In Hoi An, as elsewhere in Viet Nam, the family (clan) is central to social life. Individuals have responsibilities to their families above everything else. Family responsibilities are not limited to the living, but also to one’s ancestors. A Viet proverb states, “a bird has a nest, a tree has roots, water has a source and a person has ancestors”, meaning that an individual’s ancestors are an inextricable part of the individual, thereby encouraging respect for older generations.
The next important “level of relationships” is among people from the same village. The village is said to be established by the ancestors, and villages are therefore centres of clans. The close ties between members of the same village is illustrated by the way unrelated people address each other using terms such as uncle, aunt and grandfather.
In the past, certain families controlled the village’s activities and were its counsel and authority. At the head of the family was the patriarch, who was always the eldest son. The patriarch was considered to be predetermined by the “Creator” or “First Ancestor” of each family. This patriarch played a crucial role in resolving conflicts and determining the family’s and village’s activities.
Each family in Hoi An formerly had private family fields (recorded in family annals), a family chapel, the graves of their forefathers (cemetery) and a private ancestor worship day. Both the property and the special occasions formed the foundation of each family and clearly marked the differences between families.
In Hoi An, as elsewhere in Viet Nam, the family (clan) is central to social life. Individuals have responsibilities to their families above everything else. Family responsibilities are not limited to the living, but also to one’s ancestors. A Viet proverb states, “a bird has a nest, a tree has roots, water has a source and a person has ancestors”, meaning that an individual’s ancestors are an inextricable part of the individual, thereby encouraging respect for older generations.The next important “level of relationships” is among people from the same village. The village is said to be established by the ancestors, and villages are therefore centres of clans. The close ties between members of the same village is illustrated by the way unrelated people address each other using terms such as uncle, aunt and grandfather.In the past, certain families controlled the village’s activities and were its counsel and authority. At the head of the family was the patriarch, who was always the eldest son. The patriarch was considered to be predetermined by the “Creator” or “First Ancestor” of each family. This patriarch played a crucial role in resolving conflicts and determining the family’s and village’s activities.Each family in Hoi An formerly had private family fields (recorded in family annals), a family chapel, the graves of their forefathers (cemetery) and a private ancestor worship day. Both the property and the special occasions formed the foundation of each family and clearly marked the differences between families.
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