Rasa (flavor , sentiments , aesthetic delight , flavor of mood , taste, feeling ) is the principle which encompasses the entire body of Indian literature. Although other literary theories such as Dhvani (suggestion, implication), Alankara (figure of speech) are also important terms of Indian aesthetics and poetics, these theories either originated in Rasa or appear in conjunction with it.
Rasa is typical of both Indian poetics and Eastern poetics. As one type of Eastern poetics, Rasa can be used to enrich Vietnamese poetics and literary theory, which now is mainly preoccupied with Western viewpoints. In addition, Indian culture has had significant influence on Vietnamese culture, as a result Buddhism is present in all of Vietnam, and Hinduism in Cham and Khmer areas .
Contents
Introduction
Rasa studies in Vietnam
The origin of the term of Rasa
The definition of Rasa
Rasas and their relationship
The application of Rasa theory to Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali
Tagore studies in Vietnam
The pathetic sentiment in Gitanjali
The rasa of marvelousness in Gitanjali
The peaceful sentiment - the dominant rasa of Gitanjai
Conclusion
References