(October 17th) Presentation: Anthropological analysis of some phenomena related to writing

Topic:An anthropological analysis of certain phenomena related to writing: the case of petitions and documents used in ancestor worship.

PresenterDr. Phan Phuong Anh (Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts)

Time9:00 AM, October 17, 2008 (Friday)

LocationMultimedia Room, Museum of Anthropology, 3rd Floor, Building D, 336 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi.

Summary of contentThe written texts and spaces on ancestral altars in Vietnam were traditionally associated with Sino-Vietnamese characters (Hán-Nôm). However, since the Doi Moi (Renovation) period, along with significant changes in social life, religious activities in Vietnam have become increasingly vibrant, and phenomena related to writing have also become more diverse with the revival of Sino-Vietnamese characters and the penetration of the national script (Quốc ngữ) in ceremonial documents. While the national script has long replaced Sino-Vietnamese characters in social life, some people still consider Sino-Vietnamese characters a better way to address certain contemporary spiritual issues, and this replacement is causing much controversy. The author will analyze the multifaceted relationships between the writer, the commissioner, and each type of writing system to demonstrate that the use of different writing systems is not simply governed by tradition or the convenience of the writing system, but also reflects the profound influence of each form of writing on thought, religious life in particular, and society in general. Through the case study of written petitions and writing on ancestral altars in Vietnam, the author also aims to suggest some new research directions on writing from an anthropological perspective.

Keywords: Written texts, script, Vietnamese script, Sino-Vietnamese characters, anthropology of writing, petitions, rituals, ancestor worship, beliefs.