The Guardian of the Hibiscus

In literature, writing about history is a difficult subject, selective in both writers and readers. Author Nguyet Chu's literary journey wasn't solely focused on historical themes. However, she decided to make her first mark with the short story collection "The Guardian of the Hibiscus," comprising eight historical short stories. Being a lover of history and a nostalgic person, she always wanted to explore the past to satisfy her imagination.

Through short stories such as "The Guardian of the Hibiscus," "The Magnolia Blossom in the Lord's Mansion," "The Spider," "Night in the Capital," and "The Misty Snow Orchid," historical figures are presented with a rather fresh perspective. Nguyệt Chu's writing style is dreamy and ethereal; characters like the concubine Điểm Bích, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, Trần Cảnh, and the Zen master Huyền Quang are created by the author with a humanistic eye, allowing readers to relive those impressive historical periods. "The Guardian of the Hibiscus" is her first historical story, marking a milestone in her writing career, and she uses it as the title for the entire collection.

Before writing "The Guardian of the Hibiscus," she had written stories very close to life, such as stories about the countryside, about the small town where she lived, about young people and their yearning for transformation and self-discovery in an era of turbulent cultural values. But she still felt she hadn't found the right direction or her true nature. There were times when she felt confused as she struggled to find the path that best suited her. And her first historical short story helped her find a new direction.

In the short story "The Magnolia Blossom in the Lord's Mansion," Consort Dang Thi Hue is portrayed as a woman who caused countless upheavals in the court, yet ultimately remains a fragile and hopeless beauty. The short story "Camellia Blossoms in the Night" recounts the heartfelt feelings that the palace maid Diem Bich sent to Zen Master Huyen Quang, intertwined with the fragrant white camellias drifting away. The story evokes a sense of sorrow, ambiguity, beauty, and sadness. "Night in the Capital" tells of the love affair between Princess Dau and Emperor Ly Thanh Tong, enveloped in orchid petals and dreams of the South. A sublime love with a captivating narrative style. The entire collection of stories has a smooth, ethereal, yet poignant narrative style.

Nguyệt Chu wants to continue writing about the beauties of the dynasties. There are as many beautiful women as there are flowers, reflecting the very fragility of beauty. She feels indebted and remorseful for not having written about them yet. Therefore, she will continue writing short stories, fleeting glimpses of history imprinted on the lives of women.

(Short story collection "The Guardian of the Hibiscus", Nguyet Chu, Literature Publishing House, 2018).

HAI MIEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguoi-canh-giu-phu-dung-post318017.html