The myth of the Dragon and the Fairy was an effective reference in the struggle against foreign aggressors Chinese and French. In 1954, following the victory over French colonial troops, President Ho Chi Minh, before the temple dedicated to the Hung kings, addressed the troops about to liberate Hanoi in these terms: “The Hung kings had the merit of creating our country. He built two palaces, one in the mountains and one in the ocean. This fierce and imposing dragon was clearly a symbol of royal authority. The majestic shape of the Vietnam dragon brings new meaning to the dynasty encouraging the spirit of all the people to fight against 3 invasions of Mongolia. It reflected the process of formation of the Vietnamese people, whose conquest of the Song Hong (the Red River) Delta was relatively slow to come: it was only possible when the population, who had first settled in the foothills, had grown numerous enough to launch into the building of river and coastal dikes. At that moment, Lac Long Quan told his wife: “I am of the race of Dragons living in the sea. At the time, it was a myth he cited because the archaeological excavations identifying the Bronze Age (Dong Son culture) with the epoch of the Hung kings were to be conducted only starting from 1959. The story of Lạc Long Quân coincides with the creation myth of Vietnam – the bond formed between the immortal mountain fairies and the sea dragons. Every Vietnamese person knows the legend of Lac Long Quan and Au Co. Lac Long Quan (King Dragon of the Lac Bird Clan) is known as the forefather of the Vietnamese people. “Golden dragons for emperors, black dragons for kings,” states this ancient text. You bring fifty of our son to the mountain. Lạc Long Quân, the dragon king from the sea, passed by and saw the beautiful lady in danger, so he grabbed a rock from nearby and killed the monster. We are a passionate team of one hundred avid travelers who love to share our Vietnam & Indochina with those looking for a more authentic travel experience. The body of the dragon was bigger, stronger. The myth also hints at the complementary character of the populations of the lowlands and highlands. A story of Vietnam and Japan 1911 1906 Phan asked Ōkuma Shigenobu (served prime minister of Japan) for financial assistance to fund the activities of Vietnamese revolutionaries. That is the reason why Vietnamese people often call each other ‘’dong bao” (born from the same sack). Later came the cult of Tu Phap, or the Four Miracles. Like Chinese monarchs, Vietnamese sovereigns chose the dragon as the symbol of their power. The Legend of Cat Ba island. That dragons, or long, associated with royalty, are revealed by the names given to the king’s personal effects and person, such as long con (royal tunics), long chau (royal boat), long thi (royal person), and long dien (royal countenance). The legend that follows is one of the oldest of Vietnam, reputedly going back to the early years of the semi-legendary Hong Bang dynasty. According to Vietnamese legend, Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ are the original parents of the Vietnamese people. This legend will be the answer. The first Vietnamese puppet shows weren't just for the entertainment of villagers – the shows were thought to keep the spirits entertained enough that they would not cause mischief. But unlike the Chinese dragons, which were shown descending from heaven and spitting fire, the Vietnamese dragons were shown ascending from water. Its mane, ears and beard flutter gracefully behind, while its lithe, undulating body soars above the waves. Taking this as a good omen, he named the new capital Thang Long, or City of the Soaring Dragon. The legend of children of the Dragon and the Fairy, Why the Viet have always called themselves “con Rong chau Tien” (children of the Dragon and the Fairy). While there are several different stories regarding how Lạc Long Quân and … The name of the country was changed several times over the past such as Dai Co Viet, Dai Viet, and Vietnam for today. Well, it was a story of betrayal. The destruction of the demon and its cave was turned into the present-day West Lake in Hanoi. The Vietnamese Dragon in History The Vietnam Dragon in Ly Dynasty (1009-1226) In 1010, King Ly Thai To left Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province) and chose Thang Long (the rising dragon) as the capital of Dai Viet (Vietnam’s old name). This story is based on the Vietnamese folktale, "The Starfruit Tree," which has various versions. Read More ». International Tour Operator License in Vietnam & Indochina. From their union was born a Herculean son who later mounted the throne with the name Lac Long Quan later becoming the Dragon King of Lac Viet – an ancient name of Vietnam). Their eldest son, King Hung, taught the people to tattoo their chests, bellies and thighs with dragon images to protect themselves from aquatic monsters. This is the place where the demigod Chu Dong Tu took his flight to heaven. The later learned from their mother the art of clearing the slopes to grow rice and to raise mulberry and silkworms. We, their descendants, must defend it”. Lạc Long Quân was a legendary dragon lord, and Âu Cơ was an immortal fairy from the mountains. You are of the race of fairies living in the mountains. Long ago stargazers identified the Dragon constellation made up of seven stars arranged like an S. The brightest star is the Mind (Tam), also known as the Divine (Than) star. The 60-year cycle is made up of combinations of the twelve animals representing the earthly The Royal Chronicle of the Restored Le Dynasty contains a story about Prince Lang Lieu, who saw a black dragon perched on his father’s tomb. Though imposing and fierce, the Vietnamese dragons were never threatening. The divine spouses thus went their separate ways and created two domains: one with a population living on the coast and the lowlands, the others with a population living in the highlands. A Hung King was believed to come down from heaven, riding a dragon, and to present the national hero with a claw of the fabulous animal, a symbol of his invincibility and legitimacy. The latter is considered by art historians to be a colossal linga. Initially, dragons in Vietnam were associated with water and Yin energy. For Vietnamese peasants, the dragon was a vivid symbol of the fourfold deity-clouds, rain, thunder and lighting. From these parents the Vietnamese people were born. They bore an egg sac which hatched exactly 100 children and thus the Vietnamese people were born. Dragons were popular among the common people, who believed that rain was created by nine dragons, which took water from the sea to pour down on the rice paddies. in the Red River basin, marked the formation of the Viet cultural and national identity before the impact of Chinese culture: the ancestral Dragon, the demigod of Giong, victor over northern invaders, the Mountain God defending the people against the floods of the Red River. Dragon has long been the legendary animal of oriented countries. The Vietnamese creation myth is also centered around the dragon. The dragon was usually depicted inside a stone, a piece of wood, a bodhi leaf, or a lotus petal. But while all those countries have in common the immemorial myth of the dragon, none of them have gone so far as to claim, as the Vietnamese do, the Vietnamese dragon as their ancestor and to give its capital the name of this mythical animal. Dragons were also associated with kingship. Represented by an S shape, dragons are depicted on artifacts dating back to the Dong Son-Au Lac culture, which existed in northern Vietnam in the first millennium B.C. For Vietnamese peasants, the dragon was a vivid symbol of the fourfold deity-clouds, rain, thunder and lighting. Like in other cultures, Vietnamese Dragon is associated with rain which is essential for their agriculture. Represented by an S shape, dragons are depicted on artifacts dating back to the Dong Son-Au Lac culture, which existed in northern Vietnam in the first millennium B.C. Later his queen bore a sack containing a hundred eggs. The Ly king had a cluster of shops and inns built up to the walls of an ancient temple once dedicated to the dragon deity. The Rising Dragon Lion Dance Team, or in Vietnamese “Thang Long,” comprises a group of Vietnamese kids living in Marrero, Louisiana. In the Nguyen Dynasty, the Vietnamese dragon still kept the beauty of tradition combining with modern art from Western countries. Challenge: A vast majority of the Vietnamese youth lack knowledge of their rich feudal history. In some Eastern countries, the dragon still symbolizes power and national origin. To Vietnamese people, the dragon brings rain, essential for agriculture. The Ly dragon was derived from India’s mythical Naga, which Southeast Asian peoples influenced by Indian mythology had transformed into a sea god. It is believed that dragon brings rain. Thus, in the 6th century, under Chinese rule, the resistance hero Trieu Quang Phuc established a guerrilla base in the swampy area of the Lake that came-into-being-overnight (Dam Da Trach). Since then, Vietnamese people have always proudly called themselves “con Rong chau Tien”.A temple was built to their memory in the province of Phu Tho on the left bank of the Red River. Chu Dong Tu And Princess Tien Dung. Sunset on Cat Ba Island! The perennial character of the Vietnamese dragon is a fit illustration of the ideas put forward by the American mythologist Joseph Campbell in “The Power of Myth”. With power, humor, and grace, Sherry Garland shares six of her favorite folktales of Vietnam. Bamboo Airways (Vietnam) was Licensed to Fly Directly to the USA, Tet Holiday – Everything about Vietnamese New Year 2022. All In Vietnam,it represents four deities, thunder and lightning, rain and cloud. Another exploit of the Dragon King was the overpowering of the demoniac Evil Tree, which later had to fly to the southwest. Several Vietnamese myths, born as early as the Bronze Age (1st millennium B.C.) The dragon took on a whole new appearance under the Le Dynasty (early 15th to end of 18th centuries). In the South Sea, he killed the gigantic Fish Demon, and then cut it into three parts. The dragon’s elaborate head is raised, flame-co loured crest thrust out, a jewel held in its jaws. How could we resign ourselves to being oppressed?”. It is embodied in a sleek, sophisticated, artistic complex with a complete layout and unique style which can be seen in the décor of architecture. Raya and the Last Dragon takes place in the fictional world of Kumandra, but it's actually based on the culture of multiple Southeast Asian countries.According to The Hollywood Reporter, when the filmmakers were working on the film, they visited multiple countries in the region to conduct research, including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. © 2020 Disney. In Vietnam, dragons are considered as a symbolic creature. The image of a dragon is associated The Origin and Story of Vietnamese Gods Vietnamese Gods are imaginary figures or real people who have passed away and left historical or educational lessons to people of all generations in Vietnam. The Descendant of Dragon and Fairy – Con Rong Chau Tien The Descendant of Dragon and Fairy is a legend about the origin of the Vietnamese people. … During the Trần Dynasty (early 13th to end of 14th centuries), the dragon retained the sophisticated style of the Lý dragon, yết changed to reflect the greater authority of the dynasty which defeated invading Mongol forces three times. In the royal edict on the transfer of the capital to Thang Long in 1010, it was written: “The Capital is chosen due to the lay of the land, which affects a coiling dragon and a sitting tiger”. The word Than may also be read as Thin (Dragon), which denotes the third month of the lunar calendar and represents the Yang vital energy. Vietnamese have always considered the dragon as s sacred creature, with extraordinary strength and a symbol of good fortune. One day in the course of a pleasure trip on a lake, he met Long Nu (the Dragon maiden), the daughter of the Long Vuong (the Dragon King of the sea), and married her. Legend has it that on the sunny day when the royal barge landed at Dai La, the king saw a golden dragon rise into the sky. As an evil force threatens the kingdom of Kumandra, it is up to warrior Raya, and her trusty steed Tuk Tuk, to leave their Heart Lands home and track down the last dragon to help stop the villainous Druun. Home / Vietnamese Myths / The Vietnamese Dragon: Legend, History & Geography. Examples of Le era dragons may be found carved in stone in Co Loa Temple, carved on wooden doors in Keo Pagoda, and carved in the royal stone bed in Dinh Temple. The Vietnamese Dragon has special behavior when it is used as a breeding parent. Passed down through the ages, these colorful stories depict the rich history, tribal customs, e Legend has it that more than four thousand years ago a mighty dragon prince named Lac Long Quan married a fairy princess named Au Co. At the time a northern chieftain invaded the country. According to an ancient origin myth, the Vietnamese people are descended from a dragon and a fairy. Later came the cult of Tu Phap, or the Four Miracles. The dragon is thus part of the cult of fertility for it brings the rains that produce bumper harvests. It is probably of Taoist inspiration and affirms a belief in genie and immortals. Dragon images appear on the pedestals of statues of Amitabha Avalokitecvara (Kwan Kin), on cylindrical stone pillars in the hall dedicated to heaven in Thang Long Citadel, and on a five meter-high hexagonal stone pillar in Giam Pagoda in Bac Ninh province. For our tradition, the dragon is the most powerful spirit of the country. Vietnam in the 1980s through French photographer’s lens, Jewelry of ancient Vietnamese 2,500 years ago, First artwork auction to be held in Hanoi. It was removed the verbose details of its head and body; replaced by the simple ones which make the dragon delicate and more luxurious. One of them, the tail, became the present-day island of Bach Long Vi (Tail of the White Dragon) in the southern part of Ha Long Bay. The Birth of the Vietnamese People One day, during an altercation with a fairly unspecified monster, the two met and fell in love. Lingas symbolize the male Yang element, while dragons symbolize the Yin element. Dragons have been depicted on artefacts dating back to the Dong Son-Au Lac culture in the North of Vietnam in over 2,000 years ago. The Ly depiction of the dragon is both sophisticated and unique. With the power of Dragon from his mother and magic from his father, Lac Long Quan traveled all over Linh Nam to restore peace and order troubled by evil monsters. For Vietnamese peasants, the dragon was a vivid symbol of the fourfold deity-clouds, rain, thunder and lighting. They eventually grew up into strong and handsome youngsters. When Âu Cơ stopped flying to see the very person that saved her, she turned back into a fairy and instantly fell in love with her benefactor. Lac Long Quan, the son of a mountain god and a water dragon, was given the land of Lac Viet by his parents. Its … Many Confucian scholars and modern militants used that reference to mobilize the masses. They find their past too complicated and hard to remember.Solution: Using the mythical dragon, both a legendary Vietnamese creature formed when King Lac Long Quan (also known as the "Dragon Lord of Lac" or the "Dragon Lord of the Seas") married The main message in the film isn’t about finding a dragon or recovering gemstones, though that’s part of it. Like these other East Asian. The mythical dragon is closely associated with Asia. Vietnamese Zodiac Legend Stories The Rat Have you ever wondered how the rat, the smallest animal among all, could arrive at the 1st place? After that, Lac Long Quan killed the Nine-tailed demon which often appeared in human form and seized young women and carried them to its caves to rape and murder. The myth of the Dragon and the Fairy – with an ornithological tinge and a totemic connotation would find a scientific justification. These, after seven days, hatched a hundred babies. One night, the dragon deity revealed himself in the form of a violent northerly wind, which knocked down all of the houses but left the temple intact. In Vietnam, dragon Simple stages were constructed around flooded rice paddies; puppeteers regularly suffered from leech bites and other problems from standing in the murky water for so long. The top ridges of palace roofs were decorated with undulating dragons covered in sparkling porcelain tiles. 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