Reign 2793 BC – ? Spouse Âu Cơ Mother Long Mẫu Thần Long Grandparents Emperor Ming, Vụ Tiên Nu | Successor Hùng Quốc Vương House Hồng Bàng dynasty Children Cấn line | |
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Parents Kinh Dương Vương, Long Mẫu Thần Long | ||
L c long qu n v u c
Lạc Long Quân (literally "Dragon Lord of Lạc"; also called Hùng Hiền Vương) is considered the second Hùng king of the Hồng Bàng Dynasty of ancient Vietnam (known then as Văn Lang and before that as Xích Quỷ). Quân was the son and sole successor of Kinh Dương Vương (the first Hung king), who ruled over Xích Quỷ. He is thought to have become king in 2793 BC. He is also a significant figure in Vietnamese legend.
Contents
- L c long qu n v u c
- Truy n thuy t con r ng ch u ti n truy n thuy t u c l c long qu n k chuy n cho b nghe
- Genealogy
- In Vietnamese literature
- Mythology
- Legacy
- References
In modern day, his life is mixed with many legends. Quân's wife, Âu Cơ, gave birth to a sac containing 100 eggs from which 100 children were born; this is the origin of the story of the 100 Vietnamese family names. One day Lạc Long Quân told Âu Cơ: "I am descended from dragons, you from fairies. We are as incompatible as water is with fire. So we cannot continue in harmony." This said, the husband and wife parted. The man went to the seawards with 50 of their children, while his wife went to the mountainous region with the other half of the clan. The eldest son, who followed his mother, later installed himself as Quân's successor.
Truy n thuy t con r ng ch u ti n truy n thuy t u c l c long qu n k chuy n cho b nghe
Genealogy
Lạc Long Quân's father was Kinh Dương Vương.
In Vietnamese literature
The books Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư (from the 15th century) and Lĩnh Nam chích quái ("Wonders plucked from the dust of Linh-nam", from the 14th century) mention the legend with Âu Cơ.
Mythology
Slaying of Ngư Tinh
During Lạc Long Quân's time, the people of Van Lang was still undeveloped and isolated. In the Eastern sea, there appears a giant fish, called Ngư Tinh (Vietnamese for "fish monster"). This fish has lived for centuries, with the size of its mouth, it can consume a ship with 10 fisherman at the same time. Whenever the fish swim, waves can reach the sky, drown multiple ships, all the people passing through the area were all eaten by the fish. Ngư tinh lives in a big cave under the sea, above the cave is a huge mountain which divide the sea into two areas.
Lạc Long Quân decided to slay the beast to help the people. He built a huge ship, made a burning human-shaped piece of metal, then sailed straight to Ngư tinh's nest. There he held the human-shaped piece of metal up to trick Ngư Tinh. Tinh thought it was a human than opened its mouth and tried to swallow to burning metal. Quân threw the burning metal into Ngư Tinh's mouth. Ngư tinh's throat was burning, it struggled but tried to sink Quân's ship. Quân then took his sword out and slew the beast, slicing it into three pieces.
Slaying of Hồ Tinh
After slaying Ngư Tinh, Quân went down to Long Biên. There appears a nine-tailed fox that live for thousand years, called Hồ Tinh (Vietnamese for "fox monster). The fox lived in a deep cave, under a rock mountain in the West Long Biên. This fox often disguised into human shape, lure the women, then bring them to the cave and feed on them. This fox has been harassing people from Long Biên to Tản Viên mountain. The innocents were so afraid of the fox that they have to leave their homes, farms to other places in order to live peacefully. Quân brought his sword to the beast's nest and tried to slay the beast. When Quân reached the cave, the fox smelled human, then suddenly attacked, Quân then used magic to call the elements of wind and thunders to trap the beast. After 3 days, the beast has weakened, tried to find a way to run away. Quân caught the beast and sliced its head off. The beast revealed itself as a huge nine-tailed fox. Quân got into the cave and rescued everybody that was alive and tortured by the fox
Descendant of Dragon and Fairy
Lạc Long Quân was married to Đế Lai's daughter, Âu Cơ. She gave birth to a sac of a hundred eggs, which hatched into a hundred boys. One day, Quân confessed to her: "I am a descendant of the Dragon, you are descendant of the Fairy, fire and water cannot live together in harmony." The two of them then divided their children. Fifty sons followed their mother to the mountainous north, the other fifty followed their father to live in the south; these children are ancestor of Bách Việt. The oldest brother followed Âu Cơ to Phong Châu (Phú Thọ), became Quân's successor and ruled as Hung King.
Legacy
Most cities in Vietnam have named major streets after him. He features both in primary education, and in some forms of popular religious belief as a god.