Some basic characteristics of ancestor worship beliefs of the vietnamese community in southern vietnam

Abstract

Ancestor worship is a type of folk beliefs which has a profound effect on the mind of Vietnamese people. This is the deeply-rooted tradition of the Vietnamese people with their motto of “when drinking water, remember its source”. Studying ancestor worship beliefs of the Vietnamese community in Southern Vietnam is significant in contributing to a better understanding of the cultural and spiritual life as well as the world view and philosophy of life of the Vietnamese local communities. In this article, the author presents some characteristics of the veneration of the dead in Southern Vietnam: simple, popular, closer to real life; spiritual rather than philosophical; voluntary, spontaneous, less social; influenced by the culture and beliefs of ethnic communities. It is also the foundation of worship procedures observed by local religious sects in Southern Vietnam. This study contributes to the understanding of cultures in the Southern region in particular and in Vietnam in general.

Keywords

• tín ngướng
• thờ cúng tổ tiên
• người việt
• nam bộ