Baojuan of Liu Xiang in Vietnam: An Adaptation and Transmission Process in Early-20th-century Southern Vietnam

Title

Baojuan of Liu Xiang in Vietnam: An Adaptation and Transmission Process in Early-20th-century Southern Vietnam

Author

Thuy Duong TRINH, Thanh Tung NGUYEN

Page

105-148

DOI

10.6163/TJEAS.202306_20(1).0004

Abstract

Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển is a Nom script, adapted from the Chinese precious scroll Liu Xiang nu baojuan, written in ‘Luc-bat’ verse form, and widely transmitted in the early 20th century in Southern Vietnam. Based on the 1908 woodblock version, this paper aims to investigate Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển by applying comparative literature and textual studies methods to illustrate the similarities and differences between Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển and typical Liu Xiang nu baojuan texts in China. The result indicates that the Nom script is closely related to the versions of Liu Xiang nu baojuan that were published in Guangzhou and Changzhou in the period between 1875 and 1903. The variations among them could be the result of changes made by the Nom script’s author. Otherwise, they can be considered clues to find out the exact original text of Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển. Furthermore, by examining 1 Nom script and 5 Vietnamese Romanized (Quốc-ngữ) versions of Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển, the paper confirms the diverse ways of transmitting Liu Xiang baojuan in the early 20th century in Vietnam. Thence, the adaptation and transmission of Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển in Southern Vietnam represent the two-side process of adapting and transmitting precious scrolls, as well as Chinese Buddhism stories from the late 19th century to the early 20th century in Vietnam.

Keyword

Lưu Hương diễn nghĩa bảo quyển, Liu Xiang nu baojuan, adaptation, transmission, Southern Vietnam

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