three.bag.ogre-hitch.hide.passenger-holylandvietnamstudies.com

The THREE-BAG OGRE – The “Hitch Hike Passenger”

623 Views

In the organization of the historical process, lots of fossilized foot-prints have been left behind with the time. Among these, according to documentary sources, the Three–Bag Ogre‘s huge foot prints could be seen clearly. He had travelled all half the country’s journey from the Central to the South. However! According to another historical source, he “traveled” from Go Cong to Hue.

The Three-Bag Ogre had stopped for a while on the land of Saigon seemingly to gather the good seeds compared to pearls that were then put into three bags – symbolizing “three big bamboo grain baskets ” – the Three-Bag Ogre had used these seed paddy to sow on immense fields in the Six Provinces of the Southern area.

Once again, the following article entitled: the Three-Bag Ogre as bonze superior Trung Dinh (3), the author of which, on his field trip around Hue Citadel, had noted: “…The kind and benign Three-Bag Ogre was loved by people, especially the children, because he used to give them cake, play with them and care for them… He was a devout and good conduct monk. His bushy beard together with his carrying several bags made him look savage and people used his picture to threaten the children…”.

Especially, at An Cuu village, a collector gave more information: “… Dai Cang Shrine – a supernatural place… where there was a man carrying three bags; he used to beg for food; when night came, he returned to the shrine to sleep. Upon his arrival, children often clung on him and played with him… He also put them into his bags and carried them around. Everyone loved him…”.

Such historical source of information has been so interesting! However, Mr. Three-Bagged Ogre has had another more amazing personality, that means, he had a “folklore” life in accordance with an extraordinary motif-worldly and rudimentary! Nevertheless so familiar to an adventurous lifestyle of the people in the Six Provinces Southern Land. Mr. HENRY OGER, an oriental researcher had depicted this personage in his lively sketch together with the second layout. The Three-Bags Ogre appeared like a legendary person that flowed along the close relations with Viet Nam history from South to North.

The Three-Bags Ogre had become a “half-god, half-man”; yet the “man” part is more or less of “devil” character. That means: Between “real man” and “real devil” and “holy spirit” there was defined border.

We’re going to provide more information after our research as follows: “Among the Southward people, there were the “the Three-bagged Ogre” family.” The “Three-Bagged Ogre, with nine ears, twelve eyes”. Who was this man? Was he a ghost or devil? Or was he a “worldly man with earthly eyes”. He was Mr. PHAM DANG HUNG.

PHAM ĐANG HUNG (1764-1825) had accompanied his father on the “trip Southward” from Quang Ngai long time ago. He was famous throughout the southern part in the 18th-19th century. On their immigration road, his family dropped by the Saigon-Gia Dinh area as a “hitch-hike passenger”. Then they moved to Go Cong and settle there. He was a “well versed in art and arms”, wise and good conduct official – the father of the Queen-mother TU DU, (the wife of king THIEU TRI) – the mother queen. Wherever he went, he always carried with him “several bags”, containing all kinds of seeds so as to distribute to poor people so that they can settle their stable life.

The three bags were the three “mobile-grain ware-houses”, which stemmed from the idea of building “communal business” at villages and communes in order to subside the poor in case their crops were destroyed; however, the king showed his disapproval. With his tall and big appearance of an arms man, it was thought he looked quite strange like a wooden carving. Mr “Three bagged Ogre” was not only well-known in the Mekong Delta (P.12), he was also well-known back to the northern plain. His “three bags” was no more meaning as bags containing grains through the picture, but they also meant the bags to catch children.

This legendary man has become a treasure of folklore literature presented by HENRY OGER’s (4) work – the Oriental French researcher who lived in Hanoi during the years 1908-1909. The picture of this extraordinary man was presented in his woodwork with three demotic scripts: “Ong Ba Bi”. Oger’s work was presented in the work entitled “Sketches of Viet-nam in the early 20th century” (5). Especially, this theme had become the Ph.D thesis “The History of Culture” (6).

The work “The Techniques of the An Nam People” include 4.577 wood-carving sketches foot noted with Chinese-Demotic script by HENRY OGER, an Oriental French researcher in the late 19th century. This was known as the Monographic method. All aimed at building a file on the material and spiritual and mental life of the Vietnamese people.

Mr. Three bagged Ogre is truly a phonological imagein the cultural space not only in Vietnam but also in humanity around the world.

The monsters and beasts carrying the human class in the global phonological space that Vietnam has absorbed on the Silk Road…

NOTES :

1. After VUONG HONG SEN – Ancient Saigon – Dong Nai Publishing House 2004 – page 60 – 61.
2. After THAI LOC – The burning of Thien Mu Pagoda (Eposode 1) Tuoi Tre Sunday 7/8/2016 (Page 13).
3. According to Mr. THAI LOC, “Mr Bugbear is Trung Dinh Monk”, (United last), Youth, dated 10-8-2016.
4. HENRI OGER – Technique du Peuple Annamite (Kỹ thuật của người An Nam) – HENRI OGER – Techniques du peuple Anamite.
5. NGUYEN MANH HUNG – Sketches of the early 20th century.
6. NGUYEN MANH HUNG – Viet Nam’s society late 19th century and early 20 century – Ph.D Thesis on History of Culture – presented at the Faculty of History – Hanoi Comprehensive University – Now known as The Social Science University.