From founder of the nation to symbol of national unity

Origin Myths: Cultural Similarities of East Asian Ethnic Groups

In the flow of human civilization, each nation has its own desire to find its roots, so it has its own legendary stories. Before science and writing shaped official history, people woven legends to explain their presence in this world. Especially in East Asian countries, stories about ethnic origins are imbued with mythical colors - a remarkable cultural similarity that is often overlooked in modern discussions. These legends, although covered in fantastical clothes, are precious cultural pieces, reflecting the thinking and characteristics of ancient civilizations.

In China, the story of the Three Sovereigns is not simply a myth of origin, but also a panoramic picture of the process of civilization development. Fu Xi and Nu Wa - two half-human, half-snake deities - not only symbolize the intersection between nature and humanity, but also represent the ancient Chinese concept of yin and yang. Nu Wa's creation of humans from clay reflects the close connection between humans and mother earth, while Fu Xi, as the creator of writing and the teacher of hunting, represents the progress of humanity from primitive to civilized.

In particular, the image of Shennong, described in historical books as a man with a "bull's head, sharp horns, bronze forehead, iron head, scorpion's tail, and centipede's legs", is not simply a strange description, but a subtle combination of symbols: the strength of oxen in farming, the durability of metal, and the diligence of insects. This is the embodiment of agriculture - the foundation of East Asian rice civilization.

In Korea, the Korean legend of Danjun carries a different message. The story of the son of the Heavenly Emperor marrying a female bear who transformed into a human not only represents the connection between the divine world and the earthly world, but also reflects the transition from a hunting society (symbolized by the bear) to a civilized society. Although Danjun's age of 1,908 cannot be explained by modern logic, it is the way the ancients expressed the continuity and sustainability of their national culture.

So, in that context, the legend of the Dragon and Fairy's descendants of the Vietnamese people also has a special meaning. The story of Lac Long Quan - Au Co with the hundred-egg sac is not only a story of origin, but also a symbol of the diversity and unity of the Vietnamese ethnic community. Dragon - the symbol of water, and Fairy - the symbol of mountain, reflect the geographical and cultural characteristics of the ancient Vietnamese space, where there is an intersection between river civilization and mountain culture.

The 145-year lifespan of our Hung Kings, as well as the 1,908-year lifespan of Dan Quan of Korea, or the strange appearance of Shennong of China, should not be considered from a scientific perspective. Instead, they should be understood as cultural metaphors, ways that the ancients used to convey the spiritual and moral values ​​of the nation. These unrealistic numbers should be understood as cultural symbols, containing messages about the original origin, identity and national pride.

It can be said that the East Asian peoples possessing mythical legends in their origin history is not a sign of backwardness. On the contrary, this is proof of the similarity in cultural thinking, the way ancient peoples explain their origins and transmit their cultural and ethical values ​​through many generations. The Han people claim to be descendants of the Three Sovereigns, the Korean people claim to be descendants of the Danjun, then the Vietnamese people are also proud to be descendants of the Dragon and the Fairy, that is why.

Hung King Era - official historical record

Many opinions say that the Hung King dynasty was just a creation of Confucian scholars/historians of the Le dynasty when compiling the "Complete Annals of Dai Viet". However, when comparing with historical sources, especially documents from the Tran dynasty and earlier, this viewpoint reveals many unconvincing points.

The earliest and most reliable evidence of the existence of the Hung King era comes from the stele "Co tich than tu bi ky" composed by Confucian scholar Truong Han Sieu in 1312. This stele directly mentioned "the sixth Hung King" and the construction of Kinh Thien tower, proving that as early as the 14th century, the concept of Hung King was recognized by the Confucian intellectual class in official documents.

Next, three important works of the Tran Dynasty provided detailed information about this period. "Linh Nam Chich Quai" with 22 stories not only recorded the origin of the Hung Kings and the national name Van Lang but also contained many legends associated with specific Hung Kings. In particular, the story "Ho Hong Bang" described in detail the origin of the nation and the formation of the Hung King dynasty: "Au Co brought 50 sons from Phong Chau land, chose the eldest hero, established him as the leader, called him Hung King, and called the national name Van Lang".

The work "Viet Dien U Linh" by Ly Te Xuyen, published in 1329, also recorded the Hung King dynasty through the story of Tan Vien. This work mentioned the diplomatic relationship between Van Lang and Thuc through the story of Princess My Nuong, daughter of King Hung.

Particularly important is the work "Brief History of Vietnam", compiled around 1377, considered the oldest historical chronicle still in circulation today. This work not only locates the Hung King period in relation to Chinese history (the Zhou Zhuang Wang period, 696-682 BC), but also specifically records the 18 Hung Kings, the location of the capital and the organization of the Van Lang state.

The continuous appearance of these documents from the Tran Dynasty shows that the story of Hung Vuong was not a "sudden creation" of the Le Dynasty. In fact, there existed a continuous historical record from the Ly Dynasty with the Historical Records of Do Thien, through the Tran Dynasty with the three important works mentioned above, and was inherited and developed in the Complete Annals of Dai Viet during the Le Dynasty.

The denial of the existence of the Hung King period based on the argument of "creation of the Le Dynasty" is unfounded when considering the continuity in historical records from Ly - Tran - Le, the diversity of sources from steles, history books to legends, and especially the reliability of documents under the Tran Dynasty. Although more research is still needed to clarify the details of this period, the historical significance of the Hung King period in the history of ancient Vietnam cannot be denied.

It can be said that the fact that the historians of the Le Dynasty extended the history of the nation by more than two thousand years compared to the history books of the Tran Dynasty is not a "fabrication" but the result of the process of inheriting and developing historical knowledge, based on the foundation of previously existing documents. This reflects the efforts of generations of historians in finding the origin of the nation, at the same time affirming the authenticity of the Hung King era in Vietnamese history.

"National Ancestor Hung Vuong" - from the founder of the nation to the symbol of national unity

In recent years, some opinions have argued that honoring Hung Vuong as "National Ancestor" is inappropriate, arguing that Hung Vuong is only the ancestor of the Kinh (Vietnamese) people, not the ancestor of 53 other ethnic minorities such as Mong, Thai, Tay... However, this viewpoint has revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of "National Ancestor" in Vietnamese culture and history.

It is necessary to understand that "National Ancestor" does not simply mean "ancestor of the whole country" in the sense of bloodline. Rather, "National" means country, nation, and "Ancestor" does not only mean ancestor, but also means "founder", "initiator". Official history has clearly recorded the role of Hung Vuong in "establishing Van Lang country, with the capital in Phong Chau". This is the basis for honoring Hung Vuong as the National Ancestor - the founder of the first state in Vietnamese history.

To better understand this concept, we can compare it with some similar cases. Lac Long Quan, although the father of Hung Vuong (first), is not called the National Ancestor because he is not the founder of Van Lang state. Similarly, Buddha is called the founder of Buddhism not because he is the bloodline ancestor of Buddhists, but because he is the founder of Buddhism. Or the founding kings such as Ly Thai To and Le Thai To both have the temple title "ancestor" because they are the founders of dynasties.

The clearest evidence is that President Ho Chi Minh, during his visit to Hung Temple on September 18, 1954, clearly affirmed the role of the Hung Kings through the famous saying: "The Hung Kings had the merit of building the country, we, your descendants, must work together to protect the country." This saying emphasizes the role of the Hung Kings as the founders of the Vietnamese state, not as blood ancestors.

Honoring Hung Vuong as the National Ancestor in the modern context has many important meanings. First of all, it affirms the continuity of the history of building and defending the country of Vietnam. Second, it is a spiritual support and a symbol of solidarity for the community of Vietnamese ethnic groups. Finally, it is a worthy recognition of the merits of the person who laid the first foundation for the Vietnamese state.

Thus, calling Hung Vuong the National Ancestor is completely consistent with both the original meaning of the word and its historical significance. This is not a matter of bloodline or ethnic origin, but rather a recognition of the merits of the founder of the first state in Vietnam, and at the same time a symbol of national unity in today's era. A correct understanding of the concept of "National Ancestor" will help us appreciate more the historical and cultural values ​​of the nation, and at the same time strengthen the spirit of solidarity among ethnic groups in the great family of Vietnam.