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The characteristics, value, and transformation of the calendrical and public festivals of the ethnic Chinese community in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

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Abstract

The ethnic Chinese community in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region has vividly embedded in Confucian traditions, inheriting Chinese culture through ceremonies and festivals held in the family and folk belief institutions. In each ceremony, the festival demonstrates the ideological, educational, and cultural value conferred by the ethnic identity. The practice of rituals and festivals expresses the psychology and aspirations of the ethnic Chinese living in the peculiar social and economic life of the Mekong Delta region. However, these festivals have changed in the current context. This article focuses on research to clarify the characteristics, values, and changes in the ethnic Chinese calendrical and public festivals in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

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Notes

  1. Nguyễn (2004).

  2. Nguyệt (2017, p. 38).

  3. Viện Văn hóa dân gian (Folklore Institute) (1992, p. 28).

  4. Van Gennep (1960, p. 11).

  5. Trần (2017, p. 30).

  6. Van Gennep (1960, p. 179).

  7. Nguyễn (2016. p. 39).

  8. Van Gennep (1960, pp. 3–4).

  9. Van Gennep (1960, p. 178).

  10. See Nguyệt (2016), Văn hóa tín ngưỡng dân gian người Hoa Đồng Nai (Dong Nai Chinese Folk Culture and Beliefs), Hanoi: Mỹ thuật, p. 234.

  11. Nguyệt (2016, pp. 240–241).

  12. Soc Trang Provincial Cultural Center: Ethnic Chinese folk beliefs in Soc Trang, ed. Lâm Hoàng Viên, for internal circulation only, 2017, p. 129.

  13. Nguyễn (2017a, p. 180).

  14. Soc Trang Provincial Cultural Center: Ethnic Chinese folk beliefs in Soc Trang, ed. Lâm Hoàng Viên, for internal circulation only, 2017, p. 130.

  15. Võ (2005, pp. 224–238).

  16. Names of Guan Di festivals across the regions in Vietnam are not consistent; many places in the Mekong Delta simply call it “the Guan Di Festival”.

  17. Tâm (1994).

  18. Mỹ Pha: “Miếu Ông Bổn: Văn hoá tinh thần của người Hoa (Bentougong Temple: The spiritual culture of the ethnic Chinese people)”, http://baocamau.com.vn/van-hoa/mieu-ong-bon-van-hoa-tinh-than-cua-nguoi-hoa-58588.html, Accessed on April 17, 2020.

  19. Local synthetic religion in the Mekong Delta which was founded on the basis of integration of Mahayana Buddhism and ancestor worship by the Vietnamese. It is also called Hoahao Buddhism (Phật giáo Hòa Hảo).

  20. Văn Nhiên (2019, p. 26).

  21. Vũ et al. (2014, p. 188).

  22. Some places hold a large-scale Guan Di Festival, becoming a “national festival” such as the Guan Di Festival in Phan Thiết the Guan Di Festival in Biên Hòa (restored from 2013 to present), etc.

  23. Dương Hoàng Lộc: “Tín ngưỡng thờ Quan Công ở Nam bộ từ góc nhìn giao lưu văn hóa (The cult of Guan Di in Southern Vietnam from cultural exchange perspective)”, http://khoavanhoc-ngonngu.edu.vn/. Accessed on April 12, 2020.

  24. Nguyễn (2017b, p. 196).

  25. Information on an in-depth interview with Mr. La Việt, Chairman of Châu Đốc Ethnic Chinese Association on May 3, 2020.

  26. Nguyễn (2017b, pp. 200–201).

  27. Nguyệt (2018, p. 160).

  28. A kind of Vietnamese folk art performance, usually held in the local goddess temple in southern Vietnam during the annual festival. The Heavenly Queen asks a fairy (Nàng) to take on her mission, land on the earth, and bless the people. After the fairy descends, she looks for the god of earth (Địa). In the dialogue between them, they sing to convey the blessings of the goddess to people.

  29. Chaozhou Chinese traditional music instruments set.

  30. Văn Nhiên (2019, p. 26).

  31. Nguyễn (2020).

  32. Van Gennep (1960, p. 179).

  33. Nguyễn (2018a, p. 89).

  34. Nguyễn (2017a, p. 178).

  35. Van Gennep (1960, p. 178).

  36. Moving a part of urban population to resettle in rural areas.

  37. Trường (2006, pp. 219–220).

  38. Nguyễn (2018b).

  39. Van Gennep (1960, p. 178).

  40. Hoa Hao Buddhism was founded in 1939 in An Giang province by Huynh Phu So. This is a religion that advocates practicing at home on the basis of Buddhism. The form of worship of Hoa Hao religion is a red-brown cloth called “Trần Dà” symbolizing escapism and solidarity. Hoa Hao religion currently has millions of followers, most of them in the Mekong Delta.

  41. van Gennep (1960, p. 179).

  42. Seligman and Weller (2012).

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Acknowledgements

This research is funded by Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) under Grant Number B2019-18b-01. The author is a member of the research group.

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Nguyệt, N.T. The characteristics, value, and transformation of the calendrical and public festivals of the ethnic Chinese community in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Int. Commun. Chin. Cult 8, 421–441 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40636-021-00236-y

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