THE WORSHIP OF ROYAL FEMALE DEITIES IN THE RED RIVER DELTA OF VIETNAM IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY꞉ A FUNCTIONALIST APPROACH

Abstract

This article examines the worship of royal female deities in the Red River Delta within the context of
contemporary social life, from the perspective of functionalist theory. This belief system is both historical ‑
associated with the veneration of royal women who contributed to the nation ‑ building and defense process ‑
and spiritual, reflecting the community's aspirations for peace, prosperity, and happiness in the Northern Delta.
By applying functionalist theory, the paper demonstrates that the worship of royal female deities not only
fulfills the spiritual needs of individuals but also serves multiple social functions꞉ fostering community
cohesion, maintaining and transmitting traditional values, balancing spiritual life, regulating behavior, and
creating harmony in social relations. The findings highlight the cultural and practical significance of preserving
and promoting the worship of royal female deities as a distinctive intangible cultural heritage of the Vietnamese
people