Similarities and Differences of the Dam Giong Epics (Vietnam) and Reamker (Cambodia), Ramakien (Thailand), PhraLakPhra Lam (Laos) (Note 1)

There are a lot of similarities and differences in The Dam Giong epics of Bahnar ethnic in Central Highlands-Vietnam and Reamkerepic (Cambodia), Ramakien epic (Thailand) and PhraLakPhra Lam epic (Laos). Although there are some similarities in content and themes, these epics differ in capacity, structure, character system and some other artistic elements. Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam are short independent epics, deriving from Ramayana epic (Indian). Meanwhile, The Dam Giong epics, about a hero named Giong, have a large capacity of hundreds of epics. These epics derive from myths, legends and creeds of Bahnar ethnic in the Central Highlands-Vietnam, especially, they are “living” epics. Nowadays, the epics of Dam Giong are still being circulated and they are developing in the lives of Bahnar ethnic. Currently, in Central Highlands-Vietnam, the epics of Dam Giong are still composed and the number of these epics is constantly increasing.


Introduction
Vietnam is one of the countries in the region Asean. On the way of formation, existence and development, Vietnam-as a member of Asean, there have been receptions, exchanges and acculturation in literature with the countries in the region. Expressed in the similarity between folk-literary works bearing the characteristic cultural values of Asean. That affirms the common ground in the development process of nations. So, the similarity between Vietnamese folk literature and Laos, www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/grhe Global Research in Higher Education Vol. 1, No. 2, 2018 133 With the analytical method and the method of comparison, this article will discover and discover the factors that affect the artistic characteristics of these epics and acculturation of these epics in Southeast Asia culture. The article will deal with the origin, themes, basic content, demonstration methods, characters and motif system of the epics.

Similarities
To clarify the similarities, the article will study the themes, the expression forms, the characters, the motifs of the epics. and villains to protect life and honor of the community. The most quality of the heroes is their morality.
He represents for the good, the one who has absolute loyalty to the community and his love. Similarities of genre of epic. The similarity of the characteristics of these epics is due to the process of self-development in the culture, literature and history of the peoples. Similar genres are historically similar.

Differences
There are differences in the origin, the historical context, the expression forms and methods, the language, the capacity and structure, the characters and the contents between Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam and The Dam Giong epics. The differences in the historical context make a significant difference in the content, the way of building characters, the artistic elements of The Dam Giong epics compared to Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam.

About Form and Expression Method
Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam are shown in various forms and modes such as poetry, dance, court stage, painting, sculpture, shadow puppetry. These epics have oral or rewritten scripts over time.
When the epics were performed on stage, there are many actors, orchestra accompaniment and director.
Ramakien is shown with khon in court and folk type. King Rama I directly supervised and participated in writing a part of Ramakien; Later, King Rama II continued to adjust Ramakien. In the khon,

About Language
The language of Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam is refined. The language is the words of poetry that reached the pinnacle of verbal art. These epics have been written and supplemented over centuries. Many people (monk, king, folk artist) participate in the correction of the narrative, the dialogue of the characters. In addition, they are selected events, details to be staged to suit the court conditions or the folk scene.
Language in The Dam Giong epics is common language; It is close to the everyday language of populars and is not polished. The folk artists are extemporized very freely on performance. Depending on the mood, health and inspiration of the folk artist, the language of the epic is good or bad. In my experience, when you give artisans good food and good performance space (many listeners, the audience's concentration, in the festive atmosphere). Then, the narrator of the artist is very good (smooth lyrics, melodious music, fluency, many rhymes, idioms, proverbs).

About Capacity and Structure
Capacity of Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam is usually short, about 50,000 to 70,000 verses (Note 3). The structure of these epics is a single epic which has a distinct structure. All the details of the story are told in an epic. In just one epic, all the qualities of the hero are fully manifested in

Conclusion
There are a lot of similarities and differences in The Dam Giong epics and Reamker, Ramakien and PhraLakPhra Lam. They have a basic similarity about the theme, the expression forms, the characters and some motifs. The proximity of geography, history and ethnic exchanges has created similarities.
However, in the epics there are differences in the origin, the historical context, the expression forms and methods, the language, the capacity and structure, the characters and the contents.
In particular, the most different is the demonstration mode. Reamker, Ramakien, PhraLakPhra Lam can be called the imperial palace, as they are performed and developed in court. The Dam Giongepics is the product of popular people; It is composed, performed and enjoyed by popular people. It is a "living epic" genre. In particular, the original performance of The Dam Giong epics still exist in today's life. It captures a lot of new and modern content but still captures the epic genre. The volume and number of epics are constantly increasing. Understanding the similarities and differences between the Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, Cambodian epics, etc., will show the identity of each nation and affirm the common ground of culture and literature Asean study. This also shows the cultural similarities among countries in the Asean area. It will be very necessary for those who want to learn aboutculture and literature of Asian countries in general, Asean area in particular.