Looking back at 150 years of the journey of "The Tale of Kieu" in Vietnamese

On the morning of July 5, at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, a discussion on “150 years of Kim Van Kieu with many faces” took place on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Tale of Kieu being translated and published in Quoc Ngu script (1875 - 2025), to honor the literary value, language and printing techniques through the work's journey of one and a half centuries.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Quách Thu Nguyệt, former Director and Editor-in-Chief of Trẻ Publishing House, along with collector Dư Thanh Khiêm and Dr. Bùi Trân Phượng, a historian and researcher.

Over the past 150 years, The Tale of Kieu has undergone numerous reprints, revisions, and illustrations in various forms, reflecting the richness of approaches and printing aesthetics across different periods.

At the program, collector Du Thanh Khiem recounted his years abroad collecting rare editions of The Tale of Kieu . Sharing the reason for his perseverance on this challenging journey, he said: "Collecting is about preserving time, and I've always cherished that. Moreover, each book has its own history and story, and we should appreciate it."

Collector Du Thanh Khiem (left) shares about the process of collecting "Truyen Kieu" (The Tale of Kieu).

As a historical researcher, Dr. Bui Tran Phuong explains the linguistic value in The Tale of Kieu , from Sino-Vietnamese characters to Nom script and the modern Vietnamese alphabet. This serves as an anchor point for understanding the work, bringing it closer to life, especially for young people. According to her, although the characters and plot of The Tale of Kieu are by Thanh Tam Tai Nhan, the spirit that Nguyen Du brings to it is close and profound to the Vietnamese people.

The event attracted a large number of young people.

The seminar attracted the participation of many young people. This was not only an academic exchange about The Tale of Kieu but also a cultural space where everyone could feel the artistic flow of the work.

In particular, at the end of the program, a fortune-telling activity based on the Tale of Kieu took place, which was enthusiastically participated in by many readers. Each participant chose a random line of poetry and analyzed its meaning. The activity brought much laughter and helped young people have a new and interesting experience with the Tale of Kieu .

Displaying several editions of "The Tale of Kieu".

The panel discussion "150 Years of Kim Van Kieu in Many Facets" is part of the thematic book exhibition "150 Journeys of the Tale of Kieu in Vietnamese" currently taking place at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street from July 4th to 6th.

GRACE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nhin-lai-150-nam-hanh-trinh-truyen-kieu-quoc-ngu-post802572.html