- Education was a vital role in Vietnamese culture
- Scholars placed at the top of society
- Men who had no noble blood could only wish to gain status through intense studying
Social System
Five relationships in social system
- Subject to ruler
- Son to father
- Wife to husband
- Younger brother to older brother
- Mutual respect between friends
Basis of education and occupation divided into 4 groups
· Scholar was eligible for appointment and was the best route to power, status and wealth · Emperor, his family and scholars- ruling class · Commoners permitted to apply for examinations · Status of scholar-not inherited · Education- key to moving up in rank
ANIMISM · “People’s religion” · The religion of the Montagnards · Believe in spirits, both of dead people and inanimate objects · Believe the spirit lives long after the possessor dies · Spirit must be cared for properly else it will get angry · Believe spirits possess every trait known to man · Happy, good people= happy spirits · Violent deaths= bad spirits · Sometimes blood sacrifices are made · Accompanied by incantations and prayers · Believed spirits foretold future good and evil · Dog sneezing at wedding- not wise to marry · Saw death and sickness as spirit related · Took huge measure to protect children from spirits · Boys were highly regarded · If the became ill, family would dress them like a girl to deceive spirit · Dead must be properly buried · Mirrors placed in front of doors to frighten spirits away · Red paper- represented god of threshold- placed on door posts to scare spirits · Barriers placed along pathways
Taoism
Began in china
Rituals, ceremonies and worship used to attune man to the universe
Appeared as the use of witchcraft, magic, fortune-telling and astrology in worship
Believed God’s spirit can animate inanimate objects
Believe that:
- The universe, including the nature of the physical and spiritual worlds, is supreme.
- For every positive there is an opposing negative factor.
- All these factors exert influence on all facets of the Taoist's life.
- The positive and negative factors are as they are and cannot be changed
- The universe is controlled by a mystical, almost mythical supreme being from whom occasional mandates come to rulers or priests.
- The elements-metal, wood, water, fire, and earth-form the basis for the religious rites of Taoism.
Worship the Emperor Jade
Confucianism
Came from China
Were taught the following
Nhan-love and humility.
2. Nghia-right actions in expressing love and humanity.
3. Le-observation of the rites or rules of ceremony and courtesy.
4. Tri-the duty to be educated.
5. Tin-self-confidence and fidelity towards others.
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Aristocrat/ commoners
- Education was a vital role in Vietnamese culture- Scholars placed at the top of society
- Men who had no noble blood could only wish to gain status through intense studying
Social System
- Five relationships in social system
- Subject to ruler- Son to father
- Wife to husband
- Younger brother to older brother
- Mutual respect between friends
- Basis of education and occupation divided into 4 groups
- Scholars- officials or mandarins- Farmers
- Artisans
- Merchants
· Scholar was eligible for appointment and was the best route to power, status and wealth
· Emperor, his family and scholars- ruling class
· Commoners permitted to apply for examinations
· Status of scholar-not inherited
· Education- key to moving up in rank
http://countrystudies.us/vietnam/38.htm
Religion
ANIMISM· “People’s religion”
· The religion of the Montagnards
· Believe in spirits, both of dead people and inanimate objects
· Believe the spirit lives long after the possessor dies
· Spirit must be cared for properly else it will get angry
· Believe spirits possess every trait known to man
· Happy, good people= happy spirits
· Violent deaths= bad spirits
· Sometimes blood sacrifices are made
· Accompanied by incantations and prayers
· Believed spirits foretold future good and evil
· Dog sneezing at wedding- not wise to marry
· Saw death and sickness as spirit related
· Took huge measure to protect children from spirits
· Boys were highly regarded
· If the became ill, family would dress them like a girl to deceive spirit
· Dead must be properly buried
· Mirrors placed in front of doors to frighten spirits away
· Red paper- represented god of threshold- placed on door posts to scare spirits
· Barriers placed along pathways
Taoism
- Began in china
- Rituals, ceremonies and worship used to attune man to the universe
- Appeared as the use of witchcraft, magic, fortune-telling and astrology in worship
- Believed God’s spirit can animate inanimate objects
- Believe that:
- The universe, including the nature of the physical and spiritual worlds, is supreme.- For every positive there is an opposing negative factor.
- All these factors exert influence on all facets of the Taoist's life.
- The positive and negative factors are as they are and cannot be changed
- The universe is controlled by a mystical, almost mythical supreme being from whom occasional mandates come to rulers or priests.
- The elements-metal, wood, water, fire, and earth-form the basis for the religious rites of Taoism.
Confucianism
2. Nghia-right actions in expressing love and humanity.
3. Le-observation of the rites or rules of ceremony and courtesy.
4. Tri-the duty to be educated.
5. Tin-self-confidence and fidelity towards others.
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/religions.htm#tao
Buddhism
http://www.phatviet.com/pgvn/Buddhisminvietnam.htm