Chữ Nôm

Cover page of Đại Nam quốc ngữ 大南國語

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Tu duc thanh che tu hoc giai nghia ca

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Page of Phật thuyết đại báo phụ mẫu ân trọng kinh

Nhật dụng thường đàm, p. 38

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Tale of Kieu, vol. 24, p.22

Chữ Nôm (𡨸喃) is the logographic writing system formerly used to write the Vietnamese language. It utilizes characters borrowed from Chinese, alongside a significant number of native Vietnamese characters created following Chinese character principles. Chữ Nôm served as the main written medium for Vietnamese literature, administration, and daily communication for centuries before being gradually supplanted by the Latin-based Vietnamese alphabet in the 20th century.

History

The origins of Chữ Nôm can be traced back to the 10th century, during the period following the independence of Vietnam from Chinese rule. Initially, Classical Chinese was the dominant written language in Vietnam; however, the need to express native Vietnamese speech led to the creation of Chữ Nôm. The system became more widely used from the 13th century onwards, reaching its peak during the 15th to 18th centuries, when a rich body of Vietnamese literature was produced in Chữ Nôm, including the celebrated Tale of Kiều by Nguyễn Du.

Characteristics

Chữ Nôm is characterized by its use of Chinese characters in two roles: to represent Chinese loanwords and to phonetically represent Vietnamese words. The latter category includes characters created or adapted specifically for Vietnamese sounds and grammar. This dual use makes Chữ Nôm texts challenging to read without a thorough understanding of both the Vietnamese language and the system itself.

Decline and Preservation

The introduction of the Quốc Ngữ (the Latin-based Vietnamese alphabet) by Portuguese and French missionaries in the 17th century marked the beginning of the decline of Chữ Nôm. Quốc Ngữ's simplicity and ease of learning led to its adoption as the official written language of Vietnam in the early 20th century, rendering Chữ Nôm obsolete.

Efforts to preserve and study Chữ Nôm have increased in recent years, with scholars and enthusiasts working to digitize texts and develop resources for learning the script. Despite these efforts, Chữ Nôm remains largely inaccessible to the general population.

Cultural Significance

Chữ Nôm holds a special place in Vietnamese culture as a symbol of the country's literary and intellectual heritage. Many classic works of Vietnamese literature were written in Chữ Nôm, and the script is associated with the country's struggle to maintain its cultural identity in the face of foreign influences.

See Also

• Vietnamese language
• Chinese characters
• Vietnamese alphabet
• Tale of Kiều