Whale Worship of Fishermen in Central Vietnam: Case Study From Some Coastal Villages in Thua Thien Hue Province

• Published in: Journal of Global and Area Studies , 8(2) pp. 193 - 207
• Main Author: Nguyen Thang Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 글로벌지역학연구소 30.06.2024
• Subjects: 지역학
• ISSN: 2586-0305; 2586-3797
• DOI: 10.31720/JGA.8.2.10

Whale worship is common in coastal villages in the central and southern regions of Vietnam, including Thừa Thiên Huế. This belief system incorporates traditional customs that are imbued with humanistic values appreciated by the fishing village community, reflecting community cohesion in facing difficulties and challenges during fishing voyages across vast seas, such as encounters with great storms or going too far beyond the scope of navigation. This article introduces the characteristics and values of the belief of whale worship as practiced by the residents who live in coastal Central Vietnam, focusing in particular on the villages of Thai Dương Hạ, An Bằng, Mỹ Lợi, and Diêm Trường in Thừa Thiên Huế Province. The tangible and intangible cultural heritages that are associated with this custom, including the architecture of whale temples/shrines (Lăng Ông), chests used to preserve whale bones, performances of Hò bả trạo, Hò đưa linh singing, ceremonies, rituals, and festivals, etc. represent traditional cultural values that are deeply imbued with the essence of coastal residents. Therefore, these beliefs and traditions should be preserved and promoted by local authorities in the given context. KCI Citation Count: 0