Ldi dó cd the gdm nhffng ldi tff 4 den 7 tieng, den nhffng ldi dffge hinh thanh theo eae the t h a thffdng gap trong sinh hoat van hge, van hoa dan gian hien nay, va eung bat gap mdt sd'
Trang 12 6 Tap chi Nghien cffu va Phat trién, sd 4 (69) 2008
CAC THE DANG, THE THd CUA CAU DO NGÚOfi VIET
Trieu Nguyen'
1 Cau đ gdm hai bd phan: ldi đ' va ldi giai (vat đ^) Tim hieu ldi dó,
ve m a t eae the dang, the thff, ed the cho tháy mdt sff phong phu vffgt h a n cae the loai van van eua van hpe dan gian, nhff ca dao, đng dao, vẹ
Ldi dó cd the gdm nhffng ldi tff 4 den 7 tieng, den nhffng ldi dffge hinh thanh theo eae the t h a thffdng gap trong sinh hoat van hge, van hoa dan gian hien nay, va eung bat gap mdt sd' the dang co han Tai lieu ma bai viét
dung de xem xet la Cdu đ ngđi Víệ'^'
2 Nhffng mieu ta dffdi day, chia lam hai phan: p h a n eae ldi đ' tff 4 dén
7 tiéng, va phan eae ldi đ theo eae the thạ
2.1 Cau đ ed ldi do tff 4 dén 7 tiéng cd kha nhieụ Néu d cung sd tieng tffang tff, tuc ngff sff dung nhieu kieu cau suy luan kha chat ehe thi eau đ lai
thich hgp vgi cac kieu eau mieu ta (viét tat: X, Y, X', Y: vi tff; A, B: danh tff)
ạ Ldi do gdm 4 tiéng
Thffdng gap thudc hai kieu cau Khdng X md Y; va AX, BỴ Thi du (mdi
kieu cau gdm ba ldi đ):
- "Khong udn ma t h i n g " (eay eau)
- "Khong va ma sffng" (eai nhgt)
- "Khdng vot ma nhgn" (eai gai)
- "Ldng đ, vd xanh" (qua dffa hau)
- "Dau trung, dudi hui" (chiéc dua bép)
- "Ngay bup, dem nd" (nggn den)
6 Ldi đ gdm 5 tieng
Thffdng gap mgt sd kieu cau ngat nhip 2 - 3 ; thi du:
- "Hai sd, vo sd ngang" (dffdng xe lffa)
- "Chg đng, khdng ai ban" (trffdng hge)
- "Giffa eau, hai dau gieng" (gdnh nffde)
- "Tui đ dffng bac tien" (qua dt chin)
c Ldi do gdm 6 tiéng
Thffdng gap la ede kieu cau ngat nhip 3 - 3, nhff A (thi) X, B (thi) Y; X
(thi) Y, X' (thi) Y; XA, YB Thi du (kieu eau dau 3 ldi đ, kieu cau thff hai 2
ldi đ, kieu cau thff ba 2 ldi do):
Hdi Van nghe dan gian T h u a Thien Huẹ
Trang 2- "Me gai goc, con trge dau" (eay va qua chanh)
- "Me trge dau, eon gai gde" (cay va qua mit)
- "Bung 6e ndc, dc dd ldi" (cai den dau)
- "Dffng thi tha'p, ngdi thi cao" (eon chd)
- "Di nhe rang, ve nhe rang" (cai bffa)
- "Di mdt bffdc, can mpt mieng" (cai keo)
- "Mac ao sdi, ngdi trong bui" (mang tre)
d Ldi dd gdm 7 tieng
Thffdng gap la kieu eau nhip 3 - 4 Bdng A, XB; thi du (bon ldi dau la
kieu cau vffa neu, ba ldi sau la cac kieu cau khae):
- "Bang cd tay, nam ngay dinh nui" (sffng trau)
- "Bang me sanh, chay quanh hdn nui" (eai lffgc)
- "Bang trai cau, lau chau di trffde" (ngon ehan cdi)
- "Bang ddng tien, nam nghieng trong bui" (rau ma)
- "Dffdi am ti, vffa di vffa khoe" (eon de)
- "Nhd khong nam noi, ldn nam noi" (qua bi)
- "Dffdi nffde, tren lffa, giffa sgi day" (cdi den dau)
2.2 Ldi dd sir dung nhieu the dang tha: the hai tieng, the ba tieng, the
bdn tieng, the ngu ngon, the lue ngon, the that ngon, the lue bat, the song that
lue bat, cac the dang tha hon hgp Ddng thdi, cffng cd mgt sd ldi dd sff dung
the ddi, dang eau ddi ngan So vdi ca dao, viee van dung eac the tha d ldi dd cua
cau dd da dang hffn.''^'
Nhffng trinh bay dffdi day chia lam bdn nhdm: 1) nhdm eac the tha tff
2 de'n 7 tie'ng; 2) nhdm eac the thff luc bat, song t h a t luc bdt (cffng cac bien
the cua chung); 3) nhdm suf dung the ddi, dang eau ddi ngan; va 4) nhdm
cac the dang tha hon hgp
a Nhdm cdc the tha td 2 den 7 tieng
+ The hai tie'ng:
- "Tay chan,
Chan de, Khu nac
Mat ngd !" (xat thuoc la bang cai ban xat)
"Tong phdng, Tdng phong;
Trong long, Ngoai thit!" (Id mui)
-I- The ba tieng:
- "Chat khdng dfft,
Bdt khong rdi
Trang 32 8 Tap chi Nghien cffu va Phat trien, sd 4 (69) 2008
Phai khdng khd
Chum khdng dd!" (nffde)
- "Mffdi ehu lun,
Lee len nui
Bat chu liii,
Bd vd hang, Ddng hai hang, Keu chit chit!" (bat eha'y bd mieng cSn) -)- The bdn tie'ng:
- "Dap dap trdi trdi,
Bd ddi sud't ngay;
Mai tdi di day, Dat cho t e n khac!" (ma khi nhd dem ca'y)
- "Cai bang ndi ba,
Ong ba eung hai, Ong vai eung kinh;
Ke trom ngdi rinh
Ma rinh khdng dffgc!" (td ong vd v|) -H The n a m tie'ng (ngu ngdn):
"Da day mun, day rdm, Rugt day tdm day tep
Dang khi trdn khi dep
An khi nggt khi ehua?" (qua bffdi)
- "Sinh ra tff dffdi bien,
Ldn len d t r e n ngudn;
Cd dffa ldn dffa nhd,
Cd dffa gan dffa xa;
Gap khi trdi trd lanh, Thut thit le chan hda !" (may va mffa) -H The sau tie'ng (luc ngdn):
"Da ede ma bgc bpt Ige, Bgt lgc ma bgc hdn than" (qua nhan)
"Tam t h a n g dan khieng eai qua, Hai dng hffang ea di khdng" (eon eua, ghe)
- "Ban ngay dao chai vffdn h a n h ,
Td'i Iai quanh quan ma dao;
Gheo nang tien lue chiem bao, Khi nang say trong giac ngu" (con mudi)
Trang 4+ The bay tieng (that ngdn):
- "Than em la ldng giffa Iffng trdi,
Gid m a t trang thanh dung dinh chai;
Than nay lam lue dau vi nffdc, Xac ng con mong giup viee ddi" (qua dffa)
- "Ngffdi be nhffng ma cd tinh khdn,
Cufa den, ciia phu, ciia edng mdn,
Ca ngon, cam trang thffdng ke mieng
Ma phan mdi son eung dffgc hdn" (eon rudi)
- "Dffang thud thanh binh thi an mat
Gap can phong vu mdi ra ddi
Tieng vang rffng ram oai kinh egp, Minh nep ao sau mat nhd trdi
An tuyet nam sffffng, edng chang quan, Bdi long vi nffde mdi ra chai" (con ech)
So' ldi do' theo the 2 tieng ed r a t it (khoang 0,4%), trong luc so' theo
cae the sau thi kha nhieu The tha 2 tie'ng, 3 tie'ng khien ehung ta khdng
khdi nghi den ddng dao Dieu khae biet la, d ldi do', tuy 2 hay 3, 4 tieng
nhffng thffdng la mgt kieu eau mieu ta tdi gian ("Tay chan", "Mat nhin",
"La (thi) chia ba", "Bdng (nhff) hoa ca", "Chat (thi) khong dfft", "Cai bang
ndi ba, Ong ba eung hai" ) trong mgt ke't hgp mang tinh xae thffc, chat
che; trong luc d ddng dao khong ddi hdi mpt kieu cau nhff vay, va sff ke't
hgp eiia mdt dan vi van ban (ve ngff phap, ngff nghia) cung r a t ma hd,
long leo (thi du: "Cai md't, Cai mai, Con trai, Cai hen Con nhen, Vffang
ta Qua ma Qua mit "; "Trdng cay dffa, Chffa cay man Tan cay dao
Cay nao cao Cay nao tha'p Cay nao ram Chat bdt di !"; "Trdi mffa lam
ram Cay t r a m cd t r a i Con gai cd duyen, Ddng tien cd Id, Banh d thi
ngon, Tdm cang thi beo, Cai keo cat may" '^'
So' ldi do theo the 7 tie'ng ed tinh chat vinh, thffdng gap dang tff tuyet,
dang bat eu khong tim tha'y Ldi dd^ ve "eon ech" (gdm 6 ddng tha 7 tie'ng) la
ldi dd cd dung lffgng ldn nha't thude the 7 tieng nay
b Nhdm cdc the tha luc bdt, song thdt luc bdt
+ The t h a lue bat
The tha lue bat dffge suf dung nhieu trong cau dd (ehie'm khoang 65%)
Chung thffdng chi gdm hai hay bdn ddng tha.'*' Ben canh dang lue bat ca
ban, phd bie'n (tie'ng thff 2 theo thanh bang, tie'ng thff 4 theo thanh trac,
van bang gieo vao tie'ng cud'i ddng luc, tieng thff 6 va tie'ng thff 8 ddng bat),
cd dang luc bat it gap (vi tri van d ddng bat tff tieng thff 6 chuyen sang tie'ng thff 4, thay vao dd, tieng thff 6 ddi ra thanh trac), va eac dang bien
the theo each thu bdt hay ndi them so tie'ng d ea hai ddng tha
Trang 53 0 Tap chi Nghien cffu va Phat trien, sd 4 (69) 2008
Dffdi day la 5 ldi do' minh hga theo thff tff cho ba dang, dang cud'i gdm
ba ldi:
- "Que em d ehd'n t h a n h lam,
Sinh ra em vd^n hdng t a m hae bi;
Em di dao k h a p kinh ky, Tim nai bach bo' em thi ket duyen" (eu nau)'^'
- "Cd ehan ma chang bie't di,
Cd m a t p h a n g ly cho ke ngdi tren" (eai ghe)
- "Hat quyt bie't bay,
Di dem mang dude, ban ngay thi khdng" (eon dom ddm)
(Vi tri ddng lue bi thu bdt cdn 4 tie'ng)
- "Con ehi khdng an, khdng ndi, khdng effdi,
Nghieng Iffng ma chiu vdi ngffdi hdm mai"
(eon da Idt van, sap ngffa) (Vi tri ddng luc dffgc ndi t h a n h 8 tie'ng)
"Cd cd ma khdng ed dau, Hai ehan trffdc thi ngan, hai ehan sau thi dai" (eai yem) (Vi tri ddng bat dffge ndi t h a n h 10 tie'ng)
+ The tha song t h a t lue bat
The tha song that luc bat khdng nhieu, gdm dang ea ban (d ddng that tren, tieng thff 5 theo thanh bang; d ddng that dffdi, tie'ng thff 5 theo thanh trac
va van vdi tie'ng thff 7 eua ddng that tren, tie'ng thff 7 theo thanh bang va van vdi tieng thff 6 eua ddng lue dffdi; tiep dd, each ca'u tao thanh va van theo the luc bat da ndi; ne'u ed khd song that lue bat tiep theo, thi tieng thff 5 cua ddng that dau khd nay se bat van (van bang) vdi tieng thff 8 eiia ddng bat lien trffdc cua nd), va eae dang bie'n the theo each chuyen dich van hoac thu bdt hay ndi them sd tieng d cdc ddng tha
Dffdi day la 3 ldi do minh hga, ldi dau eho dang song t h a t lue bat eff ban, hai ldi sau eho dang song t h a t lue bat bie'n t h e
"Ke trong budng nang mffa dau dai, Ngffdi ngoai budng khae khoai thom lom
Sang chieu qua lai dffng ddm
Ban lui tinh tdi, che non ehe gia" (budng chudi)
- "Vai mang bau ehi chit, ' ' Day tg hdng va'n vit canh vai
Ngay thdi dao chdn non doai, Mong ehp gap ban, keo mai hoai nhd thffffng" (di nam)"^'
(Ddng that dau bi thu bdt ehi eon 5 tie'ng, ddng bat dffge ndi ra thanh 9 tieng);
Trang 6"Tam t h a n g dan khieng eai qua, Hai ong xa xaeh hai cai kem;
Mgt long vi nffdc ngay dem, Xay nha dffdi hd, ben tren giau rao" (con eua, ghe) (Ddng t h a t dau bi thu bdt edn 6 tieng, van d ddng t h a t sau tff vi tri thff
5 ehuyen sang vi tri thff 3)
c Nhdm sd dung the ddi, dgng cdu ddi ngdn
Cd khoang 0,7% sd^ Idi dd^ sd dung the doi, dang cau do'i ngan, moi ve
tff 6 den 7 tie'ng Thi du:
"Tren trdi mang tai ma xud^ng
Am phu ddi mff ma len" (cay dau - giai doan nhff mam)
"Vach da't chi trdi bdy but ngge, Phai sffffng dap tuyet bde da vang" (eay mang)
"Ba t h a n g eud^n cd bdng con dd, Mpt phen cdi giap cffu dan den" (cay va qua ngo)
"Me di trffde danh eong, danh bat
Con di sau vffa hat, vffa reo" (ga me va Iff con)
"Hffu cdt, hffu bi, vo hffu nhue, Nghi xuan, nghi ha, bat nghi ddng" (eai quat)
{Ngliia: Cd xffffng, cd da, khong cd thit;
(Hgp vdi mua xuan, mffa he, khong hgp vdi mua dong)
"Tren thffgng dinh eo bong khong trdi, Dffdi thffgng dinh cd trai khong bong" (eay lae)
"Nang ba nam ta khdng bd ban, Mffa mdt ngay ban lai bd ta" (cai bdng)
Hai ldi dd sau, ldi dd ve "eay lae", ve tren: "co A khong B", ve dffdi: "cd
B khong A" (trao vai do'i tffgng); ldi do' ve "eai bdng", ve tren: "A khong bd
B", ve dffdi: "B (lai) bd A" (trao nhau giffa ehu the va ddi tffgng, kem vdi viec
ehuyen mau eau tff phu dinh sang khang dinh) Day la each mieu ta vat do
trong quan he vdi hai mat khac nhau cua cffng mpt thffc the co kha nang quyet dinh ve sff sinh tdn eua chffng Cach mieu ta nay, cung the ddi ndi
chung, vffa eo tae dung phan hda de doan nhan vat dd^, ddng thdi cung lam
cho hai mat hinh anh xoan xit nhau, gay roi eho qua trinh doan nhan ay
Do vay ma sd cae ldi dd' theo the ddi, thffdng la nhffng ldi dd khd giai
d Cdc the dgng tha hdn hgp
c a e dang tha hdn hgp dffge sff dung phd bien Cung vdi cac the vffa trinh bay, chffng gdp phan quan trgng tao nen sff phong phu cho ldi dd ve
mat the dang Ddng thdi, ehung cung cho tha'y sff phdng tffng, linh boat ciia loai ngdn ngff van van trong dan gian
Trang 73 2 Tap chi Nghien cffu va Phat trien, sd 4 (69) 2008
-I- Co mdt the dang dang chu y trong Idi do la the dang gdm ba ddng, hai ddng dau mdi ddng sau tie'ng, deu mang van bang d tie'ng thff sau, ddng thff ba gdm tam tie'ng, van nhff van cua ddng b a t d the luc bat Thi du:
"Cd eon ma khdng ed cha,
Cd cufa ma khdng cd nha, De'n ngay eon ldn me da ehe't di" (con nffde, ciia sdng)
"Vudng nd vudng, trdn nd trdn, Dem nau minh dd nhff son, Ngffdi che dd, ke khen ngon eung nhieu" (con eua, ghe)
"Hai ed n a m nghi hai phdng, Ngay thi md cufa ra trdng, Dem thi ddng cufa, lap ehdng ra ngoai" (ddi mat)
"Nam anh dffng ben kia sdng,
N a m cd dffng ben nay sdng
N a m anh mdi xd vao long nam ed" (cue ao va Id khuyet)
- "Mdt t r a m t h a n g linh di qua,
T h i n g md khdng mu thi tha, Thang md ed mu dem ra ehem dau" (bao diem)
Gia suf, day la the ea ban (ed the gpi la the nhi luc nhdt bdt), thi the
nay eung ed eae bien the tffpng tff the lue bat, the song tha't luc bat; thi du:
- "Xeo xeo ba gde dia dd,
Lam thi ffdt, khdng lam thi khd, Lam cudng lam eud'ng thi vd dffgc nhieu" (cai nhiii) (Ddng lue thff hai ndi dai t h a n h 7 tie'ng)
- "Cd kia xam xam da ehi,
Dau thdi tde phffgng, vdi lai long li, Bo'n v u " ' lanh ngat, danh thi keu len" (eai chuong) (Ddng lue thff hai ndi dai t h a n h 8 tie'ng)
- "Sau ngffdi eung ggi mgt ten:
Bd^n ngffdi thi d bdn ben, Mgt n a m dffdi da't, mdt ngda len t r e n trdi" (quan tai)'®' (Dong b a t Idi nay ndi dai t h a n h 9 tieng)
"Cd m a t ma e h l n g cd dau, Luc ngheo thi ban vdi trau, De'n khi vinh hii'n, ggi ed n a n g hau cai vu ro to"'^' (cai trd'ng) (Ddng b a t ldi nay ndi dai t h a n h 12 tie'ng, vi tri van Iffng ehuyen ve phia trffde cua eau hai tie'ng, d chd vdn la cua nd dffac the hien bang t h a n h trac - "vu")
Trang 8The dang nay eung dffgc tim tha'y trong ca dao (nhffng mffc dd khdng
nhieu bang cau dd); thi du:
"Bien tinh chim ndi, bdi roi tff lffang,
Thiep vdi chang nhff lufa vdi hffang;
Mdt mai te dff hffffng tan lufa tat, dao nghia cffffng thffdng chd quen"
Dd la mdt ldi ca dao cd So' ldi dd' suf dung the dang nay cung deu la
nhffng ldi dd' xa xffa Nen ed the xem day la mpt the dang cung tdn tai vdi
the luc bat va song t h a t luc bat, dung trong eac sang tac dan gian (ma cang
ve sau cang it dffgc dung de'n), hoac la mdt the tien t h a n cua hai the dang
kia Nhffng mgt sff xae dinh ve the dang tha can phai dffge tim hieu thau
dao han, trong lue nhffng trinh bay t r e n mdi dffng d mffc phac hga (do vay
ma van xep vao tieu mue nay)
+ Dffdi day, la mgt so ldi dd dffge sang tac theo cac the hdn hgp khac:
- "Trai mac ao,
Lao d tran;
Lao m a n h nhff than, Trai yeu gp ep" (mang va tre) (Dang ket hgp: 3-3-4-4)
- "Thang nhd nhd,
Mae ao dd, Dgi bui ed, Ngdi chd hd sau vffffn" (qua dffa) (Dang ke't hgp: 3-3-3-5)
- "Tren da, dffdi da,
Giffa cd con ca thdn ban" (rang va lffdi) (Dang ke't hgp: 4-6, van trac)
- "Cha cao, me cao,
De con ed ao cd vdng" (cay khe) (Dang ke't hgp: 4-6, van bang)
- "Nam ong thay sai,
Dffng mai ben sdng;
Tgi tinh ehi he, trpng hay khdng
Ma lai bat ddng gdng ea t h a y ? " (cue ao va Id khuyet) (Dang ke't hgp: 4-4-7-7)
- "Sam sam dffng mdt dong,
Tie'ng rong vgng non xa;
Ranh nang [rang nanh, ndi lai] dat gia, thit da re re" (con voi) (Dang ke't hgp: 5-5-8)
Trang 93 4 Tap chi Nghien cffu \-a Phat trien, sd 4 (69) 2008
- "Nhap nhi,
N h a p nhi cho chi em nghe, Dam vd cai, t h a n g le le
Rut ra cai bee: eho dgi nffdc che udng chai!"
(ngffdi thdi ken nhi) (Dang ke't hgp: 2-6-6-10)
- "Chi bang ngdn tay
An toan thit sd'ng, Nudt trdng chang nhai
Hdi may, may nhd thffffng ai, Dem dem thd ngan than dai xdt x a ? " (con thach sung) (Dang ke't hgp: 4-4-4:6-8)
3 Nhffng trinh bay ve cae the dang, the loai t h a cua cau do theo phffffng thffc md ta t r e n day, eho tha'y mdt van de quan trgng ciia the loai nay Dd la m a t ea ban ve dien mao, hinh thffe eua nd Tff dd, ed the md ra mgt sff so sanh vdi eac the loai van van dan gian va t h a eiia eae nen tha, nha tha, eung nhff suy nghi ve qua trinh van ddng de tao ra nhffng the tha cua dan tde
Dd la nhffng hy vgng ma bai viet ngan nay ed the d a t dffge
T N
CHU THICH
(1) Trieu Nguyen, Ciu dd ngudi Viet, Nxb Thuan Hda, 2007 Sach nay tap hpp 2000 ddn vi
eau dd
(2) N g u y i n Xuan Kfnh trong Thi phap ca dao (Nxb Dai hpe Qude gia Ha Ndi, 2004), ve the
thd, da ghi_nhan ea dao sff dung bdn the: the lue bat, the song that lue bat, the' song that, the hdn hdp (tr 215-256)
(3) N g u y i n Thuy Loan va eae tae gia khac, Ddng dao vi trd chdi tre em ngudi Viet, Nxb Van
hda Thdng tin Ha Ndi, 1998, tr 157, 269
(4) Cd Idi d d ve "hoa sen" gdm bay cap luc bat, la Idi d d dai nha't eua the loai cau dd:
Mat quan tff sanh tffa gffPng tau
Can dil vdng nguyet, trong hau quy n h a n Thuyen quyen dang dffng ngoai s a n , Nhin xem da mudn Chau Tran ket d u y e n Can dil vdng lpng nham thien, Xin chang hai chu ket nguyen tay d d n g Rau ria sSe trSng, sSc h d n g ,
Ke qua ngudi lai nang bdng hdn choi
Nam ngudi hau ha thanh thdi
D e n phien chau chffc dam ldi chut nao
Ddn rkng thdm nffc lam sao,
Dupe nhu danh aiy, ngffdi nao eung xinh
Nao ai ndi tieng Idng thanh, Gid tay vin lay eho minh thSm hoa
Trang 10(5) Cu nau diing de nhudm vai, nen "ket duyen" vdi "bach bd" (vai trSng)
(6) NgUdi di ndm (chdm), vai mang gid (oi), tay xaeh ndm, di ven bd mUdng, rudng sau
mong eho b i t dffdc ca
(7) Vu chudng: num trdn, due ndi tren thanh ehudng, la chd de danh
(8) Quan tai gdm sau tam van (ddng 1): bdn van thanh (ddng 2), mdt van thien mdt van dia
(ddng 3) Cung ed ngffdi cho Idi giai la eai rffdng (hdm), vat de dung dd dae
(9) Y ehi cai trdng hda nhip vdi cai chieng trong dip te l l
TOM TAT
Bai vie't mieu ta eac the dang, the' thd eua cau dd ngffdi Viet (qua bd suu tap 2.000
cau dd eua ngffdi vie't) Viec mieu ta nay gdm hai phan chihh: eae Idi dd tff 4 de'n 7 tieng va
cae Idi dd theo eae the', dang thd (haj tieng, ba tieng, bdn tieng, ngu ngdn, luc ngdn, that
ngdn, lue bat, song thaj lue bat, thd hdn hdp) Ben canh dd, eung cd mdt sd Idi dd lam theo
dang eau ddi n g i n , mdi ve 6-7 tie'ng
Nhffng mieu ta nhU vay nham giup thay dPPe dien mao eua eau dd, mdt ITnh vUc
thude hinh thffc; de' tff dd cd the md ra mdt sff so sanh vdi eae the' loai van van dan gian
khac, va sff nhin nhan ve qua trinh van ddng de tao ra eae the tho cua dan tpc
ABSTRACT
POETRY FORMS AND METRES OF VIETNAMESE RIDDLES
The article gives a description of forms and styles of the Vietnamese riddles (As viewed
through his collection of 2000 riddles) His description is composed of two parts: Riddles with
4 to 7 words and riddles composed in the forms and styles of poetry (Those of the metres of
2 words, 3 words, 4 words, 5 words, 7 words, six-eight-word stieh, seven-seven-six-eight
word stieh, and of mixed metre) In addition, there are short riddles composed in the form of
a short couplet with each member including 6 to 7 words
Descriptions of this kind helps one to get a good view of Vietnamese riddles as regards
its form and consequently can make a comparison between riddles and other folk rhymed
literature and also can understand the process of formation of our national styles of poetry