– THE CULTURAL AND LITERARY VALUES OF ANCIENT VIETNAMESE INSCRIBED PLAQUES

Abstract

Inscribed plaques are a special genre of Vietnamese traditional literature and culture, expressing traditional values and wishes to keep and pass them on to future generations. Inscribed plaques are written in ancient Chinese and Vietnamese and can be found in traditional architectural spaces such as communal houses, pagodas, streets, and ancient houses. Currently, despite the fact that the number of people learning Chinese is increasing, most of these students learn modern Chinese. Therefore, it is often difficult for them to understand the traditional cultural and literary values embedded in inscribed plaques. The article reports the results of a qualitative study that collected 680 inscribed plaques, mainly dating from the Nguyen Dynasty in the Northern Delta. The study results show that the ancient inscribed plaques of Vietnam often use three or four words that are often quoted or condensed from idioms and classics in Confucian classics, poetry, and ancient Chinese literature. The content of these inscribed plaques possessesprofound cultural and literary connotations, which can be considered a rich resource for learners and researchers. The study concludes that inscribed plaques play a vital role in the inheritanceand promotion of traditional Vietnamese ethical and cultural values in the new era.