Luck
From: Martha Lincoln
Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 9:32 AM
Dear list,
I have had some difficulty sourcing publications on the topic of luck in Vietnam,
and wonder if anyone can suggest anthropological or other academic sources on
popular beliefs and practices relating to luck (good/bad), numerology, astrology,
etc. in contemporary Vietnam. Is "luck" considered equivalent to destiny (so phan)
or is it more akin to chance? Or, is it more contiguous with positive qualities like
"health," "success," "fortune"? Finally, pardon my ignorance, but is placing items
on the _ban tho_ to _thap huong_ perceived as a means of accruing luck as well
as honoring ancestors? The VSG archives show no history of discussion on this
topic -- though surely it must have been discussed before?
Many thanks, and happy (and lucky!) new year,
Martha
--
Martha Lincoln
PhD Candidate/Nghiên cứu sinh
Anthropology Program/Khoa Nhân chủng học
CUNY Graduate Center/ Trung tâm/Viện Sau Đại học Thành phố New York
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From: Hue-Tam Ho Tai
Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Martha:
With advance apologies for not using diacritics, here are some thoughts:
luck as in "hen, xui, may rui": it could be translated as pure luck as in " by pure luck, i was able to grab the last trendy toy for Christmas."
Often, however luck is connected to fate ("so phan"). It may have been bad luck that he broke his leg skiing, but it was also his "so phan" that it would happen. This may be connected to his astrological sign. The year of one's birth is usually considered unlucky.
Additionally, one's fate depends on "phuc duc" that is a legacy of good or bad bequeathed by ancestors; therefore, when someone experiences good fortune, it is often said that "nho phuc duc ong ba de lai." Conversely, when someone experiences ill-fortune, it is because that person's ancestors (or that person, in a previous life) had done something bad. One's own good or bad actions also have good or bad consequences for oneself or one's progeny. I was told, for instance, when someone who had participated in smashing idols during the Cultural Reform campaign fell gravely ill (or one of his household experienced misfortune) it was because he had exhibited "that duc."
So in lighting incense sticks to ancestors, one is discharging one's filial duty toward the ancestors and, presumably, ensuring their benevolence ("phu ho").
Hope this helps.
Hue-Tam Ho Tai
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From: Esther Tran
Date: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Hi Martha,
As an addiction professional working in the problem gambling field, what I have experienced is that the luck topic for some people from Vietnam seems to tie closely with ‘so phan’ when gambling wins or loses are substantial while events where only small amounts of win or loss involved would be considered as chance (may, rui). In attempt to increase their chance at winning ( in gambling), or to change their luck at gambling, some people light incense and place items on the ‘ban tho’ to ask their ancestors to help them out. Some people also go to casinos to gamble to ‘test my luck’ at New year time. Some people gamble excessively even when they are broke and all kinds of life problems arise because they believed this is their ‘lucky year’ and they will eventually win big if they persist at their gambling. The belief in luck, for some people, seems to prompt them to start gambling as well contributes to the development and maintenance of their problem gambling behaviours.
Esther Tran
Prevention Education Consultant
Problem Gambling Services
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba