Family love in the folk songs of Ví and Giặm

The Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghệ Tĩnh – a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity – are considered a precious gem in the treasure trove of Vietnamese folk literature. The enduring vitality of this art form lies not only in its simple melodies and familiar, unpretentious lyrics, but also in the profound humanistic values ​​it conveys. In particular, family love is the red thread running throughout, the cradle that shapes the character and essence of the people of Nghệ An. Exploring family sentiment through Ví and Giặm songs is also a journey back to the cultural roots and traditional morality of the nation.

More than just the heartfelt expressions of lovers, folk songs and ballads also preserve the most sacred values ​​of family love. They represent the sweet lullabies of a mother, the affectionate advice of a father, and the unwavering handshake of husband and wife, enduring countless storms together.

The sacred bond between mother and child, father and child.

Over generations, the Vietnamese family has been formed and developed with beautiful values ​​and norms, contributing to the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity. The family is an endless source of inspiration for folk songs and ballads, and the Nghe Tinh folk songs and ballads are part of this tradition. The family is always present in these warm, poignant melodies, encompassing a wide range of emotions.

First and foremost, it is the love of parents for their children – the most sacred and purest feeling, one that no pen or words can fully express. The melodies are expansive, profound, and passionate, the lyrics and tunes sweet, harmonious, and overflowing with love, from the simple and familiar to the grandest. Folk songs of the Ví and Giặm genres begin with the lullabies sung by grandmothers and mothers beside their babies. In those songs, maternal love and familial affection are nurtured:"Ah, ah, oh... On a summer afternoon, beside the rocking hammock, Mother lulls her child to sleep under the round midday sun. The heavy burden of Mother's love reminds the child of Father's sacrifices..."(Ten filial piety blessings).

Amidst the sweltering heat of a Central Vietnamese summer midday, lullabies resonate, soothing the weather like whispered words and heartfelt conversations interwoven with the creaking of a hammock. But from within this tranquil setting, the lullaby is not merely a way to lull innocent children to sleep; it is an expression of the boundless love and sacrifices of a mother and father."Mother recounts the ten blessings from the moment she conceived / Oh, there is yin and yang, and then there is destiny... / Mother"From the time they were babies, we nurtured and cared for them, from sons to daughters, through hard work and toil, day and night, ensuring they were breastfed and fed..."The folk song also affirms:"Those who have a father are better off than those who have a mother... Those without a father and without a mother suffer even more."…as a piece of advice for the child, and also a wake-up call for those who still have their parents alive. Because reminding one's child is also a way of admonishing oneself, so that one can reflect and live a more meaningful and compassionate life:"I haven't, I haven't been able to give anything in return for your kindness."with one's parents.

The wellspring of family love doesn't stop at the silent maternal affection, but is also nurtured by the father's burdened shoulders in "Deep Father-Son Love." It's the image of a father "cuddling and cradling" his child from the age of one or two, worrying about every piece of clothing, nurturing their dreams at fifteen or seventeen, and anxiously awaiting the day his child finds happiness with a virtuous daughter-in-law or a dutiful son-in-law. Behind the children's growth lies the physical wear and tear of the parents, and the surrounding poverty and hunger."The teacher is poor, ragged, and in debt / The mother is also poor, ragged, and in debt / All for the sake of her young child."(Deep Father-Son Love). These simple, unadorned lyrics portray a beautiful symbol of parental love – an unconditional love, always ready to protect and support their children through life's storms.

It is from this profound understanding of the immeasurable contributions of parents that the songs evoke the meaning of filial piety. Family affection in the folk songs of the Ví and Giặm genres is not one-sided, but also a responsibility to repay. The song "Ten Virtues of Parents" stirs the listener's consciousness with its poignant self-reflection, revealing the immense debt of gratitude owed to parents, yet the individual feels they have "not yet repaid even a small favor," prompting a self-admonition: "How should a child live to fulfill their filial duty?" Filial piety means respecting and yielding to parents, avoiding harsh words, and refraining from being critical or disrespectful as parents grow older. This love must be expressed through practical acts of care during their lifetime."A child should stay close to their parents/ They must nurture and cultivate/ When the wife is foolish, the husband must visit and see her/ They must go back and forth to visit and see her…"(Deep father-son bond).

The bond between husband and wife is unwavering and enduring.

If filial piety is the root of morality, then the love between husband and wife is like a fire that warms a person's entire life. In romantic love and in building family happiness, folk songs like "ví" and "giặm" are seen as a bridge connecting destinies, a vessel filled with humanity and righteousness.

The love between husband and wife is, first and foremost, tested and affirmed through the storms of life. Life for married couples in Nghe An province has never been easy; it's intertwined with the harsh natural environment, with intense sunshine, heavy rains, and devastating storms that destroy property and villages every year. Therefore, hardship constantly surrounds the hardworking, humble laborers. In those times of poverty, people will find themselves in a state of:"Who knows whether the waters of the Lam River are clear or muddy? Only then will one know whether life is shameful or glorious."(My dear lover). However, no matter how many ups and downs we face, our marital love remains strong through the years, so..."After the storm comes the gathering of dragons and clouds / When the Hong mountain range is devoid of trees / and the Lam river runs dry / Only then will our love end."(My dearest love). Taking Hong Mountain as their vow and Lam River as their promise, the love between husband and wife becomes an unshakeable bond, an absolute spiritual support for them to weather all the ups and downs of life together.

Beyond grand vows and promises, the marital bond in Nghe An folk songs is also concretized through everyday, subtle, and responsible behaviors. The ancient song "Teaching My Wife" is a unique example showing a serious yet compassionate view of marital duties. While titled "teach," the lyrics sound like a heartfelt, whispered piece of advice from a husband to his new wife. It's a reminder to his wife, but also a self-admonition, reflecting on life's moments of anger, friendships, and parental disapproval."A simple 'yes' or 'no' is far more valuable than a simple 'yes' or 'no'. When brothers and sisters visit, when friends come to the house, when I pour out a bowl of water, the greeting is more valuable than a feast, and the greeting is more valuable than a feast."(Teaching your wife).

When a husband and wife are arguing or having disagreements, folk authors remind them not to "scold cats and dogs," or "lash out and then beat each other," but to choose the right time and place to talk things out."Even if you're angry with your husband and children, please don't say anything yet / Tell your friends when they get home… / When we're free, when we're away, when we're just husband and wife."Reading this, we are suddenly moved by a profound understanding: The husband doesn't demand a perfect wife, but only hopes for a life partner who is "wise" to "save face for her husband," who knows how to use gentle words to dissuade him when he makes a mistake. This is the philosophy of faithful living, of considering the past and future, to maintain a happy home: "Living together should be about considering the past and future, so that everyone is happy, and so that everyone is happy..." (Teaching a Wife).

What is particularly interesting about the expression of marital affection in the folk songs of Nghe Tinh is the miraculous transformation from "anger" to "love." Through the masterful lyric writing of author Nguyen Trung Phong in his work "Vi An Thuong" (Anger and Love), the women of Nghe An appear both sharp-witted and deeply compassionate. The anger here is not selfish resentment, but anger born from profound love:"You keep telling me I don't love you / But I measure things very carefully / It's because I love you that I discussed it with my mother / We must prevent you from going on that trip to Luong.". Because:"If you go down the wrong path, I can't stand it."Chorus"Even though I'm angry, I still love you."Her voice, tinged with both resentment and longing, resonated like an invisible thread binding their two souls together. To prove the depth of their love, the woman fearlessly revealed the hardships they had overcome to be together:"Oh my dear, I love you, but my parents disapprove. If they forbid me from entering through the front door, I'll go around to the back door. If my parents beat me a hundred times for loving you, I'll still stand up and I'll be determined to love you."(Anger and love). These straightforward, powerful, and even audacious lyrics reflect a steadfast love, a loyalty that defies all obstacles. A woman from Nghe An, once in love and having chosen her life partner, would remain determined to love him even if she were "beaten a hundred times." Therefore, the anger of the present is a continuation of the "love" of the past, a desire to keep the man of her life on the right path.

Family affection is passed down through generations through folk songs.

No documents have been able to determine the exact dates of compositions such as "Deep Father-Son Love," "Ten Virtues of Parents," and "Teaching a Wife," nor is it known whether the author was a single person or a group. However, for decades, these traditional folk songs have been as familiar to the people of Nghe Tinh as food and water. These folk songs serve as fatherly admonitions, motherly advice, and a "guidebook" for life for many generations.

Family affection in the folk songs of Nghe An and Nghe An is passed down through generations not through scholarly language or dry moral teachings, but through the most ordinary, simple, and authentic language of Nghe An. That's why listeners are moved to tears by the emotion and love they feel. They listen to understand their parents' hearts, to learn how to live a life of filial piety, love, and true humanity. And these folk songs, laden with gratitude, continue to be passed down through generations of people from Nghe An, like a continuous and enduring source of human affection.

Bui Thi Thanh Xuan