Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Slovenian, Russian, Slovenian, Spanish and Thai.

Âu Lạc (Vietnam) is a nation with a long-standing traditional culture. Aulacese musical heritage is bountiful; since ancient times, many soul-stirring musical instruments have been created with diverse sounds like those of the copper drum, gong, lithophone, bamboo xylophone, cymbals, and panpipe.

In 2003, Elegant Music, a style of Huế royal court music, was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an intangible cultural heritage of the world. Âu Lạc’s music represents the unique features of each region, for example, Quan Họ folksongs in the north, Huế tunes in the central, and modern folk opera in the south. In addition, there are many other forms of music, including hò, lý, ceremonial songs, Aulacese classical theatre, chèo traditional opera, hồ quảng opera, and so on. Indeed, the essence of music is imbued in the hearts of people in this beautiful country, and has been cultivated until this day.

In today’s program, we’re pleased to introduce some of the folk songs and musical genres representative of southern Âu Lạc.

In today’s program, we’re pleased to present some folk songs and musical genres typical of southern Âu Lạc. Among the songs that fully convey the homey and carefree characteristics of simple rural life in the abounding rice fields of the southern region is the song “My Daddy My Mommy.” It was written in the 1950s by composer Văn Lương of Tân Bửu village, Long An province.

A song that is known by heart by the majority of Aulacese people, from young to old, it was sung by Supreme Master Ching Hai and our Association members during an international outdoor gathering in South Korea on May 14, 1998. We now invite you to enjoy the cheerful tune of a southern Aulacese folk song with all the love from Supreme Master Ching Hai.

My mommy goes plowing at dawn My daddy goes plowing at dawn My mommy is a farmer My daddy is a farmer too We all live on a vast wide field

On those nights when the moon is round Thousands of trees rustle in the breeze We come and gather for fun We come and gather for fun Under the shimmering ivory moon

Going to the countryside to visit his beloved, an urban young man has a chance to walk on a bamboo bridge and bask in the wind-wafted scent of ripened rice. Merging with the rhythm of nature, he feels carefree and ever more deeply loving towards the people and his motherland.

“At dawn amid birds’ singing, Sáu visits my home village.”

“Along the blue canal, I stroll with you to get to know the paddies and fields.”

We now invite you to enjoy the southern Aulacese folk song “Sáu Visits the Countryside,” presented by singers Đông Quân and Thy Nhung.

O Sáu! Have you waited long for me?

Not that long! Come! Go with me, but you must walk carefully.

It’s in my nature to be careful.

There! See that? (Ouch!) I told you. At dawn amid birds’ singing, Sáu visits my home village.

Along the blue canal, I stroll with you to get to know the paddies and fields.

I’ve walked the swaying monkey bridge. The bamboo bridge...

What about the bamboo bridge?

The bamboo bridge...

What about the bamboo bridge?

The swaying bamboo bridge is so hard to walk on, my sweet!

Let’s hurry; the rural river is welcoming you.

What dream garden is better than a love hut nestled among green coconut trees?

We haven’t walked together for a very long time. I feel...

How do you feel?

I feel...

How do you feel?

I feel our hearts are buoyantly happy.

O, how elated! Fragrant Lady rice is sweeter when we are together. It’s a fun ferry ride, my love!

Beloved Sáu!

Yes, sweetie?

How I love you! You didn’t mind swimming rivers and crossing mountain passes. Let us bid farewell. Reluctantly seeing you off, I feel lingering affection.

My parents will soon bring a betrothal gift of betel quids.

Boats and canoes will crowd to greet the bride. We’ll join in a happy marriage for life.

Beloved Sáu! (Yes?) Let me ask you this. Have you ever visited the countryside?

Not even once. (Never?) Only now visiting your village do I see for the first time the vast rice fields as beautiful as in a painting. And it’s beautiful like... like you.

You’re... teasing me!

What teasing? Don’t you see? At yonder, egrets soar over rice fields. And there are coconut trees, the river and ferries too. O, it’s home indeed, isn’t it?

Sáu, the city would never have wooden or monkey bridges like in my village, right?

That’s right! Just wading in the mud is lots of fun already, not to mention the harvesting and thrashing of rice. Then there’s rice pounding in the front yard where I can look at...

You’re teasing me!

Life here is very charming. I probably will come live in the countryside. It’s more fun here, sweetie. (Really?) Yes.

At dawn amid birds’ singing, Sáu visits my home village.

Along the blue canal, I stroll with you to get to know the paddies and fields.

I’ve walked the swaying monkey bridge. The bamboo bridge...

What about the bamboo bridge?

The bamboo bridge...

What about the bamboo bridge?

The swaying bamboo bridge is so hard to walk on, my sweet!

Let’s hurry; the rural river is welcoming you.

What dream garden is better than a love hut nestled among green coconut trees?

We haven’t walked together for a very long time. I feel...

How do you feel?

I feel...

How do you feel?

I feel our hearts are buoyantly happy.

O, how elated! Fragrant Lady rice is sweeter when we are together. It’s a fun ferry ride, my love!

Beloved Sáu!

Yes, sweetie?

How I love you! Really? You didn’t mind swimming rivers and crossing mountain passes. Let us bid farewell. Reluctantly seeing you off, I feel lingering affection.

My parents will soon bring a betrothal gift of betel quids.

Boats and canoes will crowd to greet the bride. We’ll join in a happy marriage for life.

On moonlit nights on the vast Hậu River, the wistful call of the water rail kindles a yearning for one’s beloved.

“River sparkling with a golden hue Returning here, I miss the moon of yore Did you make a promise such that wave after wave rises and tumbles?”

We now invite you to enjoy the southern Aulacese folk song, “Call of the Water Rail on Moonlit Nights,” music and lyrics by composer Vũ Đức Sao Biển, with vocal performance by Đông Đào.

Crossing the long river at late night I suddenly hear the call of a water rail under the moonlight O bird crying out for her flock Sounding like a song of longing. Every dream of a reunion wakes in vain A distressful cry amid the night Yearning for a lost mate Yearning for a lost mate O Flower! Where are you? Where are the fragrant, youthful tresses?

River sparkling with a golden hue Returning here, I miss the moon of yore Did you make a promise such that wave after wave rises and tumbles? Love came once to never return Yet I grieve for it all my life Crossing the Hậu River at late night, I suddenly hear the water rails crying out for each other Birds are calling at the river source At river end yet I feel a throbbing pain My love has left me Why call out in regret? O forlorn mate! O forlorn mate!

O Flower! Where are you? Where are the fragrant, youthful tresses? River sparkling with a golden hue Returning here, I miss the moon of yore Did you make a promise such that wave after wave rises and tumbles? Love came once to never return Yet I grieve for it all my life Crossing the Hậu River at late night, I suddenly hear the water rails crying out for each other Birds are calling at the river source At river end yet I feel a throbbing pain My love has left me Why call out in regret? O forlorn mate! O forlorn mate! O forlorn mate! O forlorn mate! O forlorn mate! O forlorn mate!

In Aulacese (Vietnamese) traditional folk music, lý is a singing genre that is mostly based on folk poetry in the form of six-eight couplets. The rhythm varies between fast and slow in a recital style, so lý singing genre has hundreds of different tunes. Through simple lyrics, lý songs often describe images and feelings as experienced in life. Enhanced by tender melodies, lý is very accessible and therefore quite popular.

Borrowing from anecdotes of everyday life, with witty analogies a young man expresses his affection to his sweetheart.

“When Toad comes, lady Tree-frog ignores, walking away. Toad laments alone, heartbroken. How could Tree-frog not pity him?”

Please enjoy the folk song “A Toad’s Story” of the southern Aulacese lý genre, presented by Đông Quân.

Toad and lady Tree-frog are long acquainted. One day, Toad proposes to her Tree-frog shakes her head, refusing Shaking her head, refusing A Frog sitting behind her lets out a froggy sound, saying: “Consent to marry him, for Pete’s sake! Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy.”

When Toad comes, lady Tree-frog ignores, walking away. Toad laments alone, heartbroken. How could Tree-frog not pity him, nor feel any affection for him? A Frog sitting in a cave lets out a croak, saying: “Oh, marry Toad, for Pete’s sake, and please love him.”

When Toad comes, lady Tree-frog ignores, walking away. Toad laments alone, heartbroken. How could Tree-frog not pity him, nor feel any affection for him? A Frog sitting in a cave lets out a croak, saying: “Oh, marry Toad, for Pete’s sake, and please love him.”

Toad and lady Tree-frog are long acquainted. One day, Toad proposes to her Tree-frog shakes her head, refusing Shaking her head, refusing A Frog sitting behind her lets out a froggy sound, saying: “Consent to marry him, for Pete’s sake! Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy.” Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy.

Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy. Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy. Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy. Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy. Who’s waiting for you that you keep expecting? You only make Toad feel unhappy.

Supreme Master Ching Hai lovingly sent gifts to the artists in the Aulacese traditional folk music on Supreme Master Television. They shared their thoughts and expressed their gratitude towards Master’s caring concern.

Singer Đông Đào who performed the song “Call of the Water Rail on Moonlit Nights”:

My respectful greetings to Supreme Master Ching Hai and Supreme Master Television staff. I would like to thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for sending me these books as gifts. I thank Supreme Master Television very much for giving me the opportunity to convey the love for my country Âu Lạc. I hope that friends in all the continents will have some profound insights about the gentle, simple and kind people of Âu Lạc.

Among the books I received from Supreme Master Ching Hai, I love very much the book “The Dogs in My Life,” because in my own life, a couple of times I’d had very adorable pet dogs. The first time, it was an abandoned dog. I took him home to care for him, and he grew up to be very healthy. Once I think he was injured and ran home. I cared for him and took him to the hospital for treatment. But unfortunately, 3 days later, he disappeared forever.

I knew that he was probably stolen. So I was very sad. I felt great love for him and I missed him very much. Perhaps it’s because I missed him so much, that one rainy night, I thought I heard some noise as if it were my dog returning and calling at the door. I ran out to open the door but found no one there. Perhaps it was due to my missing him that I had such an illusion. A long time after that, one day I saw some very cute small dogs and I bought one home. After I had been with him for a short while, he got into an accident.

I carried him to the hospital, and the doctor said that he wouldn’t survive. But I tried to care for him to overcome his difficulties. I just talk about minor things here; his attitude and behavior are very much like that of us humans, and he was very responsible. Even when he was very ill like that, if he wanted to go to the bathroom, he would crawl very strenuously to the bathroom. He wouldn’t just do it in the living room or the bedroom.

Such a sense of awareness from a dog has left a deep impression in me. So now when I see that Supreme Master Ching Hai has dogs like that, I admire Master very much. On this occasion, I would like to thank Master for your magnanimous heart. I hope that Master will continue with your work and endeavors so that the animals may be blessed with stable dwellings. My respectful and loving greetings to viewers watching Supreme Master Television, broadcasting around the world.

Singers Đông Quân and Thy Nhung, who contributed previously in traditional folk music on Supreme Master Television, also received gifts and fond wishes from Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Thank you for watching today’s program about traditional folk music from southern Âu Lạc. Please tune in to Supreme Master Television for more Aulacese folk music in future broadcasts. Coming up is Vegetarianism The Noble Way of Living, after Noteworthy News. So long for now.