In fact, apart from folk songs, proverbs, and anonymous martial arts poems in Chinese or Vietnamese script, often found in verses and poems about certain traditional martial arts techniques, not many poems are written directly about martial arts. Nguyen Thanh Mung, however, has meticulously crafted poems with passionate inspiration from the traditional martial arts of the nation.
The essence and spiritual space of martial arts resonate in various dimensions throughout Nguyen Thanh Mung's poetic journey. The term "martial arts master" is very familiar in the martial arts land of Binh Dinh, but not so familiar in poetry. He incorporates it smoothly in his poem "The Martial Arts Master Treats a Vegetarian Meal": When the martial artist cherishes the writer / Literature joyfully balances martial arts / A smile of bronze bowls and chopsticks / The shadow of clouds stirs the grass, the raincoat flutters.
The terms "fist, stance, staff, sword," rather unfamiliar in the poetry of many authors, were used naturally and skillfully by Nguyen Thanh Mung. Reading his poem "Land of Martial Arts," I felt as if I were hearing the echoes of the legendary battles of the land, yet also the romantic, chivalrous spirit of martial arts: "Where temples, towers, horses, and elephants reside / A girl abandons the whip and practices martial arts / Abandoning the whip, she reveals dimples / Practicing martial arts, she creates a mystical landscape of clouds and water." And this too: "You joke: remember her face and name / When going out, avoid trouble / Oh, my dear, she strikes tigers with a double kick / The eagle spreads its wings, she wields a staff" (Showing a literary friend a girl from Binh Dinh performing martial arts).
 |
| Poet Nguyen Thanh Mung |
In his epic poem "Setting Off with Thirty-Nine Springs," Nguyen Thanh Mung fiercely writes: Sword drawn from its sheath, pen removed from inkstone / The poem of life suddenly arrives / Rain on the majestic war elephants' saddles / Wind tosses the warhorses' manes / Rice cooked in bamboo tubes / Wine sworn over a blazing fire / Language carries the fate of humanity to the shores of the future / Oh God, burdened with sweat / Carts of tears, carts of fresh blood / Storms relentlessly battering, floods engulfing / Hands forging stones, mending the sky horizontally and vertically...
As a poet from a land of martial arts, Nguyen Thanh Mung's skillful use of dialect also contributes to strengthening the poetic structure of "martial arts": "Thunderbolt and whirlwind strikes / How far away is the rhythm of the brown robe? / The majestic Con River and Kiem Mountain / Vegetables and fruits are freely offered" (Martial Arts Master Treats Vegetarian Meal)...
Along with poetry, Nguyen Thanh Mung is also a prolific scholar. His historical and cultural research papers on martial arts appear relatively consistently in his compilations: "Land of Martial Arts and Literature," "Con River and Sword Mountain," "Fragrant Manuscripts of Martial Arts Villages," "Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue: The Character of Vietnamese Culture," "Sympathy for Young Lia," "Land of Martial Arts and Literature - From the High Source to the Wide Sea"... Some of these papers have been compiled in the book "Legends of Ancient Capitals - Folk Culture of the Imperial City Region," and others in "Folk Culture of the Land of Martial Arts"...
Interestingly, alongside his scholarly writings, we can see the researcher's footprints on his real-world travels throughout the country. Many articles reflect a historical perspective of a land that spans from the mountains to the ocean, preserving many distinctive and universal cultural values. To create these passionate and insightful writings, Nguyen Thanh Mung has embarked on numerous expeditions, exploring every centimeter of archaeological sites with passion and keen insight, talent and resilience, from his youth to his 70s. Even now, he still dedicates his time to riding his motorbike, eating rice balls with sesame seeds and salt, and recording and documenting his experiences in the fields, exploring the horizons and landscapes of his homeland.
Through his influential works, Nguyen Thanh Mung created widely used cultural place slogans such as "Land of martial arts and literary talent," and "Con River and Sword Mountain"... Mentioning "Land of martial arts and literary talent" immediately brings to mind the former Binh Dinh region. The contrasting phrase "Con River and Sword Mountain" refers to a real river and a real mountain in Tay Son, which the author discovered and named for the first time.
| Poet Nguyen Thanh Mung was born in 1960 in Hoai An, Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai ). He is a member of the Vietnam Writers Association and the Vietnam Folk Arts Association. Published works include: Bitter Wine (poetry), Ancient Times (poetry), Departing with Thirty-Nine Springs (epic poem), Bich Khe - Essence and Blood (research), Legends of Ancient Capitals - Folk Culture of the Imperial City Region (research, co-written with Tran Thi Huyen Trang)... |
Dao Duc Tuan
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/van-hoa/202604/trong-tho-co-vo-78e455b/
Comment (0)