lac Long Quan, the son of the dragon goddess Long Nu, born from the dragon lineage beneath the deep sea. My mother and I reside in the land of Lac Viet, though I mostly live in the underwater palace, only coming to the land when necessary. With my dragon form, immense strength, and magical powers, I often help the people by eliminating evil spirits that harm them, and whenever I notice their poverty, I teach them farming, animal husbandry, and basic living skills.

One day, while I was on land helping the people, I encountered a fairy maiden visiting my land. Her beauty was so extraordinary that I couldn't take my eyes off her for a long while before gathering the courage to approach and speak. I asked her:

· From what realm do you come, that you have visited this land of Lac Viet?

The maiden shyly approached and replied:

· I am Au Co, from the northern mountain regions, descended from the divine family of Shen Nong. I heard that the land of Lac Viet is home to many rare flowers and plants, so I came to explore.

After conversing with Au Co for some time, we found ourselves drawn to each other, sharing unexpected affection. Before parting, we promised to meet again and vowed to marry. Not long after, I visited her to ask for her hand in marriage, and we became husband and wife, living together in the Long Trang Palace. Some time later, Au Co announced she was pregnant, and I was overjoyed. When it was time for her to give birth, something miraculous happened. Instead of a single child, she gave birth to a pouch containing one hundred golden eggs. As each egg hatched, we saw one hundred healthy, beautiful children. I cherished each one, and they grew rapidly, as strong as gods.

After living with my wife and children for some time, I began to feel discomfort, as my nature was accustomed to living in water, and it was difficult for me to remain on land for too long. So, I decided to part ways with my family and return to the underwater palace. After a while, Au Co called me up and reproached me:

· Why did you leave me and our children? Why didn't you stay with us to raise them?

I knew I had acted without thinking, but due to the differences in our nature and lifestyle, it was hard for us to live together. I decided that we would each take fifty children. I would take my fifty children to the sea, while Au Co would take hers to the mountains, each ruling our domains and helping each other when needed. Au Co, though saddened, agreed, and we parted ways. I took fifty children to the sea, teaching them how to live and thrive. Au Co took her children to the mountains, establishing the first king, my eldest son, who became known as Hung Vuong, founding the state of Van Lang with its capital at Phong Chau. The sons of the king would be called 'Lang,' and the daughters 'Mi Nuong.' The eldest son would always inherit the throne, and the title of Hung Vuong would remain unchanged through generations.

Though we have never met again since that day, our love remains strong, and the bond among our children is unbroken, growing ever closer. Our people take great pride in their dragon and fairy heritage to this day.

I am Lạc Long Quân, born of the Dragon lineage, son of the Dragon Queen. My family has lived for millennia in the fertile land of Lạc Việt. From birth, I bore the form of a dragon, with immense strength and knowledge of many mystical arts. My kin, accustomed to life beneath the seas, rarely venture onto land. When I do, I use my magical abilities to eliminate the evil spirits like Ngư Tinh, Hồ Tinh, and Mộc Tinh who cause harm to the people. Moved by the suffering of the common folk, I taught them farming, animal husbandry, and how to live harmoniously. Once my task was done, I returned to my underwater palace to pay respects to my mother, the Dragon Queen. I only appeared on land when necessary.

One day, as I was walking among the people, I encountered a breathtakingly beautiful maiden near my palace, Long Trang. She was called Âu Cơ, from the high northern mountains, part of the Thần Nông lineage. Hearing that the Lạc land was rich in rare flowers and herbs, she had come to visit. After many conversations, we fell deeply in love and decided to marry, living together on land in Long Trang.

I was overjoyed when, after a time, Âu Cơ became pregnant. After nine months, an extraordinary event occurred: she gave birth not to one child, but a bundle of one hundred eggs. Even more remarkable, when the eggs hatched, one hundred healthy, chubby, and rosy children emerged. They were incredibly adorable. Since I was a dragon and Âu Cơ was of the immortal lineage, our children didn’t need to be breastfed. They grew rapidly, strong and healthy, each one more handsome than the next. Our life together was filled with joy, with the palace echoing with the laughter and playfulness of our children. Yet, despite this happiness, I felt an undeniable emptiness—an aching longing for the water, the sea, my true home. The longing grew unbearable, and I had no choice but to bid farewell to my beloved wife and children and return to the depths of the sea.

Âu Cơ remained behind, raising our children alone, waiting for my return. I knew she must have felt deeply sorrowful, but my nature could not keep me on land for long. I was born of water, and she, of the mountains. Our ways of life were simply too different to live together permanently. After much soul-searching, I decided to speak my heart to her. Understanding my struggles, Âu Cơ agreed to take fifty children to the mountains, while I would take the other fifty with me to the sea. Though we were separated, we promised to help each other whenever needed, never forgetting our vows.

With my divine strength, our eldest son was crowned king by his mother and took the title of Hùng Vương, establishing the Văn Lang kingdom with its capital in Phong Châu. His court was filled with both military and civil advisors. The children of my descendants, boys were called Lang and girls, Mị Nương. The royal lineage continued for eighteen generations with the title of Hùng Vương passed down from father to son without change.

Although separated by land and sea, my descendants have always remembered their heritage—being children of the Dragon and the Immortal. They continue to care for and support each other through hardships, ensuring the prosperity and strength of the nation.

Long ago, more than 4000 years in the past, when our country was still in its infancy, the land was mostly filled with hills, mountains, and lush greenery. There were few people, and the earth was still wild. The heavens, the waters, and each part of the land were governed by various deities and spirits.

I am the son of the goddess Long Nu, the deity entrusted by the heavens to oversee the waters of Lạc Việt. My parents named me Lạc Long Quân. From my early years, I was taught many things by my parents and, combined with the natural power of the dragon lineage, I learned countless magical abilities. In my youth, I often sought permission from the Dragon King to visit the human realm, helping the people by driving away evil spirits, teaching them agriculture, animal husbandry, and the ways of living. The beauty of the mortal world was so captivating that it felt as if I were living in a palace beneath the sea.

One day, while I was wandering the mountains and rivers, my excitement led me to the highlands of the North. There, I met a young woman of extraordinary beauty. She was called Âu Cơ, the daughter of the divine farmer, Thần Nông. She had heard of the fragrant flowers and rare herbs of Lạc Việt and had come to visit. We shared a deep bond, falling in love and swearing to live together forever.

Before long, Âu Cơ became pregnant. To our amazement, when she gave birth, she produced a bag containing one hundred eggs. The eggs hatched into one hundred beautiful, healthy children who grew rapidly without the need for feeding. They were strong and vigorous, much like me. We were overjoyed and cared for our children with all our hearts.

Having lived on the land for so long, I began to feel restless. My parents in the sea were aging, and I worried about who would take over the duties. After much contemplation, I realized that Âu Cơ, being of the immortal lineage, belonged to the high mountains, while I, as a dragon, was tied to the waters. Our differences in nature and customs meant that our long-term coexistence was unsustainable. So, I gathered our hundred children and spoke to Âu Cơ:

- Though our time together has been brief, our bond is as deep as the rivers and as lasting as stone. But, as a dragon, I must return to the sea, and you, as an immortal, belong to the mountains. It is clear that we must part for the greater good. I will take fifty of our children to the sea, and you will take the other fifty to the mountains. We will each govern our respective realms, helping each other whenever necessary.

Âu Cơ, understanding my reasoning, agreed to this difficult separation.

I took fifty children to the lowlands, teaching them the ways of the sea, while Âu Cơ led the others to the highlands, making our eldest son the king, known as Hùng Vương. He established his capital in Phong Châu and named the kingdom Văn Lang, passing the title of Hùng Vương down through the generations, unchanged.

Although Âu Cơ and I never met again, our bond remained unbroken. Even today, despite over fifty ethnic groups in our country, we remain united as one family, bound by the same blood and spirit.

In ancient times, our land was still wild and untamed. There were no bustling cities like today, only the gods watching over the earth, managing every aspect of life. Nữ Oa protected the heavens, Thần Nông cultivated crops, Thần Núi shaped the mountains, and the god of rivers took care of irrigation... That’s why the folk songs say:

He plowed the ocean

He tells the tales

He dug the river

He built the mountains…

The gods of the sky and the water weren’t as distant as today, frequently visiting each other. Back then, I was still young, barely twenty years old, filled with a desire to explore the world. I often asked my father, Đức Long Vương, for permission to travel to the mortal realm, to wander the rivers and mountains. The beauty of the mortal world, with its fragrant flowers and sweet fruits, mesmerized me so much that I sometimes lost track of time. My father sent people to search for me often, and scolded me many times, but I found it hard to leave such a beautiful world behind.

One day, as I ventured far into the mountains, I met a beautiful girl strolling among a group of fairy maidens. She introduced herself as Âu Cơ, the youngest daughter of Thần Nông, the god of agriculture. Like me, she loved the sights of the mortal world. Enchanted by both the scenery and each other, we vowed to stay together forever, tying a red thread around our wrists to symbolize our bond. Soon after, Âu Cơ became pregnant. After the full term, she gave birth to a bundle containing one hundred eggs, which hatched into one hundred beautiful children, strong and kind-hearted. We were overjoyed. Caught up in the happiness, I forgot about my responsibilities in the underwater kingdom. It had been a while since I had returned, and my father might be worried. Just as I was about to go back for a short visit, a messenger arrived with urgent news: my father was gravely ill, and I had to return immediately to take up a great responsibility. Realizing that the time for parting had come, I gathered my children and told Âu Cơ:

- Âu Cơ, my love! Although we have not been together long, our bond is stronger than a river that flows for a thousand years. Now, I must leave for a great cause. Moreover, as a dragon, and you, an immortal, it’s impossible for us to stay together forever. I will take fifty of our children to the sea, and leave the other fifty with you to govern the mountains. If anything happens, we will support each other as family.

Afterward, I took fifty children to the coastal plains, where I taught them how to build dikes, cultivate crops, and fish. Then, I returned to govern the underwater world. Though we were apart, I knew that after my departure, Âu Cơ made her eldest son king, named Hùng Vương, and established the capital in Phong Châu. She named the country Văn Lang and divided the remaining children into various tribes like Tày, Nùng, Thái, Mèo, and Lô Lô…

So, my dear children, remember this: the Vietnamese people are descendants of the dragon and the fairy. Never forget the noble origins of our ancestors.