văn hiến
Definition
- Noun:
- Cultural heritage / Civilizational legacy: Refers to a nation's or civilization's long-standing, esteemed traditions of literature, scholarship, and ethical values that are passed down through generations. It emphasizes a documented, refined cultural tradition.
- Culture and institutions: Denotes the integrated system of a civilization's intellectual achievements, ethical norms, and historical documents that form its foundational spirit.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Việt Nam là một đất nước có nền văn hiến lâu đời. (Vietnam is a country with a long-standing cultural heritage.)
- Nền văn hiến ấy được gìn giữ qua nhiều thế kỷ. (That civilizational legacy has been preserved over many centuries.)
- Họ tự hào về văn hiến của dân tộc mình. (They are proud of their nation's culture and scholarly traditions.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is formal and carries a sense of reverence, often used in historical, academic, or patriotic contexts to describe the dignified, scholarly core of a national culture.
- It implies a culture that is not only old but also possesses a rich body of historical texts, ethical philosophy, and refined arts.
Variants and Related Words
- Văn hóa (n): culture. This is a broader, more general term for culture.
- Văn hóa ẩm thực (culinary culture).
- Văn vật (n): cultural relics and artifacts; often used alongside "văn hiến" to denote tangible and intangible cultural treasures.
- Đất kinh kỳ văn vật (the capital region rich in cultural relics).
Synonyms
- Cultural tradition: The customs and beliefs passed down through generations.
- Civilization: The stage of human social and cultural development.
- Scholarly heritage: The legacy of learning and literature.
Related Concepts
- Thư tịch cổ: Ancient bibliographies and texts, which are the physical carriers of .
- Truyền thống: Tradition. While is general, specifically refers to literate, scholarly traditions.
- Di sản văn hóa: Cultural heritage. is a specific, esteemed type of intangible cultural heritage.