Lạc bird
{{Short description|Mythical creature in Vietnamese culture}}
File:Tượng chim Lạc tại Công viên Tao Đàn, Quận 1, tháng 12 năm 2021 (1).jpg]]
Lạc bird ({{langx|vi|chim Lạc, Lạc điểu}}, {{zh|雒鳥}}){{cite web |title=Lắt léo chữ nghĩa: 'Chim lạc' là chim gì? |url=https://thanhnien.vn/lat-leo-chu-nghia-chim-lac-la-chim-gi-1851072651.htm |website=Thanh Niên}} is a mythical creature in Vietnamese culture and a national bird of Vietnam. {{cite web |last1=Pham |first1=Giang |title=AN OEVRVIEW ABOUT THE BIRDS IN VIETNAM |url=https://vietnamtrips.com/birds-in-vietnam#:~:text=Vietnam%20does%20not%20have%20the%20official%20national%20bird%2C,people%20in%20present-day%20North%20and%20North%20Central%20regions. |website=Vietnam Trips}}{{cite web |last1=Kalmusky |first1=Katie |title=Chim Lac: Vietnam's Imaginary National Bird |url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/chim-lac-vietnams-imaginary-national-bird |website=Culture Trip}}{{cite web |last1=Davison |first1=John |title=Chim Lac: Vietnam's Imaginary National Bird |url=https://journeyonair.com/vietnam-travel-guides/chim-lac |website=Journey On Air}}
Appearance
File:ĐHNH 2012 - Chim lạc.JPG]]
The Lạc bird is depicted with outstretched wings and a long beak. This image symbolizes the aspiration to conquering seemingly impossible challenges of the Vietnamese people.{{cite web |last1=Pham |first1=Giang |title=AN OEVRVIEW ABOUT THE BIRDS IN VIETNAM |url=https://vietnamtrips.com/birds-in-vietnam#:~:text=Vietnam%20does%20not%20have%20the%20official%20national%20bird%2C,people%20in%20present-day%20North%20and%20North%20Central%20regions. |website=Vietnam Trips}}
Terminology
The meaning of the word Lạc itself is debatable. A theory suggests that it might come from the term "lạc điền", meaning waterfield, and so Lạc bird would mean waterfield bird.{{cite web |title=Lắt léo chữ nghĩa: 'Chim lạc' là chim gì? |url=https://thanhnien.vn/lat-leo-chu-nghia-chim-lac-la-chim-gi-1851072651.htm |website=Thanh Niên}} The word is also translated as "lost" in modern Vietnamese language, which could be a metaphor to the Vietnamese history.{{cite web |last1=Davison |first1=John |title=Chim Lac: Vietnam's Imaginary National Bird |url=https://journeyonair.com/vietnam-travel-guides/chim-lac |website=Journey On Air}}
During the Hồng Bàng dynasty, the word lạc was used as part of different terms such as Lạc Việt (Luoyue), Lạc Vương (King of the Lạc), Lạc hầu (Marquis of the Lạc), Lạc tướng (General of the Lạc), and Lạc dân (Lạc people).{{cite web |title=Lắt léo chữ nghĩa: 'Chim lạc' là chim gì? |url=https://thanhnien.vn/lat-leo-chu-nghia-chim-lac-la-chim-gi-1851072651.htm |website=Thanh Niên}}
Origin and species identification
Images of Lạc bird appears on the surfaces of the Đông Sơn drums, one of the objects that were made thousands of years ago, during the era of Văn Lang-Âu Lạc.
Despite its aged existence, no one is really sure what species the Lạc bird actually is. Based on its appearance, Lạc bird could be another version of the Chinese Fenghuang, or a sketchy drawing of the stork, egret, crane, pelican, teal, or great hornbill.{{cite web |title=Một ý kiến về câu hỏi: 'Chim lạc là chim gì? |url=https://thanhnien.vn/mot-y-kien-ve-cau-hoi-chim-lac-la-chim-gi-1851074805.htm |website=Thanh Niên}}{{cite web |last1=Kalmusky |first1=Katie |title=Chim Lac: Vietnam's Imaginary National Bird |url=https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/chim-lac-vietnams-imaginary-national-bird |website=Culture Trip}}{{cite web |last1=Davison |first1=John |title=Chim Lac: Vietnam's Imaginary National Bird |url=https://journeyonair.com/vietnam-travel-guides/chim-lac |website=Journey On Air}}
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References
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