#Immortal Fairy Âu Cơ. Lạc | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

auco · 9 months

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━━━ 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐒: 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. the skies and earth are one in the same, fused in an endless void of creation, dismantlement, and erasure as if repeating the day again and again. there is no sun to shine down upon the lands that are mere fragments of rubble scattering the sky alongside stars. there is no order where there is a dark core of unending entropy. the earth is nothing but a vacuum cursed to the same fate. In the midst of this endless cycle of genesis births a creature in the chaos: THẦN TRỤ TRỜI, he who will be revered by every being of his creation as the first ever god of this world. ice forms where he stands, mountains shifting with every step as if rearranging this planet with his very being. even when the land and heavens converge and disperse, he continues his work to build a pillar that towers into the sky; every rock and rubble he brings to push the pillar higher and higher in turn domes the sky until it stretches deep into the clouds.

and he erects it to push the ceiling towards the stars that look down at his work, closer still until the rays peer through the clouds, a sun in the barren waste. it is only then that the earth and sky separate from one another, distinguishing the gods in heaven above from the world below: satisfied with his work, a broad hand strikes at the pillar to shatter it. its heavenly force keeps the sky and land separated, but the physical pillar has long since been destroyed. the shards scatter across the land to carve valleys where they drag, mountains where they land, mounds and hills and plains forming with the debris. presented with a new playground, the gods in heaven above follow suit to fill this earth with their own creations, most notably ÂU CƠ and LẠC LONG QUÂN.

the two are known to be the creators of humanity. âu cơ was an immortal fairy of the mountains whose gift in healing was often used to treat the creatures on earth. she fell in love with lạc long quân, the dragon king of the shores who protected the inhabitants' newly given life on earth from the demons who were also born from the endless void that used to consume the lands. together, they wed and the goddess bore an egg sac that birthed 100 children. however, despite their love for one another, neither could resist the pull that their homes had on them. Their hearts yearned to return to the mountains and oceans respectfully, so they parted ways, taking 50 of their children with them. âu cơ raised her children in the snowy peaks and they grew to be wise leaders of the land who in turn rejoined with lạc long quân whose children rose to be noble protectors of the people from the beasts and ghosts that plagued the land.

#━━ ❛ 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 : info.#a very long overdue post #just to lay some groundwork for the following info that i'll be dropping soon and to build a bit of context!!!

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legend-collection · 2 years

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Vietnamese Dragon

According to an ancient origin myth, the Vietnamese people are descended from a dragon and a fairy. The dragon was symbolic of bringing rain, essential for agriculture. It represents the emperor, the prosperity and power of the nation. Similar to the Chinese dragon, the Vietnamese dragon is the symbol of yang, representing the universe, life, existence, and growth.

Lạc Long Quân, king of the dragonkind living near the Đông sea, married a fairy goddess, Âu Cơ who was the daughter of the birdkind emperor Đế Lai, descendant of Thần Nông. Âu Cơ bore 100 eggs, which hatched into 100 sons. The first-born son became the king of Lạc Việt, the first dynasty of Vietnam, and proclaimed himself Emperor Hùng Vương. The First was followed by Hùng Vương The Second, Hùng Vương The Third and so on, through 18 reigns. This is the origin of the Vietnamese proverb: "Con Rồng, cháu Tiên" ("Children of Dragon, Grandchildren of Immortal Sages").

The Vietnamese dragon is the combined image of crocodile, snake, cat, rat and bird. Historically, the Vietnamese people lived near rivers, so they venerated crocodiles as "Giao Long", the first kind of Vietnamese dragon.

There are some kinds of dragons found on archaeological objects. One group is that of the crocodile-dragons, with the head of a crocodile and the body of a snake. The cat-dragon excavated on a glazed terracotta piece in Bắc Ninh has some features of Đại Việt period dragon: it does not have a crocodile head, its head is shorter and it has a long neck, its wing and backfin are long lines, and its whiskers and fur are found in the Đại Việt dragon image.

Lý Dynasty (1010–1225): The Lý Dynasty is the dynasty which laid the foundation of Vietnamese feudal culture. Buddhism was widespread and Văn Miếu, the nation's first university, was created. The slender, flowing dragon of this period represents the vassal kingdom.

These dragons rounded bodies curve lithely, in a long sinuous shape, tapering gradually to the tail. The body has 12 sections, symbolizing 12 months in the year. On the dragon's back are small, uninterrupted, regular fins. The head, held high, is in proportion with the body, and has a long mane, beard, prominent eyes, crest on nose (pointing forwards), but no horns. The legs are small and thin, and usually 3-toed. The jaw is opened wide, with a long, thin tongue; the dragons always keep a châu (gem/jewel) in their mouths (a symbol of humanity, nobility and knowledge). These dragons are able to change the weather, and are responsible for crops.

Trần Dynasty (1225–1400): The Trần Dynasty dragon was similar to that of the Lý Dynasty but looked more rugged. The Trần dragon had new details: arms and horns. Its fiery crest became shorter. Its slightly curved body became fat and smaller toward the tail. There are many kinds of tail (straight and pointed tail, spiral tail) as well as many kinds of scale (a regular half-flower scale, slightly curved scale).

The Trần dragon symbolized the martial arts, because the Trần kings were descended from a mandarin commander. The Trần era was also marked by a series of devastating invasions by the Mongol followed by repeated incursions by Champa.

Lê-Mạc Dynasty: In this period, the Vietnamese dragon's image was evolved into typical form of Vietnam's dragons. Differing from those of the previous dynasty, dragons in this age are not only represented in a curved posture among clouds but also in others. These dragons were majestic, with lion-heads. Instead of a fiery crest, they have a large nose. Their bodies only curve in two sections. Their feet have five sharp claws.

The dragon form of Nguyễn dynasty is the typical dragon of Vietnamese. The dragon is represented with a spiral tail and a long fiery sword-fin. Its head and eyes are large. It has stag horns, a lion's nose, exposed canine teeth, regular flash scale, curved whiskers. Images of the Dragon of the emperor have 5 claws, was also decorated on the crown-prince's gown in motif of "dragon's face" with 4 claws. Dragons of Nguyễn dynasty represent the powerful southern emperors with glory and honor.

Some proverbs and sayings mention dragons but imply something else:

"Rồng gặp mây": "Like dragons greeting clouds" – favorable conditions.

"Đầu rồng, đuôi tôm": "A dragon's head but a shrimp's tail" – something which starts well but ends badly.

"Rồng bay, phượng múa": "The dragon flies and the phoenix dances!" – Used to praise someone's calligraphy who writes Chinese ideograms well.

"Rồng đến nhà tôm": "The dragon visits the shrimp's house" – A saying used to dictate behavior between a host and their guest: the host must portray themselves like a humble shrimp and their guest like a noble dragon.

"Ăn như rồng cuốn, nói như rồng leo, làm như mèo mửa": "You consume like a coiled dragon, you talk like a climbing dragon, but your work is like cat's vomit" – A criticism of someone who talks the talk, but does not walk the walk.

Pic by Steve Goad

#dragon #vietnam #asia

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twistytwine · 4 years

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FantaViet Universe (Unnamed): Worldbuilding #1

In my unnamed FantaViet Universe, Vietnam is structured to be ruled by three empires. Two of the empires take up most of the land, and a third empire must deal with the land that is poor and unfit for farming. This empire is unsuccessful and has high poverty, to the point where the most “rich” of wealth is the equivalent of a middle class citizen’s.

The three empires are the following:

Cây Của Vàng - Translated into English as “Tree of Gold,” Cây Của Vàng is a vast empire that is known for its supreme wealth and oppressively dominating government. Those who speak against the government are endangered, and so are their families; they will be imprisoned, deprived of any water or food. In extreme cases, they will be beheaded publicly. The empire’s flag is that of its name: a tree with golden leaves over a red background.

2% of the rich make up the empire’s population (royalty, nobles, government officials); 50% of the middle class, both high and low, make up the empire’s population (bakers, artisans, writers, public authorities, plantation owners, etc.) ; 48% of the lower class make up the empire’s population (indentured servants, slaves, musicians, etc.). The main Vietnamese dialects spoken in the empire are Hanoi and Hue.

The majority of the empire’s geography is surrounded by swampy marshlands and rich soil, so agriculture is the main working system the empire depends on. Crops grown there include rice, cassava, and sugarcane. They make plenty of money off of sugarcane due to a popular export that makes for powerful potions that relive nausea and migraines. The swampy marshlands attract mosquitoes, so many people living there (usually lower middle class to lower class) may contract diseases.

Those who live in swamps and similar build stilt houses to live in, which are houses made of wood and bamboo that sit on stilts above ground level as to avoid the water and floods, in which they’ll use coracles, small, basket-shaped lightweight boats to cross the water. Those who work on plantations/live in the far country will not be greeted by swamps and marshes, but instead moist lands and grassy fields where hills seem to stretch for miles, and they live in traditionally built wooden houses that are small but make for just enough room for small families. Those who are rich only make up those who live in the Golden Palace, in which they have endless luxuries and food to feast off of.

Magic cannot be used in this empire unless approved by the government. Those in the government can use magic however they like, if they do use it, for they view themselves as the most wise and powerful.

The Hồng Ngọc Empire - Translated into English as “the Ruby Empire” (in some other translations, “the Carbuncle Empire”), the Hồng Ngọc Empire is very popular for tourist attractions. The empire is known for its extravagant and dramatic arts, including theater and its Lion-Dragon dances, where people will dress up in Lion/Dragon costumes and dance to aggressive and flashy music. A famous story told in theater is Âu Cơ, where an immortal mountain fairy married Lạc Long Quân, an old Vietnamese emperor. Together, they bored an egg sac containing 100 babies -- 50 went to live with the fairy, and the other half to live with the emperor. These are believed to be the ancestors of Vietnam. Because of this, the people of Hồng Ngọc use magic in everyday life, even for simple things such as shows and tourist exhibits.

The empire’s flag is of a ruby gem over a black background.

32% of the rich make up the empire’s population; 57% of the middle class make up the empire’s population; 11% of the lower class make up the empire’s population. The main Vietnamese dialects spoken here are Saigon and Hue, and English is also a secondary language often spoken, alongside European languages such as French and Dutch.

The majority of the empire’s geography is filled with warm summers and mild winters, and it has several vast mountains and places for good farming. Agriculture is effective here, but not as effective as artisan work and craftsmanship. The empire is popular for its products and architecture that is so well-designed that people come from all over the world just to see its work. Of course, the products are based in entertainment, such as fireworks and theater props. They are also bought for everyday use; one considers a bowl from Hồng Ngọc to be blessed with good luck due to how skilled the craftspeople are.

The empire is built in vast towns and even cities. Not many natural disasters occur here besides tornadoes and occasional rainstorms, but they aren’t enough to damage buildings in a devastating way. As the architects are skilled, they aren’t just powerful in intricate and beautiful designs, but structures to keep people safe. People say that every corner you turn, you’ll find a restaurant waiting for you, so not many people who can afford it go hungry. Those will little money can stop by food stands and cheaper little shops for a simple small bowl of rice, soup, or half a sandwich.

Magic is most used in this empire by just about anybody, as long as they don’t break any laws, such as the obvious: hurting people with magic or committing other crimes with it.

The Place By The Sea - This empire is unnamed, but many people call it some variation of “The Place By The Sea” or “The Poor Pirates.” The people who live here aren’t actually pirates, but they do sail quite a bit. It is said that spirits live within the creatures near the ocean, specifically fish called Ong fish, which are usually large fish such as whales and dolphins. The sea god Ca Ong is believed to roam the waters surrounding The Place By The Sea in the form of a killer whale. The people of this empire base everyday life on water.

The entirety of this empire’s population is made up of lower middle class to poor people. There are no rich people present here, and those who are rich who aim to enter the empire are forbidden. There are several different Vietnamese dialects spoken here, including Hanoi, Saigon, and Hue. The population itself is very small, making up only a quarter of the Hồng Ngọc Empire.

The empire’s geography is scattered with forests that are too vast and populous to be properly cleared for agriculture, and the soil itself is poor, anyway. Mountains brutally obliterate much of the land, making travel incredibly difficult. The summers are very mild, but the winters are long and painful. Not much freshwater is available besides a few small rivers, but they have found ways to convert saltwater into freshwater.

The people of this empire depend entirely on oceanic work. They do not have a proper economy; they all band together for survival and help out one another. They also do not have a government, which makes one wonder why it’s called an empire in the first place. Their leader is called “The Empress Of The Waves,” where she’s the most skilled in the waters. She’s also an incredibly fast swimmer and is most familiar with communication with oceanic creatures.

Some people use boats to travel from place to place, but the majority of the population actually rides whales. The whales that make up the empire’s ocean are grey whales and killer whales. The people here use an immense amount of magic in their everyday lives, and it is said that despite their conditions, their magic is extraordinarily powerful, strong enough to keep everyone warm in the winter and to supply them with food from the ocean that is fruitful and healthy.

The empire’s architecture is dependent on the forest and shores. Many people build tree houses and little huts made out of wood, and others may bring these huts to the shores. Some may have no homes at all, and they’ll simply rest in the trees or on the beach, using little mats as a bed. The people here feed on crabs, shrimp, fish (sardines and mackerel), and even some bugs they can get their hands on.

#twisty's characters #worldbuilding #ask to tag #cay cua vang #the place by the sea #the hong ngoc empire #long post #i'm developing a magic system too #fantaviet

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muonset-blog · 5 years

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this post is in accordance with the legend of the dragon lord / dragon and fairy / long quan and au co on the formation of vietnam as a nation

king lạc long quân ( whether he’s a king or a god varies depending on regional telling ) was born as the son of a mountain god and a water dragon. princess âu cơ ( some stories call her a fairy, others depict her as a chinese immortal from the mountains ) came to his kingdom to explore and found lạc long quân instead. the two fell in love, got married, and she bore him 100 eggs, out of which 100 children were born. they soon established a nation that stretched from southern china to northern indonesia.

however, the king and the princess became convinced that their different origins would ultimately make them unhappy, so they separated. âu cơ took 50 of the sons with her back into the mountains while lạc long quân took the other 50 sons and ruled over the lowlands. After the king died, his eldest son, hùng vương established the hung dynasty which resulted in his current acknowledgment as vietnam’s first true king as well as leader of its first true dynasty.

the legend symbolizes the importance of uniting the two main geographic and cultural areas of vietnam -- the mountains ( representing the north ) and lowlands ( representing the south ) in forming one united country. it is a theme that gets played out repeatedly in vietnam's history and is also symbolized by the spelling of "Viet Nam" as two words, rather than one. spelling it using two words has a long tradition and it wasn't until vietnam was colonized by france that its name was shortened to one word.

#worldbuilding.#big chin hands #idk how far back i wanna take the world's setting but #might as well have this in case bc it's important anyways #obviously this is VERY shortened but dhfddsjfksjfk

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