Heavenly Craftsman, also called Creator or Maker. In the past, people regarded the Creator as a divine being, the craftsman who created all things in the universe and determined the destiny of all species. Therefore, if anything happened beyond one’s strength, thoughts, or satisfaction, people would blame the Creator, either praising or scolding in various ways, as in the line:
“Phụ phàng chi bấy hóa công.” (The Tale of Kieu)
According to Buddhism, the Creator represents the fair law of cause and effect, as the Master said:
“Hóa công chí thiện cầm cân,
Công bình thưởng phạt thứ dân nào tường.”
(Visiting My Hoi Dong village)
The Sino-Vietnamese term 化工 (hóa công) means created naturally. In the past, people believed that heaven and earth were made by a craftsman, the “Hóa công” (化工) being the creator, the sky deity.
Nguyen Quoc Hung Dictionary
The craftsman who brings change to all things, referring only to heaven, the sky deity.
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