TTLV: The image of the buffalo in Vietnamese and Chinese folk literature from a comparative perspective

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's name: FU YUANYUAN 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: November 15, 1999 4. Place of birth: China

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 2750/QD-XHNV August 2, 2023 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in the training process:

7. Thesis topic: The image of the buffalo in Vietnamese and Chinese folk literature from a comparative perspective

8. Major: Vietnam Studies; Code: 8310630

9. Scientific advisor: Dr. Le Thi Tuan, Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

10. Summary of thesis results:

The thesis has compiled and analyzed proverbs, folk songs and fairy tales about the image of the buffalo in Vietnamese and Chinese folk literature, and has learned about the profound and rich symbolic meaning of the buffalo, which is not only an animal with strength and an effective production tool in the agriculture of the two countries, but also contains profound cultural meanings with 3 layers of symbols: Symbol of labor, associated with productive life and the ideal of diligence and patience; spiritual symbol related to beliefs and folk customs; symbol of morality and philosophy of life, expressing the perspective of humans, the universe and life values. Through these 3 layers of symbols, the thesis goes into decoding the way of thinking about labor, spirituality and philosophy of the two countries, exploring the worldview, outlook on life and philosophical foundation of the two nations, clarifying the common and unique values of the cultural identity of Vietnam and China.

11. Practical application:

12. Further research directions:

13. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: FU YUANYUAN 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: November 15, 1999 4. Place of birth: China

5. Admission decision number: 2750/QD-XHNV Dated August 2, 2023

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: The Image of the Water Buffalo in Vietnamese and Chinese Folklore from a Comparative Perspective

8. Major: Vietnamese Studies 9. Code: 8310630

10. Supervisors:Dr. Le Thi Tuan, Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

1. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

This thesis, through statistical analysis and examination of proverbs, folk songs, and folk tales about buffaloes in Vietnam and China, explores the profound and rich symbolic meanings of the buffalo. It reveals that the buffalo is not merely livestock with strength and an effective production tool in the agricultural sectors of both countries, but also embodies three layers of profound cultural significance: Labor Symbolism: Closely tied to productive life and the ideal of diligence and perseverance; Spiritual Symbolism: Related to folk beliefs and customs; Moral and Philosophical Symbolism: Reflecting human perspectives on the self, the universe, and values of life. Through these three symbolic layers, the thesis decodes the ways of thinking about labor, spirituality, and philosophy in both countries, explores their worldviews, outlooks on life, and philosophical foundations, and clarifies the common and unique values of the cultural identities of the Vietnamese and Chinese peoples.

12. Practical applicability:

13. Further research directions:

14. Thesis-related publications: None