Lạc Long Quân, a semi-legendary figure of Vietnamese mythology, is regarded as one of the founding ancestors of the Vietnamese people [1]. According to the legend of the “sack of a hundred eggs,” he united with Âu Cơ to beget a hundred sons, the eldest of whom became the first Hùng King [1]. He is said to have ruled the legendary state of Xích Quỷ before the founding of Văn Lang [1].
Lạc Long Quân
Lạc Long Quân
Vietnam
7 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- SEMI-LEGENDARY: according to the Đại Việt Sử ký Toàn thư and the Lĩnh Nam chích quái, he is the son of Kinh Dương Vương Lộc Tục and Thần Long, daughter of the Lord of Động Đình [1].
- LEGEND: he marries Âu Cơ, who gives birth to a sack of a hundred eggs from which a hundred sons are born — the founding myth known as “Con Rồng cháu Tiên” (descendants of the Dragon and the Fairy) [1].
- LEGEND: the couple later separates, with fifty sons following their father to the sea and fifty following their mother to the mountains, to govern the land [1].
- SEMI-LEGENDARY: his eldest son, chief of the Văn Lang tribe, unites fifteen tribes and founds the state of Văn Lang, taking the title of Hùng King I [1].
- Several competing versions of the legend exist (notably concerning Âu Cơ's origin, sometimes presented as the daughter of Emperor Đế Lai, sometimes as a fairy), evidence of a varied oral tradition across sources [1].
Works & Achievements
Lạc Long Quân succeeds Kinh Dương Vương at the head of the legendary State of Xích Quỷ [1].
According to the legend, he is said to have established the first hierarchies between sovereign and subjects, as well as the bonds between parents, children, and spouses [1].
He is said to have introduced the population to rice farming and silk production techniques [1].
Their union is presented by tradition as the mythical origin of the Vietnamese people, through the legend of the sack of a hundred eggs [1].
The separation of his hundred sons between the mountains and the waters is presented as the legendary origin of the diversity of the Lạc Việt people [1].
Anecdotes
According to the legend of the “sack of a hundred eggs,” Âu Cơ is said to have laid a sack containing a hundred eggs after her union with Lạc Long Quân; seven days later, the eggs reportedly gave birth to a hundred sons, with no nursing required, the children growing up on their own and becoming remarkably strong [1]. This anecdote is purely legendary and has no attested historical value.
Tradition holds that Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ separated because of their incompatible natures: he “of the race of dragons,” living in the realm of waters, she “of the race of immortals,” living on dry land; fifty sons are said to have followed their father to the waters, and fifty others their mother to the mountains [1]. Status: founding legend, with no historical basis.
According to a variant of the tale, Lạc Long Quân is said to have intervened to free Âu Cơ from the grip of Đế Lai, transforming himself into a handsome young man surrounded by a large retinue, before hiding her in the palace of Long Đài [1]. A semi-legendary episode, specific to ancient Vietnamese tradition.
One version of the tale presents him as having taught the inhabitants the techniques of rice farming and silk weaving (“nông tang”), and as having established the first hierarchical relationships between sovereign and subjects, parents and children, husbands and wives [1]. Status: civilizing legend, not historically documented.
According to another regional tradition, Âu Cơ was not the daughter of Đế Lai but an immortal who came down from the mountains to cure an epidemic, before uniting with Lạc Long Quân after he saved her from a monster [1]. This variant illustrates the regional diversity of the tales surrounding this founding couple.
Primary Sources
According to this chronicle, Lạc Long Quân, son of Kinh Dương Vương Lộc Tục and Thần Long, daughter of the Lord of Động Đình, is presented as the sovereign of the legendary state of Xích Quỷ, which preceded Văn Lang [1].
This collection records the genealogy of Lạc Long Quân, descendant of Thần Nông through Đế Minh and Lộc Tục, as well as the episode of his union with Âu Cơ, daughter of Đế Lai [1].
“Âu Cơ... đẻ ra một bọc... qua sáu bảy ngày, bọc vỡ ra một trăm quả trứng, mỗi trứng nở ra một con trai” — Âu Cơ gave birth to a sack which, six or seven days later, opened into a hundred eggs, each giving birth to a son [1].
Key Places
Legendary state founded by Kinh Dương Vương and later ruled by Lạc Long Quân, predating Văn Lang [1].
Kingdom said to be the origin of Long Nữ, mother of Lạc Long Quân, according to the legendary genealogy [1].
Mythical place where Lạc Long Quân is said to have hidden Âu Cơ, which appeared by magic according to the tale [1].
Dwelling of Lạc Long Quân as “nòi rồng” (descendant of dragons), to which he is said to have withdrawn after separating from Âu Cơ [1].
According to one variant, the capital to which Lạc Long Quân, under the name Hùng Hiền Vương, is said to have moved his seat of power [1].