Genesis of Vietnamese theatre: CHÈO - (1) A history

The first to emerge, Chèo remains among the most favourable traditional art forms of all time. What are the roots of this art form and which factor fueled its longevity? In the first post of the series, you will have the chance to find out about the origin of Chèo.

Origin Unveiled

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Although Chèo first emerged in the 10th century AD, elements of this timeless artistry date back to the first millennium BC, originating in the cradle of Vietnamese culture - the Red River Delta civilisation.

Dramas were a form of entertainment in ancient Viet villages. Within these communities, wet rice cultivation held profound significance, evident through the daily activities revolving around the growing of this crop. Hence, agriculture was closely connected to ancient Viet's spiritual lives. After the harvest, Viet people would organize festivals paying tribute to the gods that blessed them with an abundant year. Folk dramas were a highlight of these events. They were presented in the courtyards of the communal houses - the most important house of the villages - directly in front of the altar of the tutelary god as if these dramas were the most precious gifts from the villagers.

Quan Âm Thị Kính - a popular Chèo dramas. The photo was captured in 1972, featuring the drama performed in the courtyard of a village (Source: Wikipedia)

These folk dramas, in some ways, lay the foundation of Chèo, which explains why some writers would refer to them as Chèo dramas. The plots of those dramas revolved around the daily lives of ancient Vietnamese, featuring both the joy and the pain of the wet-rice-growing farmers. Similar to ancient ceremonies and entertaining activities, drums were the central instruments used in the dramas. They acted as echoing prayers expressing the sincere gratitude of local farmers towards god. Folk dance and music also played integral roles in these performances, conveying the messages of the dramas. Together with Trò nhại - or mimetic skits, they added depth to the plots, spinning daily stories into enthralling stage dramas.

Official recognization

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Through the long period years under Chinese rule, folk dramas continued to thrive against all odds, just like the way Vietnamese people strived to preserve their culture.

Freedom finally came. Vietnam stepped out of that 1000 years of ups and downs and began to develop in all aspects from the economy to agriculture. The peaceful lives guided ancient Vietnamese towards enriching their spiritual lives. Festivals, rituals and ceremonies gradually evolved, attracting attention from both normal villagers and also the royal members. That was the moment when elements of folk dramas unified, forming what is recognized as Chèo.

A Chèo performance (Source: Báo ảnh Việt Nam)

Thanks to Phạm Thị Trân - who is recognized as the founder of Vietnamese traditional theatre - Chèo developed and became widespread. Under her hands, fragments of folk dramas blended: plot and techniques consolidated, weaving the separated short skits into sophisticated plays. From the nobles to the normal people, all enjoy the art of Chèo, thus increasing its importance in the lives of Vietnamese people.

A moment of success

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However, an event totally changed Chèo. In the 14th century, following the victory against the Mongolians, Vietnam captured an enemy soldier. His name is Ly Nguyen Cat, a musician in the Mongol army. This soldier left a significant mark on the development of Vietnamese theatre. He introduced Kinh kịch (Chinese Opera) to Vietnam through the reconstruction of a famous Chinese play - Vương Mẫu hiến đào. The play amazed people, influencing Chèo and inducing the emergence of Tuồng (this will be analyzed in the following posts).

A picture of a Chèo performance (Source: Báo Người lao động)

Under this impact, performers changed and started to sing the lines in Chèo. New roles emerged, such as đán nương (đào) - reflecting women in that society, quan nhân (kép) - or the riches and the knowledgeable, châu tử (tướng) - the heroes and the strong men, and sửu nô (hề) - or the parody guys.

Chèo reached its golden days, with advocates from all Vietnamese people.

" Tide and turn "

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Another century came, but this time, everything changed. From the art that all people cherished, under the reign of Lê Thánh Tông - who was deeply immersed in Confucianism - Chèo was banned in the royal court. This can be regarded as the end to the spread of Chèo. Once popular among the nobles and all the citizens, Chèo returned to the villages, becoming what it was centuries ago - a folk art.

In this period, Chèo still experienced some transformation. Playwrights started using Chữ Nôm (the Nôm alphabet) to weave out new works, as the plots were inspired by narratives using this alphabet. These plays gradually grew in popularity, bringing chèo to the front line again. As Chèo achieved wide influence in the 18th century, it continued to develop in all aspects and finally reached its peak by the end of the 19th century.

A Chèo performance

Modern-day

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Under the influence of technological advancements, new entertainment forms have emerged. This leaves Chèo thriving in adversity, barely surviving under the oblivion of modern people. It fails to compete with TV shows or modern music. Even in villages - the origins of Chèo - performers were unable to attract audiences. Everyone seems to turn their back on this once-flourishing art form.

Thanks to conservation efforts, Chèo has begun to regain the light of the old days. Through regular festivals celebrating the longevity of the so-called first theatre form of Vietnam, Chèo returns to the centre of attention once again. Vietnam is also applying for Chèo to become a UNESCO Heritage.

With this concerted efforts, I believe Chèo will thrive against all adversity and strive to extend its longevity.

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