Chức Nữ
Definition
- Proper Noun:
- The Weaving Maiden (Vega): In East Asian mythology and astronomy, Chức Nữ is the name of a star, Vega (Alpha Lyrae), located on the eastern side of the Milky Way. She is a celestial goddess, the granddaughter of the Jade Emperor, associated with weaving.
- A mythological figure: She is the female protagonist in the famous romantic myth "The Cowherd and the Weaving Maiden" (Ngưu Lang Chức Nữ). In the story, she is a weaver of clouds and heavenly brocade who falls in love with and marries the cowherd Khiên Ngưu (the star Altair). They are separated by the Milky Way and are allowed to meet only once a year on the 7th night of the 7th lunar month.
Usage Examples
- Proper Noun:
- Truyền thuyết Ngưu Lang và Chức Nữ rất nổi tiếng ở các nước Á Đông. (The legend of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maiden is very famous in East Asian countries.)
- Sao Chức Nữ là một trong những ngôi sao sáng nhất trên bầu trời. (The star Vega is one of the brightest stars in the sky.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in literary, cultural, and astronomical contexts. It is a central element in poetry and prose discussing love, separation, and the Qixi Festival (Vietnamese: Thất Tịch).
- "Ngưu Lang Chức Nữ": The full name of the mythic couple, always used together to refer to the story or to symbolize separated lovers.
- Câu chuyện Ngưu Lang Chức Nữ tượng trưng cho tình yêu vượt qua mọi trở ngại. (The story of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maiden symbolizes love overcoming all obstacles.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nàng Chức: A poetic or shortened reference to the Weaving Maiden figure.
- Sao Vega: The modern astronomical name for the star.
- Thất Tịch: The Qixi Festival, also known as the Double Seventh Festival, which celebrates the annual meeting of Chức Nữ and Ngưu Lang.
Synonyms
- The Weaving Maid: A direct English translation of the mythological role.
- Vega: The astronomical name for the star.
Related Idioms and Cultural References
- Gặp nhau như Ngưu Lang gặp Chức Nữ: To meet very rarely, like the annual meeting of the separated lovers.
- Hai anh em sống ở hai nước khác nhau, gặp nhau như Ngưu Lang gặp Chức Nữ. (The two brothers live in different countries and meet as rarely as the Cowherd meets the Weaving Maiden.)
- Cầu Ô Thước: The Magpie Bridge, formed by magpies, which allows the lovers to cross the Milky Way on their reunion night. This is intrinsically linked to the Chức Nữ myth.