GENIES IN VIETNAMESE LEGEND FROM THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The genie characters in Vietnamese legends are a topic that attracts many scientists, especially in studying genie characters from the historical-cultural perspective because Vietnamese folk legends are mostly associated with historical stories and national heroes. Moreover, the study of genie characters in the integration  between the study of legend and history is the source of feelings of honor, praise and nationalpride. From this perspective, it shows that the genie characters are historicized, deified, worshiped, and the legends about genies become documents for national history. Folk festivals have become vivid symbols of genies’s beliefs. This signifies the particularly important position of the genies in the legend as well as in theprocess of national history and also in the minds of Vietnamese people for a long time.