In Eastern symbolism, the horse represents movement, breaking free, and leaving a state of ease to move forward. And in the spiritual heritage of Quang Nam province, that horse's hooves have never stood still. Beneath the layers of ancient cultural sediment lies a persistent stream of people who refuse to accept a confined fate, always choosing to move forward, even if the journey ahead may be fraught with headwinds and storms.
Tracing the footsteps of history, we can begin with Pham Phu Thu – a prominent figure who early on embarked on a journey to "open his eyes to the world ." Among the 19th-century scholars, he was one of the rare individuals who directly confronted the West through firsthand experience, leading him to write "Western Journey Diary" – a remarkable work that reflects the style of a traditional Confucian scholar engaging in frank dialogue with industrial civilization.
What is remarkable about Pham Phu Thu is not just his perception of Western machinery and ships, but the awareness of finding a path to reform that arose from that perspective. He understood that the country could not survive by clinging only to old texts, that learning new things was not about losing oneself, but about saving oneself. In the context of the Nguyen dynasty, which was still heavily influenced by conservative thinking, that perspective acted as the first impetus, causing the horses of Vietnamese thought to begin to change direction. Pham Phu Thu was not a revolutionary in the modern sense, but he was a pioneer.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Quang Nam province entered a new intellectual cycle. Tran Quy Cap was a prime example of the scholarly class who broke away from the purely academic path of the imperial examination system. He saw the powerlessness of the old learning methods in the face of the nation's destiny and posed the fundamental question: What is the purpose of learning? When that question was raised, the intellectual horse truly left its beaten path.
Together with Phan Châu Trinh and Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Trần Quý Cáp formed the " Quang Nam trio," spurring the reform movement to a gallop. From 1906, the reform movement spread throughout Quang Nam: new schools were established, new methods of learning were disseminated, and for the first time, "learning to be a free citizen" was prioritized over "learning to become an official." From this point on, the land opened up, not only geographically but also spiritually.
If one had to choose a leading figure for liberal thought, Phan Châu Trinh would be the most prominent. Among the patriots of Quang Nam province, he was a man of systematic and long-term thinking. Not advocating violence, nor placing the nation's destiny in the hands of external forces, Phan Châu Trinh persistently pursued a path of fundamental social reform, enlightening the people to achieve self-strengthening.
Phan Châu Trinh passed the imperial examinations, but instead of viewing it as a ticket to officialdom, he soon realized that the examination system had fulfilled its historical role. From this reflection, a new way of thinking emerged and spread. "Enlightening the people's minds, uplifting their spirits, and improving their lives" was not a slogan, but a system of thought in which people's intellect came first – like a saddle determining the direction of the entire journey. Phan Châu Trinh frankly rejected the mindset of begging: the nation cannot be liberated by handouts, but "only through learning."
In 1926, when the patriot Phan Châu Trinh passed away, his funeral became a major social event nationwide, including in Quang Nam province. Numerous intellectuals and citizens bid farewell, mourning his loss as a patriotic thinker, distinctly different from an official or armed leader. This was a sign that society had begun to change its perspective on the guiding role of ideology.
If Tran Quy Cap represented speed, and Phan Chau Trinh represented direction, then Huynh Thuc Khang represented endurance. His life spanned imprisonment, journalism, parliament, and moments of national responsibility. Eleven years of colonial imprisonment did not diminish his will; on the contrary, it helped him accumulate knowledge, transforming him from a Confucian scholar into a Western-educated individual, working in journalism, publishing, and engaging in social and political activities. In 1946, when entrusted with the presidency during a critical moment for the nation, this patriot from Quang Nam, who had previously engaged in peaceful struggle, stood at the forefront of national responsibility. History, at that time, shifted from intellectual liberation to a test of national governance.
The patriotic spirit of Quang Nam then shifted to the cultural front. Phan Khoi and Phan Thanh were typical representatives. Without weapons or grand movements, they chose words and literature to explore. Phan Khoi, with his sharp critical spirit, re-examined many old values in the light of reason. Phan Thanh persevered with journalism and cultural activities, continuing the path of enlightening the people in a gentle way.
Quang Nam province is also associated with historical springs numbered 6: 1976, 1996 – instances of merging and dividing administrative boundaries, marking turning points in development. And this year, 2026 (Year of the Horse), is the first spring after the province's merger, when a new Da Nang stands before an open space with multiple centers offering opportunities ranging from tourism, culture, logistics to innovation, and an international financial center… There is so much to learn before we can succeed!
So why seek out and follow in the footsteps of the great figures of Quang Nam? To feel a spirit of adventure, of intellectual enlightenment and creativity, with a spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement. This spirit does not depend on whether it is the Year of the Horse or not in the calendar, but lies in the ability to refuse to stand still - to dare to innovate, so that each passing spring leaves a footprint of progress.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/theo-dau-chan-danh-nhan-dat-quang-3324936.html
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