Legends of Forest Spirits in the Central Vietnamese Highlands

Although many valuable ethnographic studies on ethnic minorities in the Highlands of Vietnam have been published, there is little evidence of interest in the folk beliefs and the legends of forest spirits as manifestations of the unique metaphysical worldview of these minorities. This essay, therefore, focuses on the textual analysis of folk narratives, mainly drawn from books that describe the beliefs and legends of the Highlands groups. Most of them are collected in the studies and ethnographic descriptions of French researchers who went on long field trips to study Indigenous peoples in the primeval and tropical forests of the Annamite and Central Highlands regions in the nineteenth century. Other research material derives from the field work and the collections of Vietnamese researchers and journalists from the mid-twentieth century. On this basis, this essay seeks to contribute to the understanding of oral narrative, perceptions of forest spirits, and the strength of minority cultural discourses. At the same time, highlighting Indigenous knowledge, beliefs, and legends protects the ecological integrity of ethnic cultures. In addition, this study demonstrates that as environmental destruction in Vietnam progresses, the power of Indigenous knowledge and narratives about nature emerges with greater clarity.