Southern Central Vietnam folk rhyme game

Việt Nam•28/12/2023

(VHQN) - In the South Central region of Vietnam, there are many folk songs passed down orally. Through years of research and collection, we have recorded and drafted some of these folk songs, primarily by noting the pitch, duration, and rhythm of the games played.

Children's games are lively and engaging. Photo: HA NGUYEN

Although the lyrics are rhyming and rhythmic, children are primarily focused on the game. The lyrics in nursery rhymes are often just familiar sounds, and the rhythm is suitable for the game. When playing, children don't pay attention to their singing; sometimes they get too excited and shout, sometimes they sing like they're speaking, sometimes like they're reading, and sometimes they don't even understand the meaning of the rhyme.

Children in Vietnam have many children's games and songs that include singing. Children in the North have: nu na nu nong, dung dang dung de, tha dia ba ba, nhay lo co, cuop co, cuop cu, keo cua lua xe, dia vai, chuyen the…

Southern Vietnamese children's songs include: cùm nụm cùm nịu, bắc kim thang, thìa la thíy, lặc cò cò, mèo đuổi chuột, úp lá khoai, bành xô, gà mỏ mối, dê mẹ tìm dê con, chùm rụm…

In the South Central provinces, there are: passing sandals, somersaulting, pounding mortar and pestle, casting water bottles, playing hide-and-seek, calling the calf, stroking the popping seeds, casting coconut trees, casting cotton trees, the sparrow, playing children's rhymes, greeting the snake, where are you going, making a steaming pot...

We would like to introduce to our readers a few examples of how to play.

Slippers

The game was recorded by the author at the Confucius Temple (Hoi An, May 1977). The lyrics of the nursery rhyme are: "Let's pass the slipper, brothers, let's pass it evenly, quickly, skillfully, otherwise, otherwise, please leave..."

The game involves a group of children squatting in a circle, each holding a slipper, singing along to the beat while passing the slipper to each other in one direction.

When the phrase "otherwise, otherwise" is used, the slipper is passed back and forth twice. Whoever fails to catch the slipper is eliminated. The game continues until the last person is gone. It's a lively and fun game, and the winner is the last person remaining (who doesn't have to leave).

Swipe the popping bob

This is a popular game for children aged 6 to 10. The game is gentle and graceful, with pairs of hands clapping together, then clapping their own hands, expressing the genuine, natural, and pure spirit of friendship, accompanied by rhythmic recitation or singing of nursery rhymes. The setting is simple, a corner of the yard, an alleyway, an open field, or a village square under the moonlight.

In 2000, folk art researcher Tran Hong ( Da Nang ) collaborated with the author of this article and VTV in Da Nang to produce the film "Sing Together - Play Together" (introducing the game "Swiping Exploding Seeds"), which was broadcast many times on VTV3.

The two children stand facing each other. With their hands clasped together in front of their chests, they sing while clapping their hands together once, then clapping one of their hands diagonally against the other's hand (i.e., their left hand against their friend's left hand, and their right hand against their friend's right hand).

Opening: Clap your hands together. Continue chanting: Exploding seeds - raise your right hand and clap it against your partner's right hand. Pouring - clap your hands together again. Continue chanting: Rice cakes - raise your left hand and clap it against your partner's left hand. And so on until you chant the whole song together.

The game can continue with another rhyme: “A round pot with a crooked lid. A tailor's scissors. A plow for farming. A sickle for clearing the embankment. A fish trap. A slingshot for shooting birds. A needle for sewing clothes. A spear for hunting. A headscarf for covering the head. A trading post. A cake mold. A wine bottle for pouring wine.” The hand clapping gets faster and faster; whoever can't keep up or claps the wrong hand loses. The hand clapping must match the lyrics.

U a u ap

The game involves 6 to 8 children. A pole is used as a reference point, called the "Pole." One child acts as the "leader," holding their hand palm up for the other children to place their index fingers on (without pulling them up or down).

The children act as the "leader" and sing the entire nursery rhyme, clenching their fists when they reach the word "appear." Anyone who doesn't pull their hands away in time must blindfold themselves so the others can hide. Once everyone has hidden, the children open their eyes and search for their friends, singing the rhyme as they go.

Children who try to hide must run back to the starting post quickly, making sure the children chasing them can't catch them. Once they reach the starting post, they should hug it and say "Bang!". If the children chasing them don't catch anyone, they must close their eyes and play again.

Dung dang dung de

The nursery rhyme goes: “Dung dang dung de. Taking the children out to play. To the gate of heaven. Bowing to uncle and aunt. Let the child go back to the countryside. Let the goat go to school. Let the toad stay at home. Let the chicken peck in the kitchen. Sticky rice is cooked. My family is making sweet soup. Slurp slurp. Sit down here.”

The game involves children holding hands in pairs, or in rows of 4-5 children, walking and singing. When singing or saying the word "dung," they swing their arms forward; when saying "dang," they swing their arms backward, continuing this until the last line, then squatting down. After that, they stand up, sing again from the beginning, and continue playing.

Chi chi chanh chanh

A large space is needed, with places where the children can easily hide. Many children play a game called "Searching": To choose who is hiding, one child must be blindfolded and search for the children who are hiding. An older child gathers the children who like to play in a circle, holds up their right hand palm up, and each child places their right index finger in the palm of this hand, while the older child places their left index finger in the palm.

The leader of the group chants: “Chi chi chanh chanh. The bird blows fire. The horse dies and swells. Three kings and five emperors. Go find the ruler. U… a… u… ap.” When reaching the last line, “u a u ap,” the leader can extend or shorten the time between the sounds as desired to surprise the other children when the “ap” sound comes. Because when chanting the final “ap” sound, the leader immediately clenches their right hand, and the other children must quickly withdraw their fingers.

The child whose finger is caught by the leader's hand must be blindfolded and search for the person. If they haven't caught anyone yet, they have to try again. This game usually takes place in a house where everyone can agree on a hiding place.

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