TTLA: Character system in M'nong epic and genre issues

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name:Trieu Van Thinh                                 

2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: May 8, 1974

4. Place of birth: Ngoc Lac, Thanh Hoa

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 3676/QD-SDH, dated October 28, 2009 of the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in training process: no

7. Thesis topic name:Character system in M'nong epic and genre issues

8. Major: Folklore Code: 62.22.36.01

9. Scientific instructor:1. Professor, Dr. Le Chi Que,2. Associate Professor, Dr. Do Hong Ky                                          

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

The work of collecting, researching, translating and publishing M'nong epics has achieved a lot of success. However, previous research works have only studied in a general way the central character of the M'nong epic but have not studied in a comprehensive way the character system in the M'nong epic. In this thesis, we systematically examine the characters of the M'nong epic. Prominent in the work are the heroic characters, they are people with extraordinary strength, innate talent, extraordinary appearance, always achieving glorious feats. Appearing next to the hero are the supporting characters, they are always beside the hero in the role of assistants or in opposition. Each character has its own characteristics and beauty, but its function and role is mainly to highlight the image of the hero in combat as well as in labor production. In the M'nong epic, folk artists have built a system of characters according to a complex concept. Accordingly, the beautiful character and the community character contain more realistic elements. The heroic character and the opposing character clearly show the interweaving of reality and myth. The symbolic (magical) character and the messenger character are almost a unique image of a true myth. In successfully portraying this class of "monster - human" characters, the folk author is strongly influenced by mythological thinking. The character classes in Ot Ndrong appear under many different characteristics as a result of innocent thinking, without the intention of unifying according to any fixed principle as is often seen in written literature. It can be said that although the inspiration to praise the hero is dominant, besides that, the explanation of the hero's exploits and victories in the M'nong epic also shows a childish concept in the childhood of humanity in the M'nong ethnic community in ancient times. All of those character systems have created a multi-sound, colorful epic picture that has fascinated and captivated many generations of M'nong people. The survey of the character system of the M'nong epic will be important data to contribute to proving that the M'nong epic is a mythological epic.

There are still some different opinions on the genre of the M'nong epic. In 1995, Do Hong Ky identified the M'nong epic as a mythological epic. However, at that time, due to the lack of documents and the small number of collected works, he did not have the opportunity to conduct a thorough survey to prove his thesis. Besides Do Hong Ky, some people believe that Ot Ndrong is a genealogical epic, an epic with a strong creation character, a heroic epic... Based on the research results of the thesis, we affirm that the M'nong epic is a mythological epic.

The research results further confirm the literary, historical, cultural values ​​and cultural and artistic functions of the M'nong epic and especially its position and role in the life of the M'nong community today, which is a reliable basis for the conservation of the Ot Ndrong treasure in particular and the folk culture of the M'nong people in general.

11. Practical application:

The research results are a reliable basis for the conservation of the Ot Ndrong treasure in particular and the folk culture of the M'nong ethnic group in general.

12. Further research directions:

Based on the results of the thesis, topics on the Central Highlands epics in particular and folk culture of ethnic groups in Truong Son - Central Highlands in general will be developed.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

1. Trieu Van Thinh (2007), “Traditional wedding ceremony of the M'nong people”,Culture and Arts Magazine (11), pp. 95-98.

2. Trieu Van Thinh (2008), "Some funeral rituals of the M'nong people",Scientific Journal of Tay Nguyen University (3),pp. 38-43.

3. Trieu Van Thinh (2008), “The technique of “delay” in M'nong epics”,Scientific Journal of Tay Nguyen University (3),pp. 44-49.

4. Trieu Van Thinh (2009), “Some issues on customary marriage and family law of the M'nong people in current life (Through a survey in Dak Ndrung commune, Dak Song district, Dak Nong province)”,Scientific Journal of Tay Nguyen University (5),pp. 77-86.

5. Trieu Van Thinh (2010), “The system of supporting characters in the M'nong epic”,Scientific Journal of Tay Nguyen University (7),pp. 105-112.

6. Trieu Van Thinh (2010), “Similarities in the techniques of building heroic characters in the Ede epic and the M'nong epic (Through a comparative perspective)”,Scientific Journal of Tay Nguyen University (7),pp. 113-122.

7. Trieu Van Thinh (2012),“Community image in M'nong epic”,Journal of Social Sciences of the Central Highlands (6),pp. 71-74.

8. Trieu Van Thinh (2013), “Performance environment and religious function of M'nong epic”,Journal of Social Sciences of the Central Highlands (11),pp. 40-43.

9. Trieu Van Thinh (2014), "Identifying the genre characteristics of M'nong epics (From the perspective of performance environment and living function)",Scientific Journal of Tay Nguyen University (11),pp. 113-119.

THE INFORMATION OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Trieu Van Thinh                         2. Sex: male

3. Date of birth: 05/08/1974 4. Place of birth: Ngoc Lac – Thanh Hoa

5. Admission decision number: Decision recognized as a Ph.D. Student No. 3676/QD-SDH, October 28^th, 2009 of the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in academic process: no

7. Official thesis title:The system of characters in the M'nong Epics and genre issues.

8. Major: Folk Literature Code: 62.22.36.01

9. Supervisors: 1. Prof. Dr. Le Chi Que, 2. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Hong Ky

10. Summary of thenew findingsof the thesis:

The collection, research, translation and publication of the M'nong Epics have achieved a lot of success. However, previous studies have only studied a generalization of the central characters of the M'nong Epics without doing a research as a whole on the system of characters in the M'nong Epics. In this thesis, we study characters of the M'nong Epics scientifically.The most prominent featureSprintepics are heroic figures. They are the people who have extra-ordinary power, innate talent, extra-ordinary appearance always make the famous victories. Appearing aside the heroic characters are the minor characters, they are always on the side of the hero in the role as booster or are in opposition. Each character has characteristics, his or her own beauty but the functions and roles are mainly to highlight the figure of the heroic people in combat as well as in labor and production. In the M'nong Epics, folk artisans who built the system of characters in a complex concept. Whereby, beautiful characters and community characters contain much more realistic elements. Heroic figures and opposite characters clearly show the mixture between reality and myth. In addition, symbolic characters and news transmitting characters are almost a unique figure of the true legends. Portraying the character classes "monsters - human beings" successfully, folk authors are strongly influenced by mythological thoughts. The character classes in Ot Ndrong appear under many different characteristics are the result of spontaneous thoughts, which are not intended unified under a fixed rule as often seen in written literature. We can say, although the inspiration of raising a hero is dominant besides that, how to explain the feats and the victory of the heroes in the M'nong Epics also shows an infantile concept of human childhood in the M'nong ethnic community in the ancient times. All systems of characters created a multi-audio epic picture, colorful enchanting, captivated many M'nong generations. The investigation into the system of characters of the M'nong Epics will be important evidence to contribute to prove that the M'nong Epics are the mythological epics.

Currently, the issue about the genre of the M'nong Epics contains some different opinions. In 1995, Do Hong Ky identified the M'nong Epics as mythological epics. However, at that time due to the lack of materials, there are few collected works, so he cannot yet investigate a broad way to prove his point. Beside Do Hong Ky, some people suppose that Ot Ndrong is a genealogical epic, a deep creation, a heroic epic, etc. Based on the research findings of the thesis, we affirm that the M'nong Epics are the mythological epics.

The findings of the research confirm the value of literature, history, culture and functions of culture - arts of the M'nong Epics and especially their position and role in the lives of the M'nong community today, which is a reliable basis for conservation of Ot Ndrong treasure in particular and folk culture of M'nong ethnic people in general.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

The results of the study are reliable basis for conservation of Ndrong Ot treasure in particular and folk culture of M'nong ethnic people in general.

12. Further research directions, if any:

Based on the results of the thesis, people will deploy theses of Central Highlands Epics in particular and folk culture of ethnic groups in Truong Son - Central Highlands in general.

13. Thisis-related publications (List them in cronological order):

1. Trieu Van Thinh (2007), "The traditional wedding of M'nong ethnic people",Journal of Arts and Culture (11),pp. 95-98.

2. Trieu Van Thinh (2008), "Some of the etiquettes in the funeral of M'nong ethnic people",Journal of Science of Tay Nguyen University (3),pp.38-43.

3. Trieu Van Thinh (2008),"The method of“delay" in the M'nong Epics",Journal of Science of Tay Nguyen University (3),pp.44-49.

4. Trieu Van Thinh (2009), "Some issues about the law of marriage and family of M'nong ethnic people nowadays” (A survey at Dak Ndrung Commune, Daksong District, Daknong Province)",Journal of the Science of Tay Nguyen University (5),pp.77-86.

5. Trieu Van Thinh (2010), "The system of minor characters in the M'nong Epics",Journal of the Science of Tay Nguyen University (7),pp.105-112.

6. Trieu Van Thinh (2010), "The similarities in the construction of the heroic characters in the Ede Epics and the M'nong Epics (Through comparative view)",Journal of the Science of Tay Nguyen University (7),pp.113-122.

7. Trieu Van Thinh (2012), "The image of community in the M'nong Epics",Journal of Tay Nguyen Social Sciences (6),pp.71-74.

8. Trieu Van Thinh (2013), “The environment of performing and religious functions in the M'nong Epics”,Journal of Tay Nguyen Social Sciences (11),pp.40-43.

9. Trieu Van Thinh (2014), "Identifying characteristics of the genre in the M'nong Epics (Through performing environmental aspects and functions of living),"Journal of the Science of Tay Nguyen University (11),pp.113-119.