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ACADEMY
VIETNAM SOCIAL SCIENCE
ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
DOAN THANH LIEM

BASIC ART SYMBOLS
IN VIETNAMESE CURRENT HISTORY

Major: Vietnamese literature
Code: 9. 22. 01. 21

SUMMARY OF THESIS WILL ADVANTAGES
VIETNAMESE LETTER

HANOI, 2020


The work is completed at:
Academy of Social Sciences
Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences

SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR:
Assoc.Prof.Dr. NGUYEN DANG DIEP

Reviewer 1: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Ha Van Duc
Reviewer 2: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Ngo Van Gia
Reviewer 3: Assoc.Prof. Dr. Ton Phuong Lan

The thesis will be defended in front of the Academy of Thesis
Judging Council, at: Academy of Social Sciences, 477 Nguyen Trai,
Thanh Xuan, Hanoi At the time of day month year 2020

Thesis can be found at: - National Library
- Library Library


LIST OF AUTHOR'S ARTICLES
HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

1. Doan Thanh Liem (2017), The Symbol of Supremacy through a
number of contemporary Vietnamese historical novels, Vietnam Art
Forum Magazine No. 273 / October 2017.
2. Doan Thanh Liem (2017), Nguyen Hoang - a journey to open the
world through the novel Minh Su by Thai Ba Loi, Journal of Science
and Technology, University of Science, Hue University, November 2,
2017 .
3. Doan Thanh Liem (2019), Festival of Vietnamese cultural symbols
through contemporary Vietnamese historical fictions, Human
resources for social sciences magazine, Vietnam Academy of Social
Sciences, April 4, year 2019.


PREAMBLE
1. The urgency of the topic
1.1. Icons exist in human life right from the moment when
humans think about nature and society with the simplest images.
From primitive societies to civilized societies, from prehistoric
humans to modern humans, symbols are always created as a tool to
perform social functions, expressing human perceptions of natural
and social.
1.2. Symbols not only exist in customs, beliefs, religions,

politics and advertising activities, but also exist in rich and
diversified works of art.
1.3. In terms of perception, there are many means of
performing the function of conveying the ideological content of
literary works. In contemporary Vietnamese historical fictions, the
world of symbols is an art vehicle that performs that function.
1.4. Historical fiction is a literary talent with a complex
characteristic, in which historical reality is the "bone" material and
artistic fiction makes the "soul" of the work. For contemporary
Vietnamese

literature,

historical

fiction

has

made

great

contributions, leaving a deep impression, with many historical
novels winning awards through literary awards and many forums.
Literature discusses the author and historical novel.
2. Purpose and mission of the study
2.1. Research purposes
- Discover the cultural and historical values of the Vietnamese
nation through symbolic systems.

1


- In the process of studying symbols, we will clarify a number
of meaningful arguments that define symbolic values and their
connection with the issue of social life, contemporary people.
2.2. Research mission
- The thesis will reopen a number of theoretical issues about
symbols and historical novels in the spirit of inheritance, promoting
the works previously studied.
- The thesis focuses on surveying, identifying and analyzing a
number of basic artistic symbol systems: natural symbol system,
human symbol system, cultural symbol system in Vietnamese
contemporary historical fictions.
- The thesis will clarify the role and function of symbols as a
characteristic language unit - the symbolic language in Vietnamese
contemporary historical fictions through the writer's artistic
thinking.
3. The dissertation's research object and scope
3.1. Research subjects
The direct object that the thesis researches is the artistic
symbol in the Doi Moi historical fiction. In essence, the artistic
symbol is also a kind of sign, containing and expressing countless
historical, ideological, cultural, individual and community values ...
In literature, the symbol is distant. its original life as a form of sign,
an important unit of language for constructing meaning.
3.2. Research scope
In addition to studying in-depth Vietnamese historical fictions
after 1986, to a certain extent, the thesis will examine historical
2

fictions of earlier periods, and compare historical novels of some
other literature to see more clearly the achievements of
contemporary Vietnamese historical fictions.
4. Research methodology of the thesis
4.1. System method
The system method helps us gather different symbols, arrange
them according to the corresponding symbol system for analysis.
The systematic method also helps us to gather research works and
articles around the research object and scope of the thesis.
4.2. Comparative method
Using the comparison method, we will determine the nature of
the research object in relation to the object of other studies; defines
the nature of each type of symbol in relation to other symbols.
4.3. Type method
Talking about the type is referring to a set of things and
phenomena that share some basic characteristics. This method will
help us to identify the different icons in order to align them to a
suitable style / type.
4.4. Approach literature from a cultural perspective
Approaching literary symbols from a cultural perspective will
help the thesis explore the depth of human culture and history
through the expression of the symbol's value in literary works.
4.5. Interdisciplinary approach
The study of symbols in literature, especially symbols in
fiction, requires the use of many different types of knowledge such
as history, sociology, cultural studies, psychology, religion, beliefs,
3

poetic studies, self-study ... Therefore, the thesis will use the
interdisciplinary method to further explain the use of symbols as
well as the layers of meaning deep in the literary symbols.
5. New scientific contributions of the thesis
- The thesis is a specialized research on symbols in
Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions.
- Contribute to the systematization of theoretical knowledge
about symbols and literary symbols, symbols in historical fictions as
a basis for exploring cultural and literary values in historical novels
in particular and literature. general.
- Analyzing the symbolic system in Vietnamese historical
fictions in the doi moi period, pointing out the artistic creation
achievements of the writer, thereby, more clearly recognizing the
richness and richness of cultural values in literature.
6. The theoretical and practical significance of the thesis
6.1. Theoretical meaning
- The thesis identifies basic views on contemporary
Vietnamese historical fictions.
- The thesis contributes one more voice in researching
Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions from symbolic theory.
6.2. Practical significance
- The thesis researches deeply the national historical and
cultural values through the symbolic systems, thereby contributing
to preserving and promoting the national cultural and historical
values in the context of the renovation country. international
integration.
4

- Is the reference for the work of research and teaching
literature in high schools and universities.
7. The structure of the thesis
In addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, List of references,
the content of the thesis includes 4 chapters:
Chapter 1: Overview of research and theoretical basis
Chapter 2: The system of natural symbols in Vietnamese
contemporary historical fictions
Chapter 3: The system of human symbols in Vietnamese
contemporary historical fictions
Chapter 4: The symbolic community culture in Vietnamese
contemporary historical fictions
Chapter 1
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH SITUATION AND
THEORETICAL BASIS
1.1. Historical fiction and symbol study problem
1.1.1. Study icons
1.1.1.1. Outline of research status symbols in the world
Marxist philosophy considers symbols to be the individual
subjective product of human cognitive activities, symbols lose
cultural values that do not belong to the existing, ancient
accumulated through the ages and not in mind. community formula.
For the psychoanalyst, the symbol is not a stage of cognitive
process but images, things crystallized from the "collective
unconscious", of the "region of experience". Two typical
representatives of the theory of psychoanalysis are S. Freud and Carl
5


Jung.

From the point of view of linguistics, symbols are a characteristic
property of language. Ferdinand de Sausure argues that "language is
a system of signs that have been adopted by society by conventions
... One of the most important characteristics constituting language is
the symbolism expressed through the symbol".
According to Iu. M. Lotman, a symbol is a cultural symbol.
He asserted that culture is a semiotic phenomenon. All cultural
phenomena have a semiotics characteristic.
In short, the path of decoding the symbol is quite rich, each
decoding method has its own characteristics, forming a theoretical
system of symbols.
1.1.1.2. The situation of symbolic studies in Vietnam
The study of symbols in Vietnam follows two main trends,
which are the translation of foreign research projects and the
application of translated theory to study symbols in each field of
social life.
In terms of translation and theoretical introduction, there are
some notable works as follows: 1 / From psychoanalysis, mainly
works of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung such as: totem and taboo (
Translation by Doan Van Chuc), Subconscious exploration
(translated by Vu Dinh Luu); publications referring to symbols in
relation to spiritual culture, art, love, national character by Do Lai
Thuy et al; 2 / From linguistic, cultural semantics to Iu's cultural
semantics. M. Lotman (1922-1993) by the authors La Nguyen, Do
Hai Phong, Tran Dinh Su ... The above translation works have
6


theoretical foundation value for the research direction of cultural
symbols and literature in Vietnam.

The study of symbols in literature is also a noticeable research
direction in recent years. Although research activities have also
achieved respectful results, reflecting the great value of the symbolic
world in social life, symbolic research in Vietnam has not yet aimed
at building a specific theoretical system. , an independent symbolic
research department has not been established.
1.1.2. Research Vietnamese historical fictions
Before 1986, the research works on these literary lines were
not much, just short, small articles published in magazines, or there
appeared some general statements about the people reading Trieu
Duong's works Tan Dan Tu, Nguyen Trieu Luat ... The most
significant of the research works on Vietnamese historical fictions
before 1986 is the study of modern Vietnamese fictions by Phan Cu
De.
Since 1986, research activities in historical novels have had a
positive change in the field of translation, as well as criticism. Many
seminars on historical fiction took place. Scientific seminar
"Creation of literature, art on historical topics" (2012), scientific
seminar on researching and teaching historical fictions (2019), or
seminar on Nguyen Xuan Khanh's novels. ..
Besides, there are many research projects on historical novels.
Bui Van Loi's doctoral thesis discusses the appearance and
characteristics of Vietnamese historical fictions from the early years
of the twentieth century to 1945. Thesis on Vietnamese historical
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fictions after 1945 by Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh (by the CAND
Publishing House 2012 edition) is a very meaningful "relay run"
step, continuing the work of Bui Van Loi. The thesis on Vietnamese

historical fictions after 1986 under the narrative perspective of
Nguyen Van Hung is a theoretical work on Vietnamese historical
fictions in the doi moi period. In general, the authors have analyzed
and found important features of the narrative point of view, narrative
structure, and narrative discourse of Vietnamese historical fictions
of this period.
1.2. Theoretical basis of the topic
1.2.1. Icon problem
1.2.1.1. Symbol concept
What is the symbol? According to the cultural semioticist
Iu.Lotman, "the word symbol is one of the most meaningful words
in the system of the sciences of sign". Author J.Chevalier again said
that “The symbol cannot be defined. By its very nature, breaks
predetermined frameworks and aggregates extremes in the same
concept. It is like an arrow that flies but does not fly, stands still but
disappears, obviously but cannot capture ”.
Examining the definitions of symbols from dictionaries, we
find that there are similarities when seeing a symbol as a
representation, an expression for something, apart from it and
different from it. It can be an object, an image, an act, a ritual, a
ritual ... recognized by society as an "idea". It can be considered that
the symbol includes two elements "The Expressed" and "The
Signified".
8


1.2.1.2. Distinguish symbols with some similar forms
Logos: Is to show, to expose noticing something. The object
chosen as the symbol has the meaning relationship "close or
overlapping" with the expressed value.

Symbols: Symbols are construed in two meanings: (1) - a
simple material sign due to a natural relationship or convention, as a
substitute for a more complex reality (writing, chemical symbol );
(2) - which is directly identifiable, allows conclusion of existence or
of authenticity with another associated with it (letter).
Sign: A sign is a very common word in everyday life. It is a
sign to signal something about to happen. The object making the
"sign" is also simply an estimated image, gesture, color ...
Signal: A signal is a word that has a fixed, immutable, and
non-substitution function for anything.
Metaphor: A method of translating the meaning of one to that.
The relationship between the thing / that which is represented and
what is represented is on the basis of similarity.
Metaphor: A variation of a metaphor in which one uses a
concrete, vivid image to denote an idea of human philosophy or a
moral moral lesson, in order to make that representation. become
deep, profound.
1.2.1.3. Symbolic art and symbol art
In literary works, icons and symbols are not parallel nor
completely interdependent but in the symbolic structure of the work.
The origin of the image is built from the artist's subjective iconic
thinking while the origin of the symbol belongs to the culture and
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the community consciousness. If the image often identifies itself
with external values, subtle in which the artistic models next to it,
the symbol has an internal assimilation of values into itself to create
a world that is difficult to distinguish. capture specific.
1.2.2. The issue of historical fiction

1.2.2.1. The concept of historical fiction
As the name implies, the genre of historical fiction has a close
combination between the two elements of history and the novel, the
real material and the reflective characteristics of the linguistic art
form. According to traditional conception, historical fiction is a true
representation of past history. According to modern conception,
historical fiction is historical discourse under the gaze of
democratization and globalization era. The writer writes about
history according to the principle of "retro metal".
We can generalize the perception of historical fiction as
follows: 1) History is the artistic inspiration in the writing process;
2) History is not a castle for the writer to flee from the current
reality but an excuse for the writer to experience, question the
present and the future; 3) The scale and vast coverage of the
problems of reality with a new perception of the era make historical
events and figures closer to contemporary life than historical
science; 4) Artistic fictions are indispensable when writing about
history. Fiction is different from fabricating, rewriting history.
1.2.2.2. Vietnamese contemporary historical fiction
In terms of narrative art: The structure, language, viewpoints,
narrative tone of the historical novel best show the innovation. In
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terms of historical realism: The writers do not hesitate to reinforce
private life and world affairs into historical characters, events and
phenomena. In terms of composition tendencies: Based on the
artistic structure, there will be types of novels based on the causal /
causal structure, novels based on the structure of the protagonist /
villains, novels according to the structure of the chapter, the novel.

post-modern structural theory. Based on the purpose, there will be
main historical novels, teachings, historical-cultural novels. Based
on the properties and functions of reflection, there will be a
tendency for fiction to simulate history and historical fiction.
1.3. The approach of the thesis
The approach of the thesis identifies two basic issues:
historical fiction and symbolic system.
Vietnamese

contemporary

historical

fictions

(the

contemporary concept that both refers to the time of publication and
the method of creation and reception different from before, since
1986) has many tendencies to compose, but the historical-cultural
trend of fiction is the most prominent one. These are the discourses
about history and culture with the sense of the arts of democracy and
integration.
The symbolic system issue also has many different views. We
think that the system of symbols is the set, the system of symbols
with the same origin or the mechanism arising from the ideological,
cultural and belief system of the community.
Chapter 2
NATURAL SYMBOLS
11

IN VIETNAMESE CURRENT HISTORY
2.1. Icons Water, Fire, Earth, Heaven
2.1.1. Water icons and variations
Water is one of the four natural original great models that are
universal in all human cultures. The existential forms of water are
very diverse, all liquid crystals, volatile and condensed.
Expanding the amplitude of symbolic value, with a new
artistic look, writers generalized the characteristics of the water
symbol and variations not only imprinting the victor's heroism but
after each battle, The river bears witness to the tragic tragedy.
Thereby speaking out the voice of resistance to the war, whether
victory or defeat in the military arena is the failure of the war
because of its heavy consequences to mankind.
From the cultural point of view, the symbol of water can be
considered on two completely opposite levels: "Water is a source of
life and a source of death, and has the function of creating and
destroying" [67, p.711]. In Vietnamese contemporary historical
fictions, the novelists unleashed the nature of water with the
meaning of the Maternal consciousness, water and variations
regenerating lives in the most sacred sense, with the meaning of Life
flows, water and variations sometimes lead to death or destruction.
2.1.2. Fire icons and variations
Fire mysteriously exists in nature. Fire both symbolizes
civilization, truth, enlightens, disinfects, revives, proliferates ... and
symbolizes destruction, destruction, burning. It is the fire of thought,

12

wisdom, the fire of spirit, love, the flame of desire, hatred, the flame
of war ...
From its pristine properties, the Vietnamese contemporary
historical novelists lit up the value of fire when interpreting the
hidden corners of history, the aspirations of the soul and human
personality. Fire deepens the inherent physical expressions of
society and people before the time of the rhyme. Fire is both a
symbol of war, hatred, destruction, death and a symbol of belief,
strength, wisdom, enlightenment and rebirth in relation to historical
times and its people.
2.1.3. Earth icons and variations
In the process of movement and development of human
culture, earth symbols were formed at the earliest, and became more
universal and stable than other natural archetype symbols.
In the Vietnamese contemporary historical novel, the symbol
of the land and the symbol of the civilization is enlightened by the
writers in a close, reciprocal relationship. It is a sacred land for startups of saints and mighty dynasties. Land bearing the Mother's mind
- Mother Earth protects, encapsulates and imprints on Dai Viet
culture in order to prevent foreign culture from being imported.
Not only stopping at the original value of land as the residence
and residential land of the people, in Vietnamese contemporary
historical fictions, the value of the land symbol is also the boundary
of thought, power and human heart.
2.1.4. Heaven / God symbol

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The symbol of Heaven in cultures, ideas, and religions seems

to have a similarity in meaning: Heaven is a direct manifestation of
the transcendent, the powerful, the eternal, the divine: the that no
other creature on the face of the earth can take.
Vietnamese contemporary historical novelists have exploited
and clarified the relationship God - the supreme ruler of all species
and King - Thien Tu, the supreme ruler of all peoples as well as
social value. of these interrelated icons. Heaven here interconnected
"used to refer to the absolute of human ambitions, as the perfect
result of searching, as where the human spirit can be perfected, like
heaven. is the spirit of the world ”[36, pp.959-960] as the ruler is the
spirit of the people.
The great karma of the intelligent army, if it is for the people,
is always witnessed and supported by God. On the contrary, their
great karma is not sustainable if they do not properly arrange their
relationship with the people. In the sense of looking for history, the
small snowmen appreciate the will of Heaven and the People of the
People harmonious in all the social policies of the god as a message
to all strata of contemporary social life. great.
2.2. Mode of tectonics of the natural system of symbols in
Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions
2.2.1. The transformation expands the symbol value
amplitude
In the writer's artistic thought, every image or image tends to
become an artistic icon when it meets all the polyglot, ancient and
mysterious conditions. Therefore, primitive archetypes cannot be
14


dead symbols, their values are always enriched when crossing the
limits of each cultural and ideological region. In particular, in

artwork, writers consciously purify and transform value codes to
vivid symbols and consistent with the artistic thinking of the era.
Therefore, the human notion of creating the symbolic world and the
symbolic world continues to be purified through the artist's mindset
to participate in the artistic creation process and have new vitality.
In many works (Gioi Thieu, Ho Quy Ly, Mau Thuong thousand ...),
the natural world is present as an artistic language unit that directly
participates in building text structure and character character. In the
relationship with the belief-religious symbol system, the natural
symbolic system is the bridge connecting the real world with the
spiritual world, between the gods and supernatural forces.
2.2.2. Tect a natural symbol system from an ecological
perspective
From the cultural life of the ethnic people to the philosophical
life, the natural world in relation to society and human beings are
always linked, illuminated and reflected on each other. The way to
construct a natural symbolic system in Vietnamese contemporary
historical fictions is also derived from the perception and
understanding of nature and the relationships between nature and
society, and humans follow the lens of art. contemporary history
novels. From the intrinsic values with cultural consciousness, the
writers winged the natural symbolic system of the beauty of the
word art to express thoughts, thoughts, deeply immersed in your
inner being. pre-time people, living circumstances.
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Chapter 3
HUMAN SYMBOLS
IN VIETNAMESE CURRENT HISTORY

3.1. The symbols of the military, martyrs and women
martyrs
3.1.1. The emblem of minh binh
The military intelligence and the national hero become a
cultural and social symbol because when it comes to them, people
often associate ideal personality types in belief and worship. When
writing about the hero, the national hero, the writers uphold the
value of the ideology of the people - respect for the people - for the
people, the thought of honoring - the referee - using talent in the
way of leading and building the country of the government
apparatus, of those in power.
The intelligent hero and national hero in the mind of the
Vietnamese people is not the supernatural messiah, but the person,
the subject of the society, talented in martial arts, forgiving the
virtue of guiding the nation forward. Better advance. These great
men can be sanctified, mythized by the people, cultivate the cult of
worship, they become a symbol of humanity in the people's
perception. They became a symbol of the ability to meet the Talent Mind - Range of the leader in the work of national construction in
the national history.
3.1.3. Female paralysis symbol
Anh thu, female paralysis is the imaginary symbol referring to
the women who died for the country. Considering this aspect,
16


Princess An Tu, Princess Huyen Tran, Princess Ngoc Han and many
other maids are martyrs, symbolizing the sacrifice of the Private for
the Common. They become immortal in the world.
However, under the view of Vietnamese contemporary
historical novelists, the female paralysis is also a symbol of the

floating status of a woman in society. This is completely different
from the image of a woman filled with direct aspirations to
contribute and participate in the struggle for national liberation in
Vietnamese historical fictions from the early twentieth century to
1945.
It can be seen that each individual existing in society is both a
crystallized product of a culture and a witness to the history of many
changes. It is impossible to say all the calamities in a blessed life
with words. Human life is very beautiful and intelligent, blessed but
illustrative. This is the true value that writers aim at when writing
about the beauty and paralysis of women.
3.2. Methods of constructing the human symbol system in
Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions
3.2.1. Legendary pen
The mythical pen is that the writer organizes the legendary
entities as a mode of expression according to the aesthetic code of
the word art aimed at a certain artistic object.
In Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions, writers use
model myths or create new ones into "legendary writing styles" in
order to renew the aspect of technological innovation, making the
world represent The statue is more shimmering, rich in expression.
17


Besides, the writers also use the use of dream motip, incarnation
motip to create magical colors for symbols. The motip is the source
of the structure of the celestial stories while increasing the
mysticism and mythical nuances of the humanoid symbols.
In short, as an artistic method, turning reality into a myth without
losing authenticity, the legendary magician has breathed new life

into the humanoid symbols that make the symbols. fanciful, rich in
expressive value.
3.2.2. Pen spiritual solution, non-psychic
If the mythical and epic magic pens create a sacred symbol,
then the sacred and dehumanizing method of writing creates the
symbol of everyday life. This is a different feature when writing
about historical figures in Vietnamese historical fictions before 1986
and after 1986.
The way to create many narrative points of view to shine on
the central character is the way the writer sends the mythical
intentions, de-emphasize but installs the community's consciousness
to bring the symbol to life, more authentic than before history.
The combination of the sacred and the ordinary life is a
feature of Vietnamese contemporary historical fiction. Historical
images are deeply exploited in the inner perspective. They question
history in order to defend the legitimacy of their historical action.
But sometimes they question history because they recognize the
loneliness in their hearts when history chooses them as great people
and deprives them of a man's natural being.

18


The fact that the writers let the historical figures question the
times and themselves make those very outstanding people bring the
beauty of their private life, they become closer and more simple.
That is the beauty in itself that the history of the era has washed
away, obscured, and is less mentioned in the composition of the
previous period.
Chapter 4

COMMUNITY CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
IN VIETNAMESE CURRENT HISTORY
4.1. Symbols of belief, religion, festival
4.1.1. Religious icon Model
The Maternalism of the Vietnamese is first and foremost a
community belief that shows a cult of nature that progresses as an
inevitable stage of human development in general. The magical
vitality of the national culture - Mother's mind and Mother worship
beliefs are explained by the writers through the feminine images of
the women. It is “The woman is the Mother, the Mother - the
woman is the Land of the Land. The woman is a culture ”[78, p.
806]. It seems that every man at least belongs to some woman, then
is fascinated by them, dominated by them, and is reborn. Mother is
the soul of the earth. It is the land that makes many invaders of Dai
Viet think that they are a lord who cannot boast and fear revenge.
This is the meaning of praising the indigenous culture, at the same
time responding to cultural rape from other cultures when imported
into Vietnam.

19


Motherhood with the values of local knowledge that is
included in it is the spiritual life, cultural space, and pure
Vietnamese cultural practice that the writers reappeared and deeply
depicted in the works to convey. about the flexibility of the national
culture in the current integration and development period, is the root
that constitutes the nature of the society, constitutes the quality of
each person in the new era.
4.1.2. Buddhist religious symbols

Buddhism is a religion deeply rooted in the cultural life of the
Vietnamese people. Analyzing the values of Buddhism from the
point of view of cultural and artistic symbols, we summarize the
general meanings of the individual symbols such as village temples,
Buddhist land, karma, and compassion. discharge ... in connection
with life, the fate of humanoid icons - characters that make icons in
works of art.
In the mind of the Vietnamese, "Buddha, master of both
secular and spiritual ... To be correct, Buddha unites sentient beings
..." [40, p. 98]. Therefore, people come to Buddha not to run away
from life, find a place of salvation, but to purify their souls to be
more pure and noble.
If Confucianism with the theory of world rule is the positive
part of society, then Buddhism is the negative part of the
Vietnamese people's soul. "Buddhism keeps the sacred part, the
sunken part, the quiet and profound part of the mountains and
rivers" [77, p.495]. Vietnamese contemporary history fictions
highlight the compassionate and compassionate heart of Buddhism
20


as a message calling on the world to return to its own mind to be
free of suffering. Buddhism - the symbol of liberation and
tranquility of conscience. But Buddhism and the temples are not
places where fear, insecurity because of greed is endless whether it
is god or people.
4.1.3. Festive icon
Vietnamese folk festivals and activities are very diverse and
plentiful, depending on people's wishes. There are festivals
associated with the profession such as the landowning ceremony, the

rain praying ceremony, the forest opening ceremony, the festival
celebrating the good season; there are festivals associated with
historical figures, warriors, national heroes sanctified by the people,
such as the Ancient Council, the Dong Quan Association, the Dong
Da Association, the celebration of the new king's throne, Army
Assembly, swear association ... All these festivals have implied
cultural values, only all spiritual activities, will of Dai Viet resident
community.
In Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions, Dai Viet folk
festivals can be preserved intact, but sometimes they are changed in
form, meaning variation according to the writer's artistic sense. Each
writer writes about the festival with his or her own reflection.
However, the common point we can easily see is that the writers
writing about festivals when they are aware that those cultural
values are disappearing before the current flow, thereby ringing
alarm bells. Festival organization is taking place in contemporary
life. Is it a faith towards national solidarity or is it a project or plan
21


designed for material gain? There will be no more true meaning
when breaking community, imposing personal interests on festivals
is a profound message needing full awareness that the writer aims at
contemporary people.
4.2. The mode of tectonic system of community cultural
symbols in Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions
4.2.1. The spatial strata with the ability to create community
cultural symbols
In the Vietnamese contemporary historical fictions, the space of
the cultural symbol system is not simply the physical space, is the

space, is the place, the regional boundary is simply attached to the
ethnic group. but that is historical space, culture, psychological space.
The spatial strata from mundane living space to surreal space
are described vividly by the writer, imprinting the traditional
Vietnamese culture, reflecting the core values of the spiritual and
social life. , associated with each different cultural symbol.
The existence of these two forms in this space in contemporary
Vietnamese historical fictions as two fundamental aspects that are
both unified and opposite each other, illuminating, and deepening
understanding of the essence of social life and children people. While
the concentrated manifestation of mundane space is associated with
historical events, folklore activities such as the community glue, the
manifestation of surreal, fanciful space in contemporary historical
fictions. Dai Vietnam is associated with the spiritual cultural life,
spirituality and transcendence, which is the environment for the
existence of cultural symbols, spiritual beliefs.
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