Đào and Mụ motif in Vietnamese hát bội
In đào motif, only the character Chung Vô Diệm, Đào Tam Xuân, and Ngọc Kỳ Lân have their makeup as mask-like, the rest of them all have light makeup face.
(Đọc phiên bản tiếng Việt tại đây)
“Đào” is a term to describe female characters. Their appearances tend to be young or middle-aged females, where their makeup tends to be light and their presences are elegant, with innocent singing-dialogue delivery. In đào motif, only the character Chung Vô Diệm, Đào Tam Xuân, and Ngọc Kỳ Lân have their makeup as mask-like, the rest of them all have light makeup face. The level 2 of đào motif can be categorised as:
INTELLECTUAL ĐÀO
Has the general traits of đào motif, elegant and graceful manners; innocent singing and dialogues. In which there is “royal đào” being the type of character that participates in official royal affairs. Example: Tạ Nguyệt Kiều (the play “San Hậu”). And then “simple đào/hairpin đào” is a peasant character type, or the character that has a prestige origin but fallen into peasantry; she wouldn’t have any fancy headwear but only a simple hair pin. Example: Điều Huê Nữ (the play “Điều Huê Nữ coming down from the mountain”).
Character Tạ Nguyệt Kiểu played Kiều My
Character Phàn Phụng Cơ played by Anh Thi
BRAWNY ĐÀO
Possess full traits of đào motif, however she is assertive and stern; powerful singing-dialogues delivery. Example: Thần Nữ (the play “Thần Nữ offers Ngũ Linh flag”); Đoàn Hồng Ngọc (the play “Banquet invitation for Đoàn Hồng Ngọc”); etc. Additionally, the mentioned characters that have mask-like makeup (Chung Vô Diệm, Đào Tam Xuân, Ngọc Kỳ Lân) are a part of brawny đào motif. They are portrayed in a dramatic style to reflect their strong personality and extraordinary talent.
Character Chung Vô Diệm played by Ngọc Giàu
MỤ MOTIF
“Mụ” is the type of female character (đào) that is elderly, their makeup tends to be light, with white eyebrows, silver hair, slow in movement; raspy singing-dialogues delivery. The majority of mụ motif are intellectual type, with a gentle and considerate manner. Example: Đổng mẫu (the play “San Hậu”); Dương linh bà (the play “Mộc Quế Anh offers the wood”) despite her origin as a fiery general but often expressed as a prestige and sophisticated woman.
Character Đổng Mẫu (Mother Đổng) played by Thanh Trang
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TYPE OF CHARACTERS IN VIETNAMESE HÁT BỘI, co-produced by Hiếu Văn Ngư – Cultura Fish and ICHCAP. Please give proper citation and do not repost by any type.
- Researcher: Vương Hoài Lâm
- Translator (Vietnamese – English): Hà Hoàng Minh Trang
- Editor: Lục Phạm Quỳnh Nhi
- Photos: Giang Phạm
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- To read other articles in this series: https://culturafish.com/en/types-of-characters-in-vietnamese-hat-boi/
- English version of the project on ICHLINK: https://www.ichlinks.com/exhibition/hat-boi/
- Promotion video https://youtu.be/vo0ukRj70CU
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