CULTURAL IDENTITY AND CHARACTER OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE THROUGH SOUTHERN LITERATURE 1954-1975

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the cultural identity and characteristic personality of Southern Vietnamese people throughout the historical process of formation and development of the Southern region. The focus lies in identifying the cultural, religious, and natural factors that have shaped this identity and how they are reflected in the region’s daily life and literature. Using historical, ethnographic, linguistic, and literary methods, the research reveals that Southern culture represents a multi-layered convergence, fostering a generous, loyal, and community-oriented way of life. The moral framework of Humanity - Propriety - Righteousness - Wisdom - Faithfulness serves as a foundation guiding social behavior. Material elements such as cuisine, clothing, and architecture, along with folk arts like Ho, Ly, and Don Ca Tai Tu, illustrate a rich spiritual life and adaptive resilience. The findings affirm the organic relationship between culture and the Southern people, while also elucidating the distinctive features of Southern Vietnamese literature during the 1954-1975 period within the broader flow of national culture.