The Nom - Ancient Vietnamese Script

A Hard Lot of Nôm

Much like Japan and Korea, which developed their own scripts by adapting Chinese characters, Vietnam has a unique script known as Nôm. Despite being under Chinese imperial rule for nearly a millennium, the Vietnamese developed their own system to document local language and culture. Over time, Nôm became an essential medium for expressing Vietnamese identity across various facets, including language, culture, politics, and economics.

Calligraphy is experiencing a revival - Photo: @namdong__huu

Although Nôm thrived in the hearts of many, it was not utilized in the formal contexts of the court. For centuries, it suffered neglect under feudal regimes. Scholars who were not proficient in Classical Chinese were often deemed uneducated, while those fluent in Nôm were not given due recognition. This led to a period where ancient Vietnamese culture was undervalued by its own people.

The perception that Hán Việt was superior to Nôm became ingrained in the minds of many Vietnamese. Even at its peak, Nôm struggled to gain the recognition it deserved.

With the advent of modern Vietnamese adopting Latin script as the national writing system (quốc ngữ), both Hán Việt and Nôm began to fade from public memory. For years, it was common to find no educational offerings in Hán Nôm, and any mention of it was viewed as obsolete.

Following Vietnam's reunification in the late 20th century, the government recognized the importance of cultural preservation and began to reintroduce Hán Nôm classes. Unfortunately, significant loss had already occurred, and the challenges facing Nôm became increasingly pronounced.

A Lost Nôm and the Precious Heritage That Went With It

Visiting Văn Miếu Street in Hà Nội during Tet Festival reveals remnants of Nôm's past glory. “You might see a vibrant scene and think that Hán Nôm is being revitalized. However, those of us who understand see it differently,” remarked Văn Hợp, a Hán Việt writer.

The street is adorned with traditional red paper and bustling with people seeking calligraphy pieces. However, among nearly 60 individuals claiming to be calligraphers, only one specializes in Nôm calligraphy, while the rest focus on Hán Việt.

How did we arrive at this situation? The factors contributing to the decline of this treasured script are numerous, with historical biases playing a significant role.

Young Vietnamese are gradually reconnecting with their glorious cultural heritage

It is widely recognized that a language's extinction leads to the disappearance of its cultural context. The surviving Nôm literature is a genuine representation of the Vietnamese language. However, few people today can read or write in Nôm, let alone create calligraphic works.