"The Land of Return" by Thai Kim Lan

(HNMCT) - Professor, Doctor of Philosophy Thai Kim Lan has recently released her book "The Realm of Coming and Going" - a collection of her articles published in the magazine Tia Sang over the past 15 years. The book is a gentle stream of personal reflections, yet anchored in experience, contemplation, and especially her deep affection for her country.

"The Realm of Coming and Going" dedicates Part I to "Stories of Culture." In it, she shares both broad and general issues such as "Tradition and Modernity," "Cultural Promotion," and "Cultural Ethics," as well as very specific topics like "Traditional Ao Dai," "Lang Lieu and the Dream of Banh Chung," and "Early Tea with Late Vu Lan Festival"... In the gentle yet profound style of her writing, the author seamlessly blends philosophical coherence with soaring, transcendent inspiration.

In this cultural discussion, she offers many insights for the reader. These include the indiscriminate copying of Western culture as well as the rejection of indigenous culture. She points out: "What WFOgburn calls 'cultural lag'—cultural dissonance—stems from the unintentional, unconscious, and unselective adoption of 'different' or 'foreign' cultural elements, leading to the risk of cultural assimilation. When the reciprocal relationship between two cultures lacks appropriate standards of adaptation or integration, it is difficult to create harmony and balance within that culture."

Affirming that the policy of calling for cultural return to our roots in the context of globalization is not new, she pointed out that it is a tradition of a nation that "every second, every minute, on every inch of land..." fights for cultural "autonomy".

Following the same old perspective, reflecting on the present, and being thorough yet cautious, in other articles she shared her heartfelt thoughts: "For a long time, the field of culture has not been given the proper attention in parallel with the trend and movement of global integration. Recent cultural phenomena show the visible part of a culture that has emerged from behind the scenes, without stemming from a deep awareness of culture as national identity and character."

A noteworthy section in Professor Thai Kim Lan's "Homecoming" is "Author - Work," featuring nine articles about the stories of authors and their works, both domestically and internationally. It's worth mentioning the fresh perspective of a philosopher in the classic work of the great poet Nguyen Du, "The Tale of Kieu." She analyzes the two lines, "A rambling collection of rustic words" and "Even a few hours of entertainment can be enjoyed," pointing out that "rustic words" represent both a humble attitude and an affirmation of the creative subject within the realm of Nôm poetry, not a copycat or imitation. Particularly interesting, she draws upon the ideas of various philosophers, offering readers a novel perspective on Nguyen Du and his poetry.

Professor Dr. Thai Kim Lan is a native of Hue , so it's understandable that a significant portion of her visits are to Hue. For example, in Part III, she writes about "Nature and People," where she recounts a "surreal Perfume River," "New Sunshine," or often the memory of "A joyful day on the... sorrowful... winter peak," with its unique Hue atmosphere, people, and a touch of Hue's joy and sadness.

Sometimes, what lingers in the reader's heart are simple, heartfelt recollections, like a treasure trove preserving something of Hue, and also a part of Vietnamese culture: “Hue gardens are an ecological repository for Hue cuisine, providing fresh vegetables not only for everyday meals but also for parties, from coriander shoots to figs, from chrysanthemum greens to pandan leaves and coconut leaves. All thanks to my grandmother's quiet, daily care…”

Professor, Doctor of Philosophy Thai Kim Lan was born and raised in Hue. She studied in Germany and defended her doctoral dissertation in Philosophy at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. She has been teaching in Ho Chi Minh City since 1994. Readers know her through works such as "Burning the Incense Burner" and "Letter to My Child"...

Source