Nestled in the countryside of Tien Dien, the Nguyen Du Historical Site preserves many valuable documents and artifacts related to the life, family, and career of the great poet Nguyen Du. Besides preserving the system of royal decrees from various dynasties, the genealogy of the Nguyen Tien Dien family, ancient Han Nom texts, books, and couplets, it also holds many unique documents and artifacts of exceptional historical and cultural value.
Beyond their archival significance, each stele, family genealogy page, ancient copy of the Tale of Kieu, or inscription in Han Nom script serves as a vivid testament to history, contributing to the portrayal of a great cultural figure and the journey of creating the masterpiece "The Tale of Kieu"—a work that has transcended time to become a profound part of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.
Ms. Tran Thi Vinh, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Nguyen Du Relics, said: "The relics currently have more than 2,000 valuable documents and artifacts related to the life and career of the great poet Nguyen Du, contributing to helping the public understand more deeply the life, thoughts, and enduring value of the masterpiece, The Tale of Kieu. Among them are many typical documents and artifacts such as ancient Nôm script versions of The Tale of Kieu, a system of woodblock prints, a set of inkstones, a collection of Mai Hac ceramics, and many Han Nom texts related to the life and thoughts of the great poet. These artifacts have profound historical and cultural value, and at the same time contribute to recreating the cultural space and living environment that nurtured the soul, personality, and artistic thought of Nguyen Du."
Within the heritage system of the great poet Nguyen Du, ancient copies of the Tale of Kieu are considered special treasures. Currently, the Monument Management Board is preserving more than 40 ancient copies of the Tale of Kieu in Nom script and Quoc Ngu script, along with many rare copies translated into more than 20 languages worldwide . Over the centuries, the Tale of Kieu has been handwritten, printed, read aloud, edited, annotated, recited, quoted, used for divination, and passed down through folk life. Each copy of the Tale of Kieu is therefore an invaluable textual testament, a testament to the enduring vitality of a masterpiece that has accompanied the nation through countless historical changes.
For generations of students, the great poet Nguyen Du and the Tale of Kieu were primarily present through the pages of textbooks. But today, standing before the treasures in his hometown of Tien Dien, seeing with his own eyes ancient manuscripts of the Tale of Kieu steeped in history, artifacts connected to the great poet's life, and listening to stories about his background and career, the gap between the pages of the book and real life seems to shorten.
Nguyen Phan Huy Duy, a student from Nguyen Du High School, shared: “I was most impressed by seeing the ancient versions of the Tale of Kieu, the documents about the life of the great poet Nguyen Du, and the cultural space of Tien Dien. Coming here, I felt closer to the great poet and understood that the Tale of Kieu is not just a work to study, but also speaks about humanity, love, pain, and the yearning for happiness.”
The legacy of the great poet Nguyen Du and the Tale of Kieu contains many core values, most notably its textual value and its role in shaping the national consciousness. Each ancient copy of the Tale of Kieu, each artifact preserved in Tien Dien, is not only a historical document but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural life, thoughts, and era of the great poet. From a research perspective, the Tale of Kieu demonstrates Nguyen Du's masterful talent in elevating the Vietnamese language, bringing the folk lục bát (six-eight) verse form to the pinnacle of scholarly poetry; at the same time, it leaves a profound mark on humanistic values and rich humanistic thought.
Dr. Vo Hong Hai shared: Among the Vietnamese figures honored by UNESCO, the great poet Nguyen Du is a very special case. The legacy he left behind, especially The Tale of Kieu, shows enduring value and lasting vitality as time passes, as the saying goes, "a gem shines brighter the more it is polished." Just as his own poetry says – "every word is a pearl, every line is embroidered silk."
Each preserved document and deciphered artifact not only contributes to shedding more light on the life, thoughts, and legacy of the great poet Nguyen Du, but also broadens our understanding of the depth of national culture. Overcoming the vicissitudes of time, from the cultural cradle of Tien Dien, these legacies continue to spread their value, reminding today's generations of their responsibility to preserve the Vietnamese language, cherish cultural identity, and maintain the Vietnamese character. From this, the humanist thought of the great poet Nguyen Du and the values of The Tale of Kieu continue to endure in the flow of national culture and the land of Hong Lam.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nhung-bau-vat-luu-dau-dai-thi-hao-nguyen-du-post311452.html
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