nam tào

nam tào

Nam Tào là một ngôi sao sáng ở phía nam bầu trời.

Definition
  1. Proper noun:
    • Nam Tào: In traditional Vietnamese folk religion and belief, Nam Tào is the name of a specific deity or star god. He is one of the two celestial bureaucrats (along with Bắc Đẩu) who are believed to record and manage the life, death, and fate of every human being. Nam Tào is specifically associated with the southern sky and is in charge of recording births and lifespans.
Usage Examples
  • Proper noun:
    • Theo truyền thuyết, Nam Tào ghi chép sổ sinh. (According to legend, Nam Tào records the book of life.)
    • Nam Tào và Bắc Đẩu là hai vị thần quan trọng trong tín ngưỡng dân gian. (Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu are two important deities in folk beliefs.)
Advanced Usage
  • The concept of Nam Tào is often paired with Bắc Đẩu (the deity of the northern star, in charge of recording deaths). They are central figures in myths about destiny and the heavenly administration of human lives.
    • Số phận con người được cho là do Nam Tào và Bắc Đẩu định đoạt. (Human destiny is believed to be determined by Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Bắc Đẩu (proper noun): The paired deity of the northern star, responsible for the register of deaths.
  • Táo Quân (proper noun): The Kitchen Gods, another set of deities in Vietnamese folk religion who report on household affairs to heaven, distinct from but sometimes conceptually related to the celestial record-keepers.
Synonyms
  • Star God of the South: A descriptive synonym.
  • Celestial Recorder: A functional synonym describing his role.
  • Deity of Fate: A general synonym relating to his function.
Related Idioms and Cultural References
  • Sổ Nam Tào: Literally "the register of Nam Tào," referring to the book of life or fate.
    • Anh ta tưởng mình đã thoát khỏi sổ Nam Tào. (He thought he had escaped the register of Nam Tào [i.e., his destined fate].)
  • The pair Nam Tào - Bắc Đẩu is commonly invoked together to symbolize the inescapable decree of fate or heaven's will.
    • Đó là ý của Nam Tào Bắc Đẩu rồi, khó mà thay đổi. (That is the will of Nam Tào and Bắc Đẩu; it's hard to change.)

Proverbs and Idioms