Thesis Statement: The Vietnamese culture, a rich heritage on many different levels. Through exploring its religion, population, language, education, government, art and economics, an appreciation can be developed for the important contributions Vietnamese people make in American society.
The early inhabitants of the area were Negritos. Some 4,000 years ago Austronesian (Indonesian) migrants from the north were moving into the area that is now North Vietnam. Later, Austro-Asiatic (Mon-Klimer and Maylayo-Polynesian) peoples arrived. Then, about 2500 years ago Viet (Yueh) and Tai peoples moved down from southern China. Out of this mixture of genes, languages, and cultures arose Van Lang, considered to have been the first Vietnamese Kingdom. In mid-third century B.C Van Lang was over run by and incorporated into another state to the north, forming the kingdom of Au Lac. Then Au Lac was incorporated into an even larger and more powerful state: Nam Viet. (Levison 284)
Historically speaking, Vietnam (officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as of 1992) has struggled for independence for at least two thousand years, primarily from China. There have been brief periods when the country has itself played the role of conqueror, but for the most part Vietnam has been a subject of conquest by French and Japanese Imperialists during the 1800s and 1900s and most recently by the United State during the Vietnam War (1959-75).
But it has been communist China who shares its northern border with Vietnam that has had the greatest impact on Vietnam, an influence that is more than obvious in terms of philosophy, art, dress, politics, and most of all religion. As in China, the most widely practiced religion is Buddhism of the Mahyana (Mahyana means "greater vehicle"). Although its popularity is not as great as the form of Buddhism that is practiced in those parts of Burma, about two thirds of all Vietnamese are practicing Buddhists.
The impact China has had on Vietnam is not to be wondered at, for "the Vietnamese suffered through one thousand years of Chinese Colonial Rule" (Castagno 293) and the country has often been referred to as "Little China" (301). In spite of its long relationship and physical closeness to China, Vietnam has for most of historical time "defined itself as China's enemy, a fact memorialized in folk song and legend" (301).
The customs and belief systems prevalent in Vietnam reflect its people's reverence for the spiritual world. "Sometime women feel called to worship a particular spirit or deity and illness is the penalty for failure to make offerings" (Levison 287). Talismans, amulets and ritual support for protector spirit along with specialists in the supernatural, most of which rely on herbal treatments, all reflect not just a belief in the supernatural world but as well as determination to ward off illness.
"Ritual support for the deceased is most crucial" (287), for it is believed that a spirit not honored by a cult becomes and remains unhappy and harmful to others. There is actually a long series of rituals for the deceased, who must be followed, all designed to elevate the dead one to the rank of his/her ancestors. It is believed that the spirits of these ancestors are always present and that they visit the family on death-anniversary celebrations as well as special family occasions. "All major life events are reported verbally to these ancestors" (287). Most households have altars for their ancestors and "small shrines built in honor of various spirits (the earth god, Shakyamuni, the goddess of mercy, the god of wealth, etc.)" (287). Offerings are made to these spirits at least once a month. The most widely observed festival is the Midyear (otherwise known as wandering souls). Christians, of whom there are very few in Vietnam, celebrate Christmas and Easter. "Roman Catholicism was widespread in South Vietnam before the communists' 1975 victory" (Castagno 295); it was at this time that many Christians fled to other lands. Religion is tolerated but not encouraged by the country's Socialist, Communist government.
In 1994 the population of Vietnam was roughly 69 millions. " Ethnic Vietnamese constitute 85-90 percent of this population" (295); even though the Chinese account
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