Nghệ thuật chèo vùng văn hóa châu thổ Bắc Bộ

Abstract

The Northern Delta is considered the cradle of the Vietnamese nation and the birthplace of various traditional art forms such as “ca tru” singing, “quan ho” folk songs, “tuong” (classical drama), water puppetry, and especially “cheo” - a quintessential form of Vietnamese folk theatre. Among them, “cheo” stands out as a prominent performing art deeply rooted in the cultural identity of the Vietnamese people, particularly flourishing in the Northern Delta region, where stable village communities, rich festival traditions, and strong communal ties have long prevailed. This paper applies an interdisciplinary approach, combining cultural studies, theatre studies, and historical analysis, to examine the close relationship between “cheo” and the cultural environment in which it was born, sustained, and developed. The study highlights the cultural values, social functions, and contemporary role of “cheo” in the cultural life of today’s Northern Vietnamese countryside.