The moon, the sun, and stars in Vietnamese folk songs

Abstract

The article is devoted to astral imagery in Vietnamese folk poetry. Author of the study analyzes folk songs (ca dao) about the Moon, the Sun, stars and constellations, as well as about mythical characters associated with astral myths. Folk songs are cited in Vietnamese language and accompanied by a Russian translation made by the author of the research. Moon imagery is widely represented in Vietnamese folk poetry, as the Moon is associated with the time when love songs are sung. There are both autochthonous Vietnamese and Chinese images. Some of the images of the Chinese origin are very popular as God of marriage Nguyet Lao, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Other Sinitic images as stars Sam and Thuong are rare and rather literary. There are also autochthonous images in folk poetry, associated with Vietnamese mythology, with the legends of Cuoi, who lives on the Moon, with the legend of two brothers who turned into the Morning and Evening Stars.