VIETNAMESE FOLK LITERATURE
by Dương Đình Khuê in 1967
The pot calls the kettle black
Vietnamese
Chân mình còn lấm mê mê
Lại đem bó đuốc mà rê chân người .
English
His own feet caked with mud ,
He goes to inspect the others’ feet with a torch .
From the Introduction:
The true criterion differentiating the three forms of the folk lite-
rature is therefore the spirit which has inspired their creation. The
proverb teaches, it is the voice of reason. The song moves, it is the voice
of the heart. Finally, the tale diverts while teaching and touches the
reader’s heart by adding a bit of imagination.
From the Conclusion:
The troubled waters of our time will clear one day, and the true and
eternal characteristics of the Vietnamese people will emerge again. They
must be looked for in our juicy proverbs, moving songs and humorous
tales revealing a fine intelligence and a natural tendency for everything
that is beautiful and good : poetry, art, friendship, peace..
Some Proverbs and Poems wi...
bsmall2
@mcscx@quitter.se
Brian Small
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