Boi Kieu: A Study of the Folk Transmission of The Tale of Kieu

Abstract

“The Tale of Kieu” (Truyện Kiều) is a highly representative sixty-eight-verse poem in the history of Vietnamese literature. It was adapted by Nguyen Du from “The Tale of Jin Yun Qiao” authored by Qingxin Cairen of the Ming Dynasty, regarded as a gem of Vietnamese literature. The immense influence of “The Tale of Kieu” in Vietnam is attributed to its folklorization. It has been widely disseminated and accepted among the populace, continually giving rise to new forms of expression. Boi Kieu, utilizing "The Tale of Kieu" for divinatory purposes, serves as a typical case of the folklorization of “The Tale of Kieu”. This article will delve into the folk essence of “The Tale of Kieu” using Boi Kieu as a case study to explore the issue of reinterpretation of “The Tale of Kieu” in folk transmission. This article will outline the oral legends of Boi Kieu, broadly categorizing them into three categories: imperial examinations, romantic endeavors, and the fate of nations. The forms of Boi Kieu are also quite diverse. This article summarizes three of the most typical forms of Boi Kieu, namely Confucian Boi Kieu, book-base Boi Kieu, and Buddhist Boi Kieu. Furthermore, this article explores the emergence of the phenomenon of Boi Kieu from both literary and societal perspectives.