As Tet (Vietnamese New Year) approaches, along with a platter of five fruits overflowing with fragrance and color, every Vietnamese family desires a solemn, warm, and vibrant spring-themed home. Vietnamese Tet customs are fascinating, but in terms of elegance and refinement, composing couplets is considered a particularly sophisticated pastime. Couplets are a literary genre consisting of two verses that are symmetrical in sound, words, rhyme, and meaning. They are used on many different occasions and in various circumstances, but the most common and familiar are the red couplets of Tet. Tet couplets are usually hung in a prominent position; many families place them beside the ancestral altar, creating a sacred and irreplaceable image in the Vietnamese Tet atmosphere.
In the past, our ancestors had the custom of hanging couplets on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, before the ceremony of giving thanks to their ancestors and wishing for a prosperous and peaceful new year. Couplets were usually written in Chinese characters, Nôm characters, or Quốc ngữ (Vietnamese alphabet) on red or peach-colored paper strips – colors symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and family reunion. According to classical literary style, couplets were divided into three types: "Small couplets" (each line with four or fewer words); "Poetic couplets" (each line a five-word or seven-word line, sometimes a combination of both); and "Ode couplets" (written according to the rhyme scheme of the ode genre). New Year couplets are rich in content and usage, encompassing seven types: those hung in every family; those hung in village communal houses and offices; those hung in temples and shrines; those used in wealthy families; those used in poor families; satirical couplets reflecting each person's thoughts and prompting reflection; and couplets for Vietnamese expatriate families.
Mr. Vu Van Tuan, Chairman of the Tri Duc Calligraphy Club ( Nam Dinh Ward), shared: “The pastime of writing couplets was not as widespread as flower or bonsai cultivation, but mainly passed down among scholars and families with established traditions and social standing. In feudal society, writing couplets was a refined pastime because there were many levels that contributed to a perfect work, such as meter, meaning in the couplet, calligraphy style, ink type, and materials used to create the couplet… However, during Tet (Lunar New Year), even poor families would request at least one couplet, while wealthier families would request a pair of red couplets. The more educated a family was, the more elegant, flowing, and meaningful the calligraphy had to be, and the materials used to create the couplets had to be even more precious. Tet couplets were also chosen according to the level of affection expressed, reflecting their content and meaning. Choosing Tet couplets was an art form that clearly demonstrated the aesthetic sense and intellect of both the person requesting and the person giving the calligraphy.”
Today, as people's material and spiritual lives improve, and with the trend of cultural exchange and integration, the art of playing Tet couplets in localities throughout the province has become rich and diverse, yet still retains its traditional essence. In many well-established families in rural areas, the custom of playing couplets is still preserved as a way to honor national cultural identity. In the ancestral altar, couplets often focus on origins, morality, and family traditions, creating a solemn and warm atmosphere. Some families even hang couplets in front of their doors with wishes for wealth, blessings, and good fortune to enter their homes with the arrival of spring. Along with traditional red paper, couplets are now also expressed on many materials such as wood, brocade, and silk. In recent years, in traditional craft villages such as La Xuyen (wood carving), Tong Xa (bronze casting), and Yen Tien (lacquerware), Tet couplets made of wood and bronze are increasingly sold. Many traditional couplets have been adapted into handicraft products based on the people's appreciation for them. When combined with the essence of traditional craftsmanship, the couplets not only retain their literary spirit but also "wear" the unique beauty of each material, showcasing the talent of the artisans.
Ninh Binh is an ancient land rich in historical and cultural traditions, with a wealth of heritage sites. In many major festivals such as the Doi Son Tich Dien Festival, the Tran Temple Opening Ceremony, the Tran Thuong Temple Offering Ceremony, the Phu Day Festival, the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, etc., or at traditional rural markets like the Vieng Market and the Spring Flower Market, the image of calligraphers in long robes and turbans sitting and writing calligraphy and couplets has become familiar. Besides the Vietnamese Quốc ngữ script, these calligraphers also write couplets in Chinese and Nôm scripts. These calligraphers are known for their skillful use of language – their ability to convey meaning accurately, fulfilling the wishes of those seeking their services, and their beautiful calligraphy in various styles such as cursive, regular, and seal script – making them highly sought after. Characters like Tâm (Heart), Tín (Trust), Đức (Virtue), Phúc (Happiness), Nhẫn (Patience) are often stylized by the calligraphers into flying dragons or winding bamboo shapes, reflecting the rich Vietnamese identity.
Each stroke of the brush is not only a visual art but also embodies a philosophy of life, conveying aspirations for cultivating virtue, honing talent, and accumulating blessings for future generations. Those seeking calligraphy both appreciate the artistry of the calligrapher and hope to receive good fortune, fulfilling their own and their family's wishes for the New Year. Everyone shares the common hope for a new year filled with good health, peace, smooth sailing, and everything going according to plan… Therefore, during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), the absence of red couplets hanging in the house seems to diminish the sacredness of the Vietnamese Tet atmosphere, a feeling difficult to express in words. Admiring these couplets with their graceful calligraphic strokes, each Vietnamese person feels even more proud of their rich and distinctive national culture.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/giu-hon-tet-viet-qua-thu-choi-cau-doi-dau-xuan-260219110207421.html
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