Vietnam and Myanmar Culture Quiz

Vietnam

• Officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV)
• 15th most populous country in the world
• Capital city is Hanoi, largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

Vietnamese Sculpture

• Heavily influenced by Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism
• Originating from neighboring countries China and India
• Examples found in houses, temples, and pagodas

Vietnamese Ceramics

• Refers to ceramic art and pottery, an industry
• Long history, thousands of years old, predating Chinese rule
• Archaeological evidence supports this long history

Types of Vietnamese Ceramics

• Bát Tràng: Porcelain and pottery from the village of Bát Tràng, now a suburb of Hanoi
• Chu Đậu: Ceramics discovered in Nam Sách County, east of Hanoi in 1983, leading to excavations from 1986 to 1991
• An'nan: Wares exported to Japan, used in tea ceremonies, though originally used for food. High-footed bowls were originally for food.

Dong Son

• Also called Heger Type I drum
• Ancient bronze drum created by the Đông Sơn culture
• Culture existed in the Red River Delta

Vietnamese Architecture

• Style evolved through historical development, absorbing and integrating regional and international styles
• Reflected in works like đình, shrines, temples, nhà thờ họ, citadels, palaces, and housing architecture

Van Mieu

• Temple dedicated to Confucius in Hanoi, northern Vietnam
• Built in 1070 during the reign of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông
• Hosted the Imperial Academy, Vietnam's first national university from 1076 to 1779

Imperial City

• Walled enclosure within the citadel of Huế
• Former imperial capital of Vietnam during the Nguyễn Dynasty
• Contains palaces for the imperial family, shrines, gardens, and villas for mandarins

One Pillar Pagoda

• Part of an architecture complex called Diên Hựu tự
• Means "pagoda of extended blessings"
• Historic Buddhist temple in the central Ba Đình district of Hanoi

Perfume Pagoda

• Group of temples and caves in the rocks of the limestone mountain Huong Tich Son (Mount of Fragrances)
• Most cave temples built in the 17th century
• Considered one of the most important temple complexes in Vietnam

Vietnamese Silk Painting

• Treasured art form encompassing centuries of cultural heritage and artistic expression
• Rooted in tradition, yet constantly evolving
• Captivates audiences with fluid lines, harmonious colors, and intricate details

Vietnamese Water Puppetry

• Traditional Vietnamese art form
• Dates back to the 11th century, originating in the villages of the Red River Delta
• Unique variation on ancient Asian puppet tradition

Myanmar

• Officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (also known as Burma)
• Capital city is Naypyidaw

Myanmar Tapestry

• Genuine Myanmar handicraft
• Gold embroidery called "Shwe-Chi-Htoe" in Burmese
• Flourished for a thousand years
• Earliest record from the Pyu Period around 800 AD

Myanmar Wood Carving

• Iconic Myanmar handicrafts
• Detailed sculptures of Buddhas
• Decorated chairs and tables lining artist stores throughout the country

Myanmar Gold Leaf

• Type of metal leaf, thin sheets of real gold
• Also called gold foil or gold leafing

Myanmar Silk

• Ancient Burma was renowned for silk fabrics
• Silk weaving is one of the country's main professions even today

Myanmar Umbrella

• "Hti" in Burmese, meaning umbrella
• Finial ornament atop almost all Burmese pagodas
• Auspicious symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism

Laos

• Officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or LPDR)
• Capital is Vientiane
• Official language is Lao

Arts of Laos

• Visual, dramatic, musical, and literary arts draw primarily from religious and local traditional sources
• Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism have been major influences on Lao culture and intellectual life

Lao Textiles

• Weaving is the dominant form of artistic cultural expression
• Lao mothers pass weaving skills to their daughters as a sign of marriage eligibility
• Central Laos is known for natural indigo dyes and diamond patterns, symbolizing the protective scales of the mythical naga

Lao Handicrafts

• Laotians have various regional and rural art forms
• Including weaving, basketmaking, wood and ivory carving, silverwork, and goldwork
• Numerous musical instruments characteristic of rural, midland, and upland Lao minority communities

Lao Pottery

• Well-developed clay and ceramic pottery-making tradition
• Entire villages dedicated to creating clay objects using age-old methods and traditions
• Pottery-making is a main source of family income

Lao Sculpture

• Important artistic form
• Phra Bang (also Phrabang), meaning "delicate Buddha"
• Mystical national emblem, an 83 cm tall gold leaf statue, symbol of the right to rule Laos

Lao Architecture

• Graciously combines a variety of styles
• Creates buildings inspired by international styles and uniquely Lao styles
• Buddhist pagodas combine geometric shapes, straight lines and gentle curves for distinctive temples and monasteries.

Types of Lao Temple Construction

• Luang Prabang reflects an exceptional fusion of traditional Lao architecture and 19th and 20th century European-style buildings
• Vientiane style features large verandas, ornamented overhanging roofs, carved wood porticos and shades
• Xieng Khouang style has multiple levels, low wide sweeping roofs and usually not tiered. Thai Lu style whitewashed stucco walls, small windows, curved pediments, and naga lintels.