On the beaches of the Central region, from Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen to Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, tourists will be curious to see the image of large, round, sharp eyes painted on the bow of the boat. That is the boat eye - a unique, sacred cultural symbol, imbued with the "sacred soul of the river" in the life of Vietnamese fishermen.
The soul of the boat and the belief in crossing the ocean
For coastal people, a boat is not just a means of earning a living; it is also a true companion, always by their side in the midst of storms. For that reason, the eyes of the boat not only have artistic value but are also a symbol of life, likened to "divine eyes" that have the ability to protect and guide the boat through danger and return safely. During long fishing trips on the open sea, those eyes become a solid spiritual support for fishermen, adding faith and hope.
The eyes of a boat are not simply art, but life, the "divine eyes" that protect and guide the boat across the ocean.
The eyes of the boat are drawn in many different shapes, each shape contains a story, a deep belief. It can be the eyes of an eagle - a large, brave bird, considered a sea eagle, a symbol of intelligence and the ability to overcome storms. Or sometimes the eyes of a dragon - a mascot that guards the sea monster, meaning to ward off evil spirits, protecting the boat from dangers under the ocean.
Different boat eye shapes with different concepts
The most popular and familiar are the big round eyes of the whale, a gentle fish that coastal fishermen worship as a savior, bringing protection and good luck. Each shape of the boat's eyes represents the specific wishes of the fishermen: to ward off storms, attract fish into the net full of fish, and lead the way safely to shore. There are regions where the eyes of the boat are drawn with a fierce look to scare away sea monsters, but there are also places where the eyes are drawn as gentle as humans, expressing the deep sympathy and gratitude of humans towards the vast ocean.
The custom of painting boat eyes and the thousand-year-old cultural mark of the Vietnamese people
The custom of painting eyes on boats is a long-standing custom, closely linked to folk beliefs about rivers and waters. Fishermen believe that boats, like sea creatures, need eyes to see the way and avoid danger. Many legends also say that boat eyes are a blessing from the gods, a continuation of ancient beliefs, when people were still afraid of the majesty of the ocean but at the same time grateful to the ocean for feeding them. Another legend says that painting "dragon" eyes on the bow of a boat will help avoid harassment by sea monsters.
For generations, before launching, every boat must have an "eye-opening" ceremony.
Another theory suggests that the custom of painting eyes on boats originated from the story of the first Vietnamese king who ordered his subjects to tattoo and decorate the hull of their boats with fierce shapes to ward off sea monsters, after some of his subjects were attacked by fierce fish. One of the decorations was painting eyes on the boats.
The image of a boat with big, round bird eyes and black pupils was also found on the Dao Thinh jar, a cultural relic from the 1st century BC, showing that this is one of the first traces of the custom of painting boat eyes to be recorded, proving that this custom has been deeply imprinted in Vietnamese culture since very early times. This is also consistent with records in Chinese historical books such as Han Shu, Dia Ly Chi Ha or Linh Nam Chich Quai, mentioning that Vietnamese people tattooed themselves to avoid harm from dragons - a custom related to protecting themselves from sea monsters, similar to the meaning of boat eyes.
After finishing the boat's hull, the owner chooses an auspicious day, offers a simple ceremony, and then personally or asks a craftsman to paint eyes on the bow of the boat.
The eyes of boats in Vietnam are painted on both sides of the bow, with a wide variety of styles but they all have the common feature of looking very lively and soulful. Based on the shape and color of the eyes of the boats, people can recognize the origin as well as the scope of activities of boats in each region. For example, the eyes of boats in sea areas that often face storms such as the Central region will have a more serious, even fierce look, as an affirmation of the determination to overcome the challenges of nature. On the contrary, the eyes of boats in the river areas of the Southwest have a gentle, soft look, expressing sincerity, tenderness and gratitude for the favor of nature in the fertile alluvial soil.
Those eyes are "labeled" with red silk until launching - a ritual with deep spiritual meaning, like "opening the eyes" of the boat to see the road, to see the sea.
For many tourists, the boat eyes are not only a unique cultural feature but also an aesthetic and mysterious "tourism symbol". Amidst the picture of blue sea, white sand, colorful boats with big, round, sharp eyes as if "smiling" have become an unforgettable image in their minds. In many international travel guides, the boat eyes are introduced as a special visual element, contributing to the richness of Vietnamese maritime culture.
During long fishing trips on the open sea, the boat's eyes are the fishermen's spiritual support.
Each eye shape is a story, a belief: against storms, calling fish into the net, leading the way back to shore.
Not only in famous tourist destinations such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne or Hoi An, but also in all coastal areas from North to South, the image of boat eyes still exists, vivid and evocative. It is not only a folk beauty but also a part of the profound cultural memory of people living with the sea, a precious spiritual heritage that needs to be preserved and promoted.
