The stars of Vietnam: Towering figures of renowned scholars.

Regarding the act of writing books, Le Quy Don himself shared in the preface to his book Van Dai Loai Ngu that when reading books, he would often record the sayings, stories, etc., then add his own opinions and knowledge to comment on them, accumulating them over time to form a book.

"Literature is the great foundation of one's life."

The book Mẫn Hiên thuyết loại, writing about Lê Quý Đôn, includes a few lines stating, "He was exceptionally intelligent and insightful, composed many works, and possessed profound knowledge." From a young age, Lê Quý Đôn displayed his innate talent. "When he was seven years old, he was called a prodigy. His father's friend posed a riddle: 'four eyes.' He replied, 'three rivers.' His father's friend carefully observed and said, 'This boy's writing could traverse the world,'" (Records of Customs and Traditions ).

The Cloud Terrace Classification of Languages, 1972 edition.

PHOTO: TRAN DINH BA

The knowledge he accumulated over time, thanks to his memory and unwavering self-learning spirit, earned him the reputation of being a man who never let go of his books. The "Retreating and Living" chronicle recounts an incident where, while traveling to a remote area and staying at a villager's house, Le Quy Don borrowed books to read. Not satisfied with just reading, he even read the homeowner's contract. "The servant (the Emperor) asked: 'Why do you do that?' He replied: 'Everyone has their own affairs to attend to; how can one waste time?'" His attitude of valuing time and not letting it pass by use is truly admirable.

Regarding literature, Thanh Lãng's "Outline of Vietnamese Literary History - Literature in Nom Script" states that in the field of Chinese-language literature, "Lê Quý Đôn was a scholar who dipped his pen into every conceivable medium: argumentation, research, history, geography, poetry... and left behind a vast legacy beyond imagination." With such talent, the "Three Top Scholars " noted during his diplomatic mission to China, "he earned the respect of both China and the Korean court officials through his literature." In Lê Quý Đôn's view, as expressed in "Vân Đài Loại Ngữ ," he emphasized the importance of "literature as the great foundation of self-establishment, the great undertaking of worldly affairs." Specifically for poetry, writing poetry requires three elements: emotion, setting, and event.

Among his works, the Quế Đường poetry collection contains nearly 500 poems worth reading and worthy of the above assessment of his poetic talent. Even among them are poems written when he was only 10 years old, such as "Giang Thượng Lâu" ; and poems like "Lầu Sách," "Chùa Hương Hải," and "Núi Lạn Kha ," composed by Lê Quý Đôn when he was just over 10 years old, which translators have commented have a "poetic tone and ideas as mature as those of an adult." In the preface to this poetry collection, Phan Huy Chú wrote: "The wonder in his verses is like the chirping of birds in spring, the blossoming of flowers at the right time; the melodies are beautiful, the style is elegant, and this is not something that can be achieved through elaborate carving."

The work "Phủ biên tạp lục" by Lê Quý Đôn, translated and printed in 1964.

PHOTO: TRAN DINH BA

Inclusive education

At the age of 58, having read since childhood, diligently studied classical texts, and achieved fame through the imperial examinations at the age of 27, Lê Quý Đôn's numerous works demonstrate his extraordinary writing ability and profound knowledge, earning him high praise from his contemporaries and posterity. The "Tam Khôi Bị Lục " (Records of Top Scholars) states, "He authored enduring works such as: Thư Nghĩa (Book of Meanings), Dịch Thuyết (Explanation of Translations), Quần Thư Khảo Biện (Collection of Books), Kiến Văn Lục (Records of Knowledge and Literature), Phủ Biên Tạp Lục (Miscellaneous Records of the Border Region), Vân Đài Loại Ngữ (Classical Sayings of Vân Đài), Liên Châu Thi Tập (Collection of Poems from Liên Châu), Quốc Sử Tục Biên (Continuation of National History), Toàn Việt Thi Tập (Complete Collection of Vietnamese Poems), Đại Việt Thông Sử (General History of Đại Việt), Âm Chất Văn Chủ (History of Virtuous Conduct), Thánh Mô Hiền Phạm Lục (Records of Virtuous and Exemplary Figures)."

In his study of Vietnamese Civilization , Professor Nguyen Van Huyen highly praised Le Quy Don, considering him "the most erudite Confucian scholar of the Le dynasty" and "the most perfect writer of Sino-Vietnamese literature." He also cited evidence to support this assertion, stating, "He wrote extensively on all subjects, and his works constitute a treasure trove of documents on Vietnamese history and Sino-Vietnamese literature . In history, he left behind Dai Viet Thong Su, Phu Bien Tap Luc, Bac Su Thong Luc, and Kien Van Tieu Luc . In poetry, there are Que Duong Thi Tap and Toan Viet Thi Luc ; in literary and philosophical essays: Van Dai Loai Ngu, Thu Kinh Dien Nghia, Quan Thu Khao Bien, Am Chat Van Chu , and Danh Than Luc."

A statue of the renowned figure Le Quy Don stands in the grounds of Le Quy Don High School, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, along with his famous quote, "Without knowledge, there can be no prosperity."

PHOTO: TRAN DINH BA

A look at some of the works associated with the renowned scholar of Dien Ha proves the praise he received. The book "Phu Bien Tap Luc," written about Dang Trong when he served as Deputy Governor and Military Advisor in Thuan Hoa in the year Binh Than (1776), helps us visualize the history, customs, political system, and economy of the Southern region during the Nguyen Lords' era with specific data. To this day, it remains an important document for studying and understanding Dang Trong in the 18th century. "Van Dai Loai Ngu," considered by Khiem Trai Tran Danh Lam, the author of the preface to this book, is seen as the most refined of Le Quy Don's works, clearly categorizing subjects across astronomy, geography, literature, and artifacts, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of heaven, earth, and humanity…

"His scholarship was all-encompassing, he had read extensively, and thanks to his literary talent, he topped the examinations. He possessed vast and extensive knowledge, and his expertise was unparalleled in writing. He compiled and copied every book of the Five Classics, philosophy, and history. His arguments and writings were abundant. Truly, he was a renowned scholar of his time." Phan Huy Chú's respectful praise in the preface to the Quế Đường poetry collection is certainly not an exaggeration. (to be continued)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tinh-tu-dat-viet-sung-sung-bac-danh-nho-185251211205844584.htm