Bánh chưng is a traditional dish in the Tet feast of the Vietnamese, but not everyone knows its significance. As a Vietnamese person, understanding the meaning of bánh chưng is essential. If you’re not familiar with it yet, let’s explore the significance of bánh chưng together.
Origin of Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy
Bánh chưng is square and green, symbolizing the Earth and Yin, while bánh giầy is round and white, representing Heaven and Yang. This embodies the philosophy of Yin and Yang, as well as the Circular and Square philosophy specific to Vietnam.
Bánh chưng represents the mother, while bánh giầy represents the father. Both bánh chưng and bánh giầy are the most respectful and noble foods offered to ancestors, reflecting the deep gratitude of remembering one’s roots and the immense sacrifices of parents, akin to the vastness of the sky and earth.
Bánh chưng and bánh giầy originated during the reign of King Hùng Vương the 6th, after defeating the Shang.
According to legend, bánh chưng and bánh giầy originated during the reign of King Hùng Vương the 6th, after he had defeated the Shang. The king wanted to pass the throne to his son and gathered all his children at the beginning of spring, stating: “Whoever finds the best dish to present to our ancestors will inherit the throne.”
The princes competed to find rare ingredients, hoping to become king. The eighteenth son of King Hùng Vương the 6th, Lang Liêu (also known as Tiết Liêu), was pure-hearted and devoted, but having lost his mother early, he was worried and unsure of what to do. One night, he dreamed of a deity who said: “Among all things in heaven and earth, rice is the most precious, as it sustains life. Therefore, make round and square cakes to symbolize Heaven and Earth. Use leaves to wrap the outside and fill the inside with ingredients to represent the parents who birthed you.” Upon waking, Lang Liêu joyfully followed the deity’s advice, selecting the best glutinous rice, mung beans, and fresh pork belly.
When the time came, all the princes brought elaborate dishes. Lang Liêu presented only bánh giầy and bánh chưng. The king was surprised and asked about his dream. After tasting the cakes and finding them delicious and meaningful, he granted the throne to Lang Liêu, marking the beginning of the reign of King Hùng Vương the 7th.
Since then, during Tet or at weddings, ceremonies, and festivals, the people have made bánh chưng and bánh giầy as a tradition to honor their ancestors and the Earth, making it an essential dish for Vietnamese during Tet. It is no wonder that the Vietnamese saying goes:
Outside is the green dong leaves.
Inside is glutinous rice, fat, mung beans, and pepper.
Wrapped with meaning, wrapped with love.
Delicious and fragrant since the time of Lang Liêu.
The Cultural and Human Significance of Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy:
Bánh chưng and bánh giầy symbolize the Circular and Square philosophy of the Vietnamese and the broader philosophy of Yin and Yang.
The Significance of Bánh Chưng and Bánh Giầy During Tet
Bánh chưng and bánh giầy during Tet express the filial piety of children towards their parents.
Along with this ancient legend, bánh chưng and bánh giầy encapsulate an entire agricultural civilization of rice cultivation at that time.
The outer layer of bánh chưng is made from dong leaves, readily available in nature, while the filling consists of glutinous rice, mung beans, onions, and pork—traditional cooking ingredients of the nation.
Thus, bánh chưng and bánh giầy appear during Tet to express gratitude to heaven and earth for favorable weather conditions that lead to bountiful harvests, providing a prosperous life for people.
Bánh giầy symbolizes Heaven, is white, round, and compact enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand, shaped into two beautiful crescent halves, with two pieces of banana leaves covering the top and bottom.
Bánh chưng is green, wrapped in a large square shape, symbolizing the Earth. The combination of green bánh chưng and white bánh giầy represents the unity and connection of Heaven and Earth. Moreover, the Vietnamese people are closely tied to rice culture, heavily dependent on natural conditions, where heaven and earth are decisive factors. Therefore, they choose to offer bánh chưng and bánh giầy during Tet to show their gratitude to heaven and earth for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and happy, prosperous households.
Bánh chưng embodies the image of the vast land, the virtues of the mother, and the noble and gentle sacrifices of women, exemplified by the Mother Âu Cơ. Bánh chưng is wrapped in many layers of leaves, carefully and gently surrounding the filling, much like a mother’s embrace that protects her children from life’s storms.
If bánh chưng is the embodiment of the mother, then bánh giầy represents the strength of the Dragon and the immense sacrifices of the father. Bánh giầy symbolizes the pillar men in families, serving as offerings for aspirations of career advancement and academic success.
Bánh chưng and bánh giầy are the most respectful and noble foods to offer to ancestors, expressing a deep sense of gratitude for the immense contributions of parents, as vast as the sky and earth. The traditional custom of honoring and enjoying bánh chưng during Tet reflects both the spiritual cultural beliefs and the culinary wisdom of the Vietnamese people.
Bánh chưng and bánh giầy have become a cultural feature, a traditional and long-standing dish in Vietnam. This uniqueness has contributed to enhancing Vietnam’s image in the eyes of international friends. No matter how far one may be from home, everyone longs to return to the family gathering around the pot of bánh during the New Year celebration.
