Romanticism in a son of Quang Nam province

Professor Tran Van Tho signed copies of his book "Memories to the Future" at the University of Economics , Da Nang University on May 21, 2025. Photo: AQ

The book "Memories to the Future," over 500 pages long, compiles articles by Professor Tran Van Tho published in newspapers and magazines, mainly in Vietnam, over the past few decades. These articles have been reviewed and edited by the author and are divided into four parts: Remembering Memories, Shining Examples of the Past and Present, Paths Near and Far, and For the Nation's Progress. It also includes afterwords by Professor Ha Duong Tuong, Associate Professor Nguyen Hong Son, economist Pham Chi Lan, Professor Huynh Nhu Phuong, researcher Lai Nguyen An, Dr. Nguyen Nam, journalist Phuc Tien, Dr. Huynh Van Hoa, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Xanh, and Dr. Mai Duc Loc.

In the book's concluding remarks, Professor Tran Van Tho states that the collection comprises articles on various topics, "but can be divided into two groups, corresponding to my concerns over the past half-century (finding conditions for development) and my current concerns related to the vision of Vietnam's future (the ideal image of a developed country)." Alongside these are articles on memories, poetry, and about predecessors and friends, "all to encapsulate my feelings for my homeland."

For a long time, many people have known Professor Tran Van Tho in his role as an economics professor, after he received a scholarship to study in Japan in 1968, and subsequently dedicated himself to teaching and research in the "Land of the Rising Sun"; he also served as an economic consultant to several Vietnamese and Japanese prime ministers .

Few people know that the economics professor, born in Dien Ban, Quang Nam, originally studied literature and foreign languages at Tran Quy Cap High School (Hoi An). After graduating from high school, he went to Saigon to enroll in the Faculty of Literature to take the entrance exam for the Teacher Training University, "hoping to become a literature teacher at a secondary school in the future," as he confided.

This rambling explanation shows that his romantic and lyrical nature was formed from his childhood in the poor countryside of Quang Nam province, and then later through studying literature.

Even more surprisingly, journalist Phuc Tien revealed: "In later years, I learned that as a child in his village in Quang Nam, Mr. Tho already loved music and could play the mandolin. In high school, he studied music theory and learned to play the guitar. When he came to Japan, Mr. Tho also liked contemporary Japanese music..."

Perhaps so, the first part of this book – Remembering Memories – clearly demonstrates the romantic nature of Tran Van Tho. These are memories of books from his school days, beginning with the Tang Dynasty poem "In books there is a girl with a face as beautiful as jade," and remaining with him throughout his life.

Or perhaps it was "The days of copying Dinh Hung's poems," when he confided, "During my time at the Faculty of Literature in Saigon half a century ago, I was immersed in the world of Dinh Hung's poetry."

Passionate about this poet, he analyzed: "The most prominent theme in Dinh Hung's poetry is love, the lover. The lover in the mystical, fantastical world and the lover in the real world are both depicted with transcendent imagination, with unique and innovative expressions."

The notebook containing the poems became a family heirloom, and he placed it in the most prominent position in his Tokyo study.

In particular, Professor Tran Van Tho offers unique and insightful analyses and comparisons of famous songs and poems in his writings, such as: "Rainy Afternoon at the Border at Both Ends of the Country," with the observation that "Humanism makes the work transcend institutions and space, and will live on forever"; or "there are bolero songs that are skillfully crafted musically, meticulously polished in lyrics and content, and deeply moving" (Recalling a Bolero Era).

"Memories into the Future" - a work by Professor Tran Van Tho, recently published.

Then, in "The Kanda River Enters Japanese Poetry," "Memories with the Love Song 'My Beloved'," and "The Sound of Autumn in Vietnam and the Sound of Autumn in Japan," he analyzes, comments on, and interprets... using his professional knowledge of music and poetry, as well as his profound love for art.

Professor Tran Van Tho's romanticism, as noted by Dr. Huynh Van Hoa, is reflected in his writing style: "It is characterized by concise, clear, easy-to-understand writing, and especially by emotion - a deep, profound, and genuine emotion about humanity, homeland, and friendship that permeates every page."

Professor Tran Van Tho's romanticism is not only evident in his writing style and unique perceptions of literature and art, but also encompasses his profound love for his homeland and country.

I dare to think that, starting from here, Professor Tran Van Tho became a passionate and deeply concerned figure, deeply committed to the development of the country, not only in economics but also in education, culture, and the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. Without that romantic spirit, there would not have been the articles with creative, bold, powerful, and groundbreaking proposals based on his solid knowledge and extensive experience.

Furthermore, could it be that this romantic spirit has been passed down in the blood of the people of Quang Nam since the time of its founding, with their unwavering resilience and desire for conquest coupled with a deep-seated love for their homeland?

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/chat-lang-man-trong-mot-nguoi-con-xu-quang-3156314.html