Famous person of the six provinces of the South: Nguyen Chanh Sat - multi-talented writer and journalist

Nguyen Chanh Sat is a typical example of a man of great energy, dynamism and versatility. He was one of the pioneer writers of Southern novels, a journalist and also a famous translator in the early 20th century.

Poor background

According to author Nguyen Van Kiem in Tan Chau 1870 - 1964 , Nguyen Chanh Sat was born in 1869 in Long Phu village, Tan Chau district, Chau Doc province (old), in a poor farming family. Because of his difficult circumstances, his parents were forced to let him be the adopted son of a fellow villager named Nguyen Van Buu. According to an article in Dan Nguyen newspaper, Spring Dinh Dau 1957, at that time, few people knew how to read the national language, so when registering his birth, instead of the word Sac, the chief of the six departments wrote Sat.

Long Phu communal house

PHOTO: HOANG PHUONG

As a child, he studied Chinese with the bachelor Tran Huu Thuong and then studied national language at the French-Vietnamese Primary School in Chau Doc. When he passed the Primary School exam, he was just an adult. Because he wanted grandchildren, his family married him to Van Thi Yen, a woman from the same village. After getting married, his adoptive parents passed away one after another. Due to poverty, his wife had to sell and buy things to make a living at Tan Chau market. He was unemployed and stayed home to take care of the children.

During the difficult times, he was fortunate to be accepted as an interpreter for a Frenchman named De Colbert, the owner of a cocoon drying facility in Tan Chau, who was a former reserve officer. When he was transferred to Con Dao, De Colbert allowed Nguyen Chanh Sat to bring his wife and two children along. With his position in the new workplace, he asked for some exiled Confucian scholars to do light work outside. That was also an opportunity for him to learn more Chinese characters and become a "profound Confucian scholar".

According to author Nguyen Van Kiem, the meeting between Nguyen Chanh Sat and De Colbert was also by chance. When De Colbert arrived in Tan Chau, one day he was walking along the Vinh An canal and saw him watching his children while reading a book. Out of curiosity, he stopped by to get to know him. The strange guest was surprised when he answered in fluent French, and even more surprised when he saw a stack of French and Chinese books on the shelf. From then on, De Colbert often came to visit.

Famous translator

After 4 years in Con Dao, one day, he took De Colbert to Saigon for treatment and then the owner passed away. With no place to go, he returned to the mainland. At this time, there were 6 people in the family so life became even more difficult. To have money to raise his children, he applied for a civil servant job in many offices and then taught Chinese at Lasan Taberd school. Here, he met Canavaggio and was asked by him to go to Bac Lieu to look after the salt fields.

The altar of the pioneer named Nguyen Chanh Sat

PHOTO: HOANG PHUONG

After working in salt for about 4 years, Nguyen Chanh Sat found it unsuitable, so he returned to Saigon and focused on translating Chinese stories. The first translation was Tay Han , but he had no money to publish it, so he transferred the rights to the Joseph Viet printing house. Unexpectedly, the printed stories sold like hotcakes, the printing house asked him to translate volume 2, then volume 3, the copyright price also increased by one and a half times, double. The work went well, he continued to translate the books Tam Quoc, Anh Hung Nao, Mang Le Quan, Ngu Ho Binh Tay, Can Long du Giang Nam... and self-published the Dong Han stories.

In addition to the "famous translator of Chinese stories", Nguyen Chanh Sat's name is also marked in the field of prose in the early 20th century, with: Vietnam Le Thai To (historical story), A couple of knights (swordplay), The heroic fate (social psychology), The girl who revenges her father (detective)... Of which, The heroic fate is the work most praised by readers.

When the Dong Du movement arose, many secret bases against the French appeared. At that time, Nguyen Chanh Sat was sent to My Tho to manage the Minh Tan Hotel, near the Lac Hong flower garden. This was also the address for communication with patriots. When the movement collapsed, Gilbert Tran Chanh Chieu and many others were arrested. Nguyen Chanh Sat was lucky to escape.

Editor-in-Chief Nong Co Min Dam

Nong Co Min Dam was the third national language newspaper published in Saigon on August 1, 1901 and existed for quite a long time, until November 1924, founded by Mr. Canavaggio, a Frenchman. The March 22, 1910 issue of the magazine listed editor-in-chief Le Van Trung and deputy editor-in-chief Nguyen Chanh Sat. By 1917, Nguyen Chanh Sat's title was listed as Manager and Editor-in-Chief, then General Manager and Editor-in-Chief.

Tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Chanh Sat and the stele house to worship his biological and adoptive parents

PHOTO: HOANG PHUONG

On the front page of the February 1, 1917 issue, Mr. Canavaggio posted an announcement: "Since taking back the Nong Co Min Dam newspaper, I have assigned Luong Khac Ninh as chief editor. It has been almost half a year now, but the number of subscribers is very low. I think it is because editor Ninh is busy with many jobs. So now I assign Nguyen Chanh Sat to be chief editor and manage the newspaper, in order to make Nong Co newspaper even more glorious"...

But then, on April 14, 1922, Nguyen Chanh Sat published "A rotten proclamation" on the front page: "I have heard that entering the world is impossible without merit. Being a mother is always a matter of having a king's relatives . Therefore, from the day I became the editor-in-chief and took over the pen of Nong Co Min Dam newspaper until now, almost 6 years have passed, and I have always had a pain in my heart, determined to devote all my enthusiasm and concern to cultivating the ancient agricultural profession, to compete in the field of speech and to preserve the national literature."

"Unfortunately, the responsibility has not been fulfilled yet and the situation is not favorable to people. Therefore, I have no choice but to betray the trust of my readers and return the newspaper to its original owner so that I can retire to my old home and cultivate my will to pass the days. From now on, dear readers, if any of you have a kind heart and want to send me a personal letter, please address it to: Mr. Nguyen Chanh Sat Tan Chau, then I will receive it...".

Nguyen Chanh Sat's works are diverse in genre.

PHOTO: HOANG PHUONG

In Tan Chau, there are still 2 relics related to writer, translator, journalist Nguyen Chanh Sat. That is Long Phu communal house built in 1876 (Nguyen Cong Nhan street), where there is an altar for Hau Hien to open the land, recording Mr. Nguyen Chanh Sat's merit of going to Hue to ask for the god's decree in Canh Than year 1920. Not far from there is the tomb of him and his wife, next to the stele house worshiping his biological parents and adoptive parents. The tomb is located on a low-lying land, surrounded by houses on three sides, flooded in the rainy season, but recently the local government has built a drainage system, fence and a locked gate for protection... (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-vat-noi-tieng-nam-ky-luc-tinh-nguyen-chanh-sat-nha-van-nha-bao-da-tai-185250624214107891.htm