Understanding the origin and culture through "Old customs"

There have been many books written about Vietnamese customs, beliefs, culture, and people, and "Old Traditions" by cultural researcher Toan Anh is one of the few books that is more extensive and systematic.

Up to now, the book series has been reprinted many times and one of the reasons for reprinting, according to Tre Publishing House, is to provide readers with the necessary understanding of the origins of the nation, of the customs, traditions and etiquette of our ancestors. Through that, they can know the good things, recognize the true value of what belongs to traditional culture, the good and strange things of our ancestors from the time of founding and defending the country.

Researcher Toan Anh said: “Family is the foundation of society, only with family can there be society, especially Vietnamese family is a solid foundation of Vietnamese society. To examine Vietnamese customs, we must start from Vietnamese family with the customs that govern the family: Birth - death - marriage, to gradually move to social customs”. Above the family is the clan. If the family is a small bush, then the clan is a whole forest, the forest protects the bush, but the bush, no matter how small, contributes to making the forest more dense. To know the forest, we must start from the bush, to understand society, we must start from the family. For that reason, “Vietnamese People” should be the “starting” book of the “Old Traditions” series, through the pages written by the author with meticulous research, from “who are the relatives in the family” to marriage, childbirth, child rearing, exams, housing, funerals of not only common people but also of emperors and some ethnic minorities.

After the book “Vietnamese People”, readers can find their favorite topics in “Old Traditions” through “Vietnamese Beliefs”, “Vietnamese Villages”, “Festivals and Communities”, “Music, Chess, Poetry and Painting”, “The Fragrance of Water and Soul of the Country”, “Bouquet of Flowers of Northern Vietnam - Elegant Pleasures”... There, the author sometimes introduces and analyzes the characteristics of the folk pastimes of the Vietnamese in some localities formed by geographical and weather conditions, and sometimes sends readers the spiritual values of the ancient Vietnamese through 4 forms: playing musical instruments - playing chess - writing poetry - drawing. There, the author writes about the customs and beauty of Vietnamese women, especially women in the Northern Delta.

The researcher also takes readers to many festivals imbued with national character, painstakingly collected and presented clearly, coherently, and memorable about religions with worship rituals of folk beliefs. Along with providing understanding of the ancient village organization of Vietnam, from the village gate, village communal house, village road, banyan tree at the village entrance, village bamboo hedge, village field, village market... - these images may have gradually disappeared - to preserve images and knowledge about the memories that have created the consciousness and people of Vietnam, the author also collects and introduces many folk songs, proverbs, poems... with the hope of helping to maintain literary works to contribute to the promotion of national cultural identity.

The book series “Old Traditions” was published by Tre Publishing House. In the latest version, the book series is designed in an ancient style, consistent with the content, bringing high collection value to readers who love cultural topics. Phuong Hoa (According to hanoimoi.vn)

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