The Image of the Goat in Ancient Vietnamese Art
Posted on: 15/04/2026
The image of the goat appeared very early in the life and beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese people. From an archaeological perspective, the bones and horns of wild goats have been discovered in sites belonging to the Hoa Binh Culture. However, it was not until about 3,500–4,000 years ago, when agricultural settlements flourished in the Red River and Chu-Ma River basins, that domestic goats became more common.
The Image of the Goat in Ancient Vietnamese Art
The image of the goat appeared very early in the life and beliefs of the ancient Vietnamese people. From an archaeological perspective, the bones and horns of wild goats have been discovered in sites belonging to the Hoa Binh Culture. However, it was not until about 3,500–4,000 years ago, when agricultural settlements flourished in the Red River and Chu-Ma River basins, that domestic goats became more common.
By the Sa Huynh Culture and the end of the Dong Son Culture, the image of the goat/sheep was clearly present on many valuable artifacts such as double-headed animal earrings made of stone and glass, ceremonial bronze objects, and pottery. Particularly in Sa Huynh, many double-headed animal earrings are believed to depict goat heads, even with details like the distinctive beard of a male goat.
In the Dong Son culture and the Giao Chi period, approximately 2,000 years ago, goats/sheep also appeared on ceremonial bronze objects, bronze mirrors depicting the 12 zodiac animals, and containers used in rituals. A typical artifact is a ceramic container shaped like a goat at the Quang Ninh Museum, depicting a kneeling goat with erect horns and a clearly defined beard, believed to have been used to hold wine or other liquids offered as sacrifices.
Furthermore, the art of sculpting goats/sheep reached its peak with large stone statues at the tomb believed to be that of Si Nhiep in Bac Ninh. Through these artifacts, it can be seen that goats/sheep were once symbols of prosperity, abundance, elegance, and were associated with important worship rituals in the lives of ancient Vietnamese people.
Although goats/sheep no longer play a prominent role in rituals as before, this animal remains a beautiful image and holds a special place in Vietnamese culture....
The image of the goat in ancient Vietnamese art
See more: https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/hinh-tuong-de-trong-nghe-thuat-co-dai-viet-nam
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