Two significant works by scholar Dao Duy Anh, "What is Culture?" and "Origin of the Vietnamese People," are being reissued, offering readers a deep dive into the foundations of Vietnamese culture and identity. These books serve as cornerstones in Vietnamese social sciences, providing timeless insights that remain relevant today.

The first book, "What is Culture?", originally published in 1948, is an early work that laid the theoretical groundwork for understanding culture in the mid-20th century. Dao Duy Anh explored fundamental questions such as culture's definition, origins, and historical evolution, systematically interpreting it as a vast entity closely intertwined with human life. The work also reviews humanity's development, from early humans struggling with nature for survival to the point where culture became a tool and a product of social relationships. It represents the collective crystallization of labor and the desire to free humanity from material and spiritual constraints. The author wrote: "Culture today, in its beautiful sense, is the result of cooperation among all humanity across generations, not belonging to any single class".

Two publications, "What is Culture?" and "Origin of the Vietnamese People," by scholar Dao Duy Anh. *Photo: Omega+*

According to the publisher, after more than half a century, "What is Culture?" retains its value, helping readers revisit initial academic reflections on culture and offering profound insights. The work has become a favorite among general readers and students in related fields.

The second book, "Origin of the Vietnamese People," is a foundational work in modern Vietnamese historiography, combining ancient history, archaeology, ethnology, and anthropology. The author systematically analyzed the origins of the Vietnamese people using scientific arguments, opening new research directions. The book comprises 7 chapters: Legendary Origins, Giao Chi and Viet Thuong, U Viet, Bach Viet, Lac Viet, Lac Viet Culture, and the Genesis of the Vietnamese People. Dao Duy Anh examined legends such as Than Nong and Kinh Duong Vuong, analyzing ancient Viet groups within the vast Yangtze River basin. Building on this, he gradually placed the Vietnamese people within the broader context of ancient southern ethnic groups. Beyond tracing origins, the book reconstructs the movements, interactions, and differentiations of resident groups throughout the region's history.

One of the work's notable contributions is the author's approach to issues of migration, cultural contact, social organization, and agricultural development. Through this, he explained the formation of a community with a distinct identity. According to the publisher, with its rigorous writing and rich documentation, the publication is intended for anyone interested in the history and identity of the Vietnamese people, suitable for social science students and general readers.

Professor Dao Duy Anh (1904-1988) was a scholar with extensive research in social sciences and humanities, linguistics, culture, history, ethnology, sociology, historical geography, and textual studies. He also made significant contributions to the translation, editing, and annotation of ancient Vietnamese historical works. In 2000, Professor Dao Duy Anh was posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize.

Mai Nhat