Ông Táo (翁灶) also known as Táo Quân (灶君, Mandarin Táo), Táo Vương (灶王), Thần Bếp (神灶), Vua Bếp (𢂜灶) or the Kitchen god is regarded in Vietnamese culture as the advocate of the Vietnamese family with the gods and the emissary between heaven lớn earth.
Mythology[edit]
A long time ago, there was a couple, Trọng Cao and his wife Thị Nhi who were married for many years but had no children. One day, they quarreled over some trivial matter, and the husband, in a fit of anger, beat and threw his wife out of their trang chủ. Although Thị Nhi still loved her husband, she had no choice but lớn go away. Thị Nhi went far away and met a very kind man called Phạm Lang. He married her and he loved Thị Nhi very much. Their life was happy and peaceful but Thị Nhi could not forget her first love. As for Trọng Cao, he had been filled with remorse from the day he sent his wife away. He waited, and waited hopelessly for his wife’s return. Eventually, he decided lớn mix out from his trang chủ lớn tìm kiếm for Thị Nhi. He traveled far and wide, but he could not find his wife. His food ran out and he had lớn beg for his meals. One day, starving and thirsty, he knocked on the door of a house lớn ask for food. He was shocked when he recognized his former wife. The sudden appearance of Trọng Cao deeply moved Thị Nhi, and she invited him inside and gave him a good meal. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Phạm Lang returning. The thought of being discovered with her former husband sent Thị Nhi into a panic. She hid Trọng Cao under a stack of straw. Unfortunately, Phạm Lang mix fire lớn the straw because he needed ashes lớn fertilize his field. As the flames spread out, Trọng Cao accepted his fate lớn be burnt lớn death lớn protect Thị Nhi’s virtue. Thị Nhi was distraught because her love for Trong Cao had caused his death. Thị Nhi could neither save Trọng Cao from the fire nor tell her husband. She had no choice but lớn throw herself into the flames. Phạm Lang could not understand why his wife killed herself. Filled with sorrow, he jumped into the burning fire and died with his loving wife. Ngọc Hoàng in the heavens knew the sad story. He was sánh moved by their devotion and deep love that he decided lớn help them lớn live together forever. Using his magic, he changed them into the three hearthstones around the cooking fire, where they became Kitchen Gods. Since that time, the three Táo Quân have been responsible for taking care of all household affairs. Each year, on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, the Táo Quân leave the kitchen, they are seen off by the owner of the house, and ride on a carp lớn the heavens lớn give a report on each family’s doings. Then they return on the Eve of the first day of the Lunar year.[1][2]
Description[edit]
In Vietnamese culture, the Vietnamese New Year (Tết) is a time lớn make a new start. Children get red envelopes with money inside, known as "lì xì" (lee-see, 利市) in Vietnamese, as gifts for good luck in the coming year. Vietnamese families prepare their houses for the coming of a prosperous new year by cleaning up and polishing their silver. It is during this cultural sự kiện that Ông Táo comes in lớn serve as the Kitchen God for Vietnamese families. As the old year ends, he goes lớn heaven lớn discuss the family's situation with the Ngọc Hoàng, the Heavenly lord.
Tradition has it that the Kitchen God is too poor lớn buy new clothes, and sánh he simply wears a long robe and shorts. Other accounts say that because he was in such a hurry lớn go back lớn earth, he forgot lớn put his trousers over his shorts before leaving heaven.
Xem thêm: 12 cung hoàng đạo là ai trong chien binh am nhac
Due lớn his presence in Vietnamese culture, Ông Táo is a prominent character in many folk plays. Considering his position as a messenger from heaven, the writers often depict the living conditions, problems, and solutions that need lớn be addressed by a family, lớn the audience.
Vietnamese people regard Ông Táo as a family thành viên, and various prayers and offerings are brought lớn him at the family altar.
The work[edit]
The three people are collectively known as Táo Quân (full name is Đông Trù Tư Mệnh Táo Phủ Thần Quân (東廚司命灶府神君), but each holds one job:
- Phạm Lang is “Thổ Công” (the God of Kitchen who looks after cooking job)
- Trọng Cao is “Thổ Địa” (the God of Soil who takes care of family affairs)
- Thị Nhi is “Thổ Kỳ” (the God who sees lớn the matters related lớn shopping in the market)
In popular culture[edit]
Television program
Xem thêm: hat snow là ai
- Gặp nhau cuối năm
See also[edit]
- Zàojūn, Chinese kitchen god
- Jowangsin, Korean kitchen god
- Sanbō-Kōjin, Japanese kitchen god
References[edit]
- ^ Trần Quốc Vượng, Tr. 330.
- ^ Nhất Thanh (Đất Lề Quê Thói, Saigon 1970, tr. 320) chép lịch sử một thời này như sau: Ngày xưa sở hữu nhì phu nhân ck nghèo khổ cho tới nỗi nên quăng quật nhau. Sau, người phu nhân lấy được người ck không giống phong phú. Một hôm cúng, đang được hơ vàng mã ngoài sảnh, vô tình người ck trước vô van nài ăn, phu nhân nhìn thấy, động lòng bi cảm, đem cơm trắng gạo tài sản đi ra mang lại. Người ck sau biết chuyện, người phu nhân bèn lao nguồn vào lô vàng cháy bị tiêu diệt thiêu. Người ck cũ cảm kích nhảy vô lửa bị tiêu diệt theo gót. Chồng sau vì như thế thương, nên cũng nhảy vô nốt. Cả phụ thân đều bị tiêu diệt cháy. Ngọc Hoàng thấy phụ thân người dân có nghĩa, phong thực hiện vua nhà bếp."[1]
Sources[edit]
- Sequence of the Tet Celebration at ThingsAsian.com, Retrieved March 2010.
Bình luận