Extremely interesting decoding of 6 types of chickens in Dong Ho paintings

The image of the chicken in Dong Ho paintings is diversely and richly expressed with many different meanings, deeply reflecting the folk culture, etiquette, and customs of the Vietnamese people from ancient times.

For generations, in Dong Ho paintings, the image of the chicken has become close and familiar to many people, many generations. However, not everyone understands the meaning of the types of chickens in this folk painting.

There are 6 types of chickens in Dong Ho paintings that many people do not fully understand the meaning of.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Che (80 years old), the oldest artisan in Dong Ho painting village (Song Ho commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh) said: "This year is the year of the chicken, so many people come to see and buy chicken paintings. But most of them buy them for decoration and do not fully understand the layers of meaning behind each type of painting."

In Dong Ho paintings, there are many animals depicted, such as pigs, ducks, fish, mice, etc., but chickens are more "favored" with up to 6 types of paintings mentioning them.

Artist Nguyen Dang Che.

According to Mr. Che, each type of chicken in Dong Ho paintings has its own meaning, the first is the image of a chicken called “Mother and baby chickens”. In the painting, there are 10 baby chickens gathered around the mother hen.

This painting symbolizes happiness and warmth in the family, and at the same time, it shows the sacrifice and hardship of a mother when she carries the burden and earns food for her children.

Mr. Che introduces the meaning of the painting "mother hen and chicks".

In addition, the picture also shows social reality when it wants to emphasize that a mother can raise 10 children, but it is not certain that 10 children can raise the mother.

Both depicting family happiness, the “Thư hùng” rooster painting belongs to the congratulatory genre of Dong Ho paintings. According to Mr. Che, this type of painting also reflects the solidarity of fellow humans.

He emphasized the verse: "Children of the same family, if not like feathers, like wings", meaning that in many different types of chickens, they still have one thing in common: they are all of the same species.

Image of Dong Ho painting 'The Battle of Heroes'.

In many folk festivals in Vietnam, "cockfighting" always attracts the attention of many people. Therefore, the image of two roosters facing each other in Dong Ho paintings reflects this hobby.

In the deep mind of many Vietnamese people, cockfighting is not only entertaining but also represents the nurturing of martial spirit, the glue that binds the community spirit that has existed for a long time in ancient village festivals. When giving this painting, it is often accompanied by wishes for health, diligence, and hard work.

"Cockfighting" Clock Painting.

Holding the painting “Da Xuong Ngu Canh Hoa” in his hand, Mr. Che nodded: “Among many paintings of chickens, this is the one that most deeply reflects the customs and habits of the ancient Vietnamese people. When there were no clocks to measure time, the Vietnamese people listened to the sound of the chicken crowing to determine the time by each different watch.”

The painting "Night - Chant - Five - Watch - Harmony".

The painting is like a reminder of the trust that people need to remember through the expression of the rooster's crowing, no matter the circumstances, rain or shine or cold, it is never wrong.

There are two types of chicken paintings that Mr. Che 'decoded', including the 'Dai Cat' painting and the 'Rose Chicken' painting. The 'Dai Cat' painting represents important events in each person's life such as building a house, getting married, and getting married. It represents luck and success.

The painting "Rooster with Rose" symbolizes the virtues of a gentleman.

Especially the painting 'Rooster with Roses', Vietnamese people often consider the rooster as a symbol of the five virtues: literature, martial arts, bravery, humanity, and trust - the essential virtues of a brave warrior. The rooster is even a cultural code associated with the sun worship of the rice farming profession.

According to VNN