TTLA: The myth of the origin of ethnic groups in Vietnam approached from the perspective of cultural anthropology

DOCTORAL THESIS INFORMATION

1. Full name of the researcher:Lu Thi Thanh Le                 

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: December 5, 1986

4. Place of birth: Nam Dinh

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated December 30, 2013 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process:

- Adjust the title of the PhD thesis (according to Decision No. 740/QD-SDH of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, dated October 28, 2015).

- Decision on study extension: from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017.

- Decision on extending study period from July 1, 2017 to July 31, 2017.

- Decision on extending study period from August 1, 2017 to October 30, 2017.

7. Thesis topic name:The myth of the origin of ethnic groups in Vietnam approached from the perspective of cultural anthropology.

8. Major: Folklore Code: 62.22.01.25

9. Scientific advisor: Advisor 1:Prof. Dr. Le Chi Que, Instructor 2:Dr. Hoang Cam

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

Firstly, the thesis has clarified the concepts of myths, myths about ethnic origins and summarized theoretical studies on the role of myths about ethnic origins in determining personal identity, ethnic identity as well as consolidating ethnic communities and national-ethnic communities.

Second, the thesis has collected and analyzed 185 folk narrative texts about the origins of ethnic groups in Vietnam, thereby studying the ethnic groups' concepts about ancestors, homeland, and relationships between ethnic groups. The thesis also studies and compares the ancestral motifs used in the origin myths of the Kinh people and ethnic minorities.

Third, the thesis explores the existence of origin myths in the cultural practices of ethnic groups in Vietnam, such as family rituals, community ceremonies and festivals, and people's customs in daily life. The thesis explores the recollection of memories of ancestors and the origins of ethnic groups through these cultural practices, and explores the spiritual and community-cohesion aspects of cultural practices.

Fourthly, the thesis has studied the movements of myths about the origin of Vietnamese ethnic groups in contemporary society, studied the integration and adaptation of folk narratives and cultural practices associated with the origin of ethnic groups. The thesis has studied the movement of narratives and cultural practices of ethnic groups from the bottom up by communities and from the top down with the institutionalization of the state, affirming the role of myths about origin (especially the myth of Lac Long Quan - Au Co) in consolidating ethnic communities and the Vietnamese national community. From there, the thesis proposes solutions to preserve and promote myths about ethnic origins in the context of contemporary society.

11. Practical application:

The thesis can be used as a reference for some courses on Vietnamese Folklore at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The thesis can also be used as a source of reference for some related research fields, such as ethnology, anthropology, etc.

12. Further research directions:

The thesis "The myth of the origin of ethnic groups in Vietnam from the perspective of cultural anthropology" can be developed in the following directions:

- Comparative study of motifs used in the myth of Vietnam's origin with other countries in the region and the world.

- Research on the oral history of some ethnic groups, such as the Vietnamese, Thai, Cham, Hmong, etc.

- Comparative study of the construction of grand narratives about the origin of national and ethnic communities in countries in the region and around the world.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2015), “Myths and perceptions of origin of ethnic minorities in Viet Nam”, International Scientific Conference Engaging with Vietnam, University of Business and Technology, Tu Son, Bac Ninh.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2015), “Representing Cham ethnic identity through a state-organized cultural festival”, Folklore Magazine (4), pp. 44-49.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2015), “Cultural Festival and the Representation of Ethnic Identity in Viet Nam: a Look from a Cham Festival”, Proceedings of the International Conference on Tourism and Ethnic Issues in ASEAN and Expanding, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, pp. 254-264.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “Translating minority literature into Vietnamese, history and present”, Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on Literary Translation: Some Theoretical Issues and Lessons Learned, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi & Aix Marseille University, Hanoi National University Publishing House, pp. 281-291.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “Origin Myths in Vietnam: a Comparative Research”, International Scientific Conference of the American Popular Culture and Literature Association, Southwest Branch, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “Origin myths in contemporary Vietnamese society”, Folklore Magazine (3), pp. 16-22.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “The value of myths about ethnic origins in strengthening ethnic communities and national communities in Vietnam”, Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology (12), pp. 52-58.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2017), Research on the existence and transmission of origin myths in ethnic minority communities in Vietnam today (survey in the mountainous, midland and Central Highlands regions of the North and the Central region), Creative work sponsored in 2016 by the Vietnam Folklore Association (typed manuscript).

Lu Thi Thanh Le, Doan Ngoc Chung (2018), “Similarities and differences in the rituals of spirit mediumship of some ethnic groups in Vietnam”, Proceedings of the 2017 Scientific Conference for Young Cadres and Postgraduate Students – Vietnamese Social Sciences and Humanities in the Globalization Process, Hanoi National University Publishing House, Hanoi, pp. 253-268.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2018), Collection of myths about the origin of Vietnamese ethnic groups, Hanoi National University Publishing House, Hanoi.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Lu Thi Thanh Le 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: December 5, 1986 4. Place of birth: Nam Dinh

5. Admission decision number: 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH of the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, dated: December 30^st, 2013.

6. Changes in academic process:

- Adjusting the thesis title (according to Decision No.740/QD-SĐH by Rector University of Social Sciences and Humanities, dated October 28, 2015).

- Decision on extension of studying period: valid from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017.

- Decision on extension of studying period: valid from July 1, 2017 to July 31, 2017.

- Decision on extension of studying period: valid from August 1, 2017 to October 30, 2017.

7. Official thesis title: Origin Myths of Ethnic Groups in Vietnam from Cultural Anthropological Approach

8. Major: Folk Literature Code: 62.22.01.25

9. Supervisors: 1. Prof. Dr. Le Chi Que, 2. Dr. Hoang Cam

10. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

Firstly, this thesis clarifies the definitions of “myth”, “origin myth” and summarizes the theories about the role of origin myths in identifying process of ethnic people and ethnic communities. Also, this thesis recognizes the function of origin myths in solidifying the ethnic and national community.

Secondly, the thesis analyzes 185 texts of origin myths of ethnic groups in Vietnam to see the community's perception of ancestors, place of origin and the relation between ethnic groups. It also compares the motifs of ancestors which are used in origin myths of the Kinh group and ethnic minority groups.

Thirdly, the thesis explores the existence of origin myths in the cultural practices of ethnic groups in Vietnam, for examples, the ceremonies conducted in the family, the rituals and festivals of the community, and the customs of people in ordinary life. It examines the memory of ancestors and homeland of ethnic groups as expressed in the origin myths to see how the cultural practices satisfy the spiritual need or solidify the ethnic community.

Fourthly, the thesis looks into the dynamics of origin myths of ethnic groups in Vietnam in contemporary society to investigate how the narrative and the cultural practices related to origin of ethnic groups integrate and adapt. The bottom up and top down process have been explored to see the role of origin myths (especially, the myth of Lac Long Quan – Au Co) in solifying the ethnic and national community in Vietnam. Also, the thesis points out some suggestions of how to preserve and promote the origin myths of ethnic groups in Vietnam in contemporary society.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

This thesis can be used as a reference source for some classes in Vietnamese folklore at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. It can also be useful for researchers in the fields of ethnography, anthropology, etc.

12. Further research directions, if any:

The thesis can be developed in the following directions:

- Comparative study of the motifs used in the origin myths of Vietnam with those of other countries in the region and in the world.

- Research on oral history of ethnic groups, such as Vietnamese, Thai, Cham, Hmong, etc.

- Comparative study of the implementation of grand narrative of the origin of different nations in the region and in the world.

13. Thesis-related publications:

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2015), “Myths and perceptions of origin of ethnic regions of Vietnam”, International Conference Engaging with Vietnam, University of Business and Technology, Tu Son, Bac Ninh.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2015), “Representation of ethnic identity of Cham people as seen through a cultural festival organized by the state”, Journal of Follore (4), pp. 44-49.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2015), “Cultural Festival and the Representation of Ethnic Identity in Vietnam: a Look from a Cham Festival”, Proceedings of International conference on Ethnicity and Tourism in ASEAN and beyond, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, pp. 254-264.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “Translation of ethnic minority groups' literature into Vietnamese, history and present”, Proceedings of International conference on Literary translation: theories and experiences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, University of Social Sciences and Humanities & Aix Marseille University, Vietnam National University, Ha Noi Press, pp. 281-291.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “Origin Myths in Vietnam: a Comparative Research”, International conference of Southwest Popular/ American Culture Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “Origin myths in contemporary society of Viet Nam”, Journal of Folklore (3), pp. 16-22.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2016), “The role of origin myths of ethnic groups in solidifying the ethnic and national community in Vietnam”, Journal of Science and Technology (12), pp. 52-58.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2017), Researching the existence and distribution of origin myths in the ethnic minority communities in Vietnam today (with surveys conducted in Northern midland and upstream, Middle part and Central Highland of Vietnam), Research sponsored by Association of Vietnamese Folklorists (manuscript submitted).

Lu Thi Thanh Le, Doan Ngoc Chung (2018), “The similarities and differences of mediumship rituals of ethnic groups in Viet Nam”, Proceedings of Conference of young staff and graduate students of USSH 2017 – Social sciences and humanities in the globalization process, Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, pp. 253-268.

Lu Thi Thanh Le (2018), Anthology of origin myths of ethnic groups in Viet Nam, Vietnam National University, Ha Noi Press, Hanoi.